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As filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on March 1, 2021.
Registration No. 333-253079
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
AMENDMENT NO. 1
TO
FORM S-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Digital Transformation Opportunities Corp.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
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6770
(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
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85-3984427
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
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10485 NE 6th Street, Unit 3930
Bellevue, WA 98004
Tel: (360) 949-1111
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Kevin Nazemi
Chief Executive Officer
10485 NE 6th Street, Unit 3930
Bellevue, WA 98004
Tel: (360) 949-1111
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
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Jonathan Ko
Paul Hastings LLP
515 South Flower Street
Twenty-Fifth Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 683-6000
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P. Michelle Gasaway
Gregg A. Noel
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
300 South Grand Avenue, Suite 3400
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 687-5000
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Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after the effective date of this registration statement.
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 check the following box. ☐
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
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Large accelerated filer ☐
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Accelerated filer ☐
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Non-accelerated filer ☒
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Smaller reporting company ☒
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Emerging growth company ☒
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If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Title of Each Class of
Security Being Registered
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Amount Being
Registered
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Proposed Maximum
Offering Price per
Security1
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Proposed Maximum
Aggregate Offering
Price1
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Amount of
Registration Fee
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Units, each consisting of one share of Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value, and one-fourth of one redeemable warrant2
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28,750,000 Units
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$ |
10.00 |
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$ |
287,500,000 |
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$ |
31,366.25 |
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Shares of Class A common stock included as part of the Units3
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28,750,000 Shares
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— |
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— |
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—4 |
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Redeemable warrants included as part of the Units3
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7,187,500 Warrants
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— |
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— |
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—4 |
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Shares of Class A common stock underlying the Warrants
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7,187,500 Shares
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$ |
11.50 |
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$ |
82,656,250 |
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$ |
9,017.80 |
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Total
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$ |
370,156,250 |
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$ |
40,384.055 |
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1
Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(a) under the Securities Act.
2
Includes 3,750,000 units, consisting of 3,750,000 shares of Class A common stock and 937,500 redeemable warrants, that may be issued upon exercise of a 45-day option granted to the underwriter to cover over-allotments, if any.
3
Pursuant to Rule 416, there are also being registered an indeterminable number of additional securities as may be issued to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.
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No fee pursuant to Rule 457(g) under the Securities Act.
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Previously paid.
The Registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Subject to Completion, dated March 1, 2021
PROSPECTUS
$250,000,000
Digital Transformation Opportunities Corp.
25,000,000 Units
Digital Transformation Opportunities Corp. is a blank check company newly incorporated as a Delaware corporation for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities, which we refer to as our initial business combination. We have not selected any specific business combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, initiated any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target.
This is an initial public offering of our securities. Each unit has an offering price of $10.00 and consists of one share of Class A common stock and one-fourth of one redeemable warrant. Each whole warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described herein. Only whole warrants are exercisable. The warrants will become exercisable 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination and will expire five years after the completion of our initial business combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation, as described in this prospectus. Subject to the terms and conditions described in this prospectus, we may redeem the warrants for cash once the warrants become exercisable. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade. The underwriter has a 45-day option from the date of this prospectus to purchase up to an additional 3,750,000 units to cover over-allotments, if any.
We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their shares of Class A common stock 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 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 and not previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding shares of Class A common stock that were sold as part of the units in this offering, which we refer to collectively as our public shares, subject to the limitations described herein. If we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or during any stockholder-approved extension period, 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 on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations described herein.
Our sponsor, Digital Transformation Sponsor LLC, has agreed to purchase an aggregate of 5,000,000 warrants (or 5,500,000 warrants if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full), at a price of $1.50 per warrant ($7,500,000 in the aggregate, or $8,250,000 if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full), each exercisable to purchase one share of our Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, in a private placement that will close concurrently with the closing of this offering. We refer to these warrants as the private placement warrants.
Our initial stockholders, which include our sponsor, own an aggregate of 7,187,500 shares of our Class B common stock (up to 937,500 shares of which are subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised), which will automatically convert into shares of Class A common stock at the time of our initial business combination, or earlier at the option of the holder, as described herein. Only holders of Class B common stock will have the right to vote on the election of directors and to remove directors prior to our initial business combination.
Currently, there is no public market for our units, Class A common stock or warrants. We have applied to have our units listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”), under the symbol “DTOCU”. We cannot guarantee that our securities will be approved for trading on the Nasdaq. We expect that our units will begin trading on or promptly after the date of this prospectus.
The units are expected to begin trading on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. We expect the Class A common stock and warrants comprising the units will begin separate trading on the 52nd day following the date of this prospectus (or, if such date is not a business day, the following business day) unless the underwriter informs us of its decision to allow earlier separate trading, subject to our having filed the Current Report on Form 8-K described below and having issued a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. Once the securities comprising the units begin separate trading, we expect that the Class A common stock and warrants will be listed on the Nasdaq under the symbols “DTOC” and “DTOCW”, respectively.
We are an “emerging growth company” and a “smaller reporting company” under applicable federal securities laws and will be subject to reduced public company reporting requirements. Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 34 of this prospectus for a discussion of information that should be considered in connection with an investment in our securities. Investors will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors in Rule 419 blank check offerings.
Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
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Per Unit
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Total
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Public offering price
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$ |
10.00 |
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$ |
250,000,000 |
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Underwriting discounts and commissions1
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$ |
0.55 |
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$ |
13,750,000 |
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Proceeds, before expenses, to Digital Transformation Opportunities Corp.
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$ |
9.45 |
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$ |
236,250,000 |
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Includes $0.35 per unit, or $8,750,000 (or $10,062,500 if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) in the aggregate, payable to
the underwriter for deferred underwriting commissions that will be placed in a trust account located in the United States as described herein. The deferred commissions will be released to the underwriter only on completion of an initial business combination, as described in this prospectus. Does not include certain fees and expenses payable to the underwriter in connection with this offering. See the section of this prospectus entitled “Underwriting” for a description of underwriting compensation payable to the underwriter.
Of the proceeds we receive from this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants described in this prospectus, $250,000,000, or $287,500,000 if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full ($10.00 per unit in either case), will be deposited into a trust account in the United States with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee, and $2,500,000 will be available to pay fees and expenses in connection with the closing of this offering and for working capital following the closing of this offering. The proceeds deposited in the trust account could become subject to the claims of our creditors, if any, which could have priority over the claims of our public stockholders.
The underwriter is offering the units for sale on a firm commitment basis. The underwriter expects to deliver the units to the purchasers on or about , 2021.
Barclays
Prospectus dated , 2021
Table of contents
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1 |
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33 |
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34 |
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73 |
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77 |
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78 |
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80 |
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81 |
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86 |
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117 |
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125 |
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128 |
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131 |
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149 |
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158 |
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165 |
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165 |
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165 |
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F-1
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We are responsible for the information contained in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information, and neither we nor the underwriter takes any responsibility for any other information others may give to you. We are not, and the underwriter is not, making an offer to sell securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of this prospectus.
SUMMARY
This summary only highlights the more detailed information appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. As this is a summary, it does not contain all of the information that you should consider in making an investment decision. You should read this entire prospectus carefully, including the information under the section of this prospectus entitled “Risk Factors” and our financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus, before investing.
Unless otherwise stated in this prospectus, or the context otherwise requires, references to:
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“common stock” are to our Class A common stock and our Class B common stock, collectively;
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“directors” are to our current directors and our director nominees named in this prospectus;
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“equity-linked securities” are to any debt or equity securities that are convertible, exercisable or exchangeable for shares of our Class A common stock issued in connection with our initial business combination, including, but not limited to, a private placement of equity or debt;
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“founder shares” are to shares of our Class B common stock owned by our sponsor and our other initial stockholders prior to this offering, and the shares of our Class A common stock issued upon the conversion thereof as provided herein (for the avoidance of doubt, such shares of Class A common stock will not be “public shares”);
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“initial stockholders” are to our sponsor and any other holders of founder shares prior to this offering (or their permitted transferees);
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“management” or our “management team” are to our officers;
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“private placement warrants” are to the warrants to be issued to our sponsor in a private placement concurrently with the closing of this offering;
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“public shares” are to shares of our Class A common stock sold as part of the units in this offering (whether they are purchased in this offering or thereafter in the open market);
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“public stockholders” are to the holders of our public shares, including our initial stockholders to the extent our initial stockholders purchase public shares, provided that each initial stockholder’s status as a “public stockholder” shall only exist with respect to such public shares;
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“public warrants” are to our redeemable warrants sold as part of the units in this offering (whether they are purchased in this offering or thereafter in the open market), to the private placement warrants if held by third parties other than our sponsor (or its permitted transferees), and to any private placement warrants issued upon conversion of working capital loans that are sold to third parties that are not initial purchasers or members of our management team (or permitted transferees);
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“sponsor” are to our sponsor, Digital Transformation Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company;
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“warrants” are to our redeemable warrants, which include the public warrants and the private placement warrants; and
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“we,” “us,” “company,” “our” or “our company” are to Digital Transformation Opportunities Corp.
Each unit consists of one share of our Class A common stock and one-fourth of one redeemable warrant. Each whole warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of our Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described in this prospectus, and only whole warrants are exercisable. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade. Accordingly, unless you purchase at least three units, you will not be able to receive or trade a whole warrant.
Registered trademarks referred to in this prospectus are the property of their respective owners. Unless we tell you otherwise, the information in this prospectus assumes that the underwriter will not exercise its over-allotment option.
Our Company
We are a blank check company incorporated in November 2020 as a Delaware corporation whose business purpose is to effect a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses, which we refer to as our initial business combination. 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.
While we may pursue an initial business combination opportunity in any business, industry, sector or geographical location, we intend to focus our investment efforts on the healthcare industry, with a particular focus on healthcare technology and adjacent verticals. Our strategy will be to identify and acquire an established business with attractive growth prospects and at a compelling value proposition for our shareholders. Post business combination we believe our management team and advisors are well-suited to assist our partner company with executing on its financial, strategic and operational growth plans in order to create long-term shareholder value. While we may pursue an acquisition opportunity broadly across the entire healthcare industry, we intend to focus on areas that leverage technology to improve healthcare quality and clinical outcomes, lower operating costs, enhance access and improve the consumer, payor and/or provider experience. We expect to source potential investment opportunities through the proprietary and differentiated network our collective team brings—including our management team, Board of Directors and advisors—through investing in, operating and growing healthcare and technology businesses over multiple decades.
We will seek to capitalize on the operational and investment experience of our founder and CEO, Kevin Nazemi. Mr. Nazemi has worked in the healthcare and technology sectors for over 15 years and has focused his career on leveraging technology to improve the delivery and quality of healthcare. In 2012, Mr. Nazemi co-founded Oscar Health, a technology-driven health insurance company, where he served as the Co-Chief Executive Officer from 2012 to 2015. Mr. Nazemi remains very active in the healthcare space, having advised, founded, and invested in numerous companies and he also currently serves on the Board of Directors of Premera Blue Cross, the largest health plan in the Pacific Northwest. Through these efforts, Mr. Nazemi has built a deep network of founders and investors that we intend to leverage to pursue our initial business combination.
Our Management Team and Board of Directors
Our management team and Board of Directors includes Kevin Nazemi, Kyle Francis, Bradley Fluegel, Jim Moffatt, and Heather Zynczak. We believe that our team collectively has deep healthcare and technology industry experience as entrepreneurs, operators, executives, board members and investors. Through our collective access to contacts and relationships, ranging from owners of private and public companies, private equity and venture capital funds, investment bankers, attorneys, accountants and business brokers, DTOC is well positioned to take advantage of the growing set of acquisition opportunities focused on the healthcare industry to consummate an attractive transaction for our shareholders and to execute upon various value creation initiatives after successful completion of our business combination.
Mr. Kevin Nazemi serves as our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Nazemi has worked in the healthcare and technology sectors for over 15 years and has focused his career on leveraging technology to improve the delivery and quality of healthcare. Mr. Nazemi co-founded two different companies in the healthcare technology space—Oscar Health (a technology-driven health insurance company) and Renew Health (a technology-driven health platform focused on retirees). Mr. Nazemi co-founded Renew in January 2016 and served as the Chief Executive Officer from January 2016 to January 2020. Prior to Renew, Mr. Nazemi co-founded Oscar Health in October 2012 and served as the Co Chief Executive Officer from December 2012 to March 2015. Mr. Nazemi started his career at Microsoft Corporation in June 2003, where he served in numerous roles across the organization.
Mr. Nazemi currently serves as a Partner at Lobby 7 Capital, a startup investment and incubation firm, and on the Board of Directors of Premera Blue Cross, the largest health plan in the Pacific Northwest. Mr. Nazemi completed a joint MBA/MPP program offered by the Harvard Kennedy School, where he was
a Zuckerman Fellow, and the Harvard Business School, where he was a Paul & Daisy Soros Fellow. Mr. Nazemi has a BS from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Mr. Kyle Francis serves as our Chief Financial Officer and Secretary. Mr. Francis is a seasoned executive with extensive experience in the healthcare industry and financial operations. Mr. Francis recently served as an executive at Southern California Reproductive Center, a leading chain of fertility clinics, as Chief Executive Officer from September 2015 to June 2020 and Chief Financial Officer from May 2014 to September 2015. Mr. Francis negotiated and oversaw the sale of the business to Women’s Care Enterprises in December 2019. Mr. Francis served as Chief Financial Officer from December 2010 to May 2014 and EVP Business Development from November 2008 to December 2010 of Apollo Medical Holdings, a publicly traded healthcare management company. Mr. Francis also served as an investment banker at CIBC World Markets for 8 years from March 2000 to September 2008 in the middle market and capital markets groups.
Mr. Francis currently serves as a director for Racerocks, Inc., a Canadian technology company focused on VR Training and remote learning for the defense industry. Mr. Francis also acts as an executive advisor to a number of private healthcare companies, assisting founders to develop growth strategies and expand business lines. Mr. Francis has a BCom from McGill University.
Mr. Bradley Fluegel will serve as a director upon consummation of this offering. Mr. Fluegel currently advises a number of technology-enabled healthcare companies including Cricket Health, Galileo, Hims & Hers, Pager, Covera Health and VillageMD. Mr. Fluegel was most recently the Senior Vice President, Chief Healthcare Commercial Market Development Officer and Chief Strategy and Business Development Officer for Walgreens from October 2012 to January 2018. Prior to Walgreens, Mr. Fluegel served as an executive in residence at Health Evolution Partners from April 2011 to September 2012, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy and External Affairs Officer of Anthem from October 2007 to December 2010, Senior Vice President of National Accounts and Vice President of Enterprise Strategy at Aetna from March 2005 to September 2007, and Principal and then Chief Executive Officer for Reden & Anders (Optum Consulting) from October 2002 to February 2005. Mr. Fluegel currently serves on the Board of Directors of Alight Solutions, Metropolitan Jewish Health System in New York City, Performant Financial Corporation, AdhereHealth and Premera Blue Cross and formerly served on the Board of Directors of Fitbit prior to Google’s acquisition of the company. Mr. Fluegel earned a MPP from the Harvard Kennedy School and a BBA from the University of Washington. Mr. Fluegel also serves as a lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business.
Mr. Jim Moffatt will serve as a director upon consummation of this offering. Mr. Moffatt had an extensive career at Deloitte spanning nearly 32 years in which he held numerous leadership roles, including: Vice Chairman of Deloitte Consulting from January 2018 to December 2018, Global CEO of Deloitte Consulting from June 2015 to December 2017, Deputy CEO—Global for Deloitte U.S. from April 2015 to March 2017, Chairman and CEO for Deloitte Consulting U.S. from May 2011 to December 2015, Managing Principal for Deloitte U.S. Consulting Clients & Industries from June 2009 to May 2011, and National Managing Director Consulting Client Excellence and Regions Leader from June 2007 to May 2009. Mr. Moffatt joined Deloitte Consulting in 1987 and was admitted as Principal in June 1994. While at Deloitte, Mr. Moffatt advised a number of leading companies in the healthcare and technology sectors and was recognized as a talent cultivator, for his ability to drive growth at any scale, and for his leadership in a networked economy. Mr. Moffatt currently serves on several advisory boards including Centre for Neuro Skills, SparkCognition, and Icertis and is a strategic advisor to the board of Optiv Security, Inc. Mr. Moffatt is also a strategic advisor to Bridgepoint LLC, TenOneTen, Greycroft, Kyriba, and March Capital. He also serves on academic committees for organizations including UCLA Anderson School and the UCLA Chancellor’s Cabinet Council. Mr. Moffatt holds an MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management and a BA from University of California, San Diego.
Ms. Heather Zynczak will serve as a director upon consummation of this offering. Ms. Zynczak was formerly the Chief Marketing Officer of Pluralsight from August 2016 to October 2020, where she helped lead the company to a successful IPO in May 2018. Prior to Pluralsight, Ms. Zynczak served as Chief Marketing Officer of Domo from March 2012 to August 2016, Global Vice President of Marketing of SAP from February 2006 to March 2012, and Senior Director of Product Strategy of Oracle from September 2001 to February 2006. Prior to serving in these executive roles, Ms. Zynczak served in consulting roles with Booz Allen and Hamilton from June 1998 to July 1999, The Boston Consulting Group from June 1997 to
August 1997, and Accenture from June 1993 to July 1996. Ms. Zynczak currently serves on the Board of Directors of Thryv. Mz. Zynczak has an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a BBA from University of Texas at Austin.
We believe that our broad network of relationships, including investors in private and public equity as well as seasoned operators, uniquely positions us to capitalize on the technology revolution that is changing the healthcare system. Our broad team has been constructed with a diverse set of skills and knowledge that we believe will drive to a successful business combination with a leading healthcare technology company. Our broad team has the following attributes, which we believe are a distinct competitive advantage in our ability to source and consummate a transaction:
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Deep healthcare industry relationships across the entire spectrum of stakeholders, including with payors, provider groups, investment firms, leading companies, and industry thought leaders.
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Differentiated approach to driving long-term value creation, honed through years of operating and investment experience in high growth sectors of healthcare such as value-based healthcare and consumer-driven healthcare.
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Robust pipeline of potential targets that meet our acquisition criteria through our broad network of relationships and meticulous approach to defining and refining our target opportunity set.
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Experience positioning private companies for public markets.
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Connectivity to key decision makers in the healthcare technology executive and investor community through our collective network.
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Ability to drive value creation post-transaction through a strategic playbook that embraces the role of technology to improve the healthcare system.
With respect to the above, past experience or performance of our management team and their respective affiliates is not a guarantee of either (i) our ability to successfully identify and execute a transaction or (ii) success with respect to any business combination that we may consummate. You should not rely on the historical record of our management team or their respective affiliates as indicative of future performance. Our management team and their respective affiliates have been involved with a large number of public and private companies in addition to those identified above, not all of which have achieved similar performance levels. See “Risk Factors—Past performance by our management team or their respective affiliates may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in us.” No member of our management team has any experience in operating special purpose acquisition vehicles.
Market Opportunity
Technology is a powerful tool to improve the way we work, the way we communicate and the way we live. We have seen technology utilized as a tool to dramatically change industries. Even industries that are global, highly fragmented and with millions of participants have seen rapid change and improvement by companies that have successfully utilized technology. Uber has improved consumer access to transportation, Airbnb has improved consumer access to accommodations, and DoorDash has improved consumer access to restaurants. These are just a handful of examples of companies that have a technology-first approach and are driving digital transformation of their respective industries.
Companies that are driving digital transformation are taking significant market share from incumbent companies that have not successfully adapted to the changing world and customer wants and needs. These companies that are driving digital transformation are growing rapidly and are positioned to be market leaders because they drive improvement in both the end-customer experience and in their operational efficiency. We are still in the early innings of the digital transformation of major industries.
One of the largest industries, and one that is in the greatest need of digital transformation, is the healthcare industry. In the U.S. alone, healthcare spending was $3.8 trillion or $11,582 per person in 2019 according to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. As a share of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, health spending accounted for 17.7 percent. Despite the significant amount the U.S. spends on healthcare, there are still major challenges across almost all aspects of the industry and customer experience. From the end-customer perspective, there are challenges with navigating the healthcare system, understanding
what type of care is needed and when, getting access to the right type of care, the quality and consistency of care, understanding what the cost of that care will be, and having the ability to pay for that care. These challenges will not be solved by spending even more on the healthcare system. On the contrary, these challenges will be solved by adopting technology.
We see a tremendous opportunity for companies that are applying digital transformation to disrupt and improve various components of the healthcare system. Companies that have utilized technology to improve healthcare—such as GoodRx (pharmacy), Livongo (disease management), and Teladoc (physician visits)—have seen tremendous growth in revenue and value, but still represent a small fraction of the overall healthcare industry. We believe that significant room remains for continued innovation in the healthcare market.
Business Strategy
Our strategy is to merge with a high growth company that has leveraged technology to make a significant improvement to the healthcare industry and has achieved or is expected to achieve leadership in its target market. We believe that there are numerous target opportunities available to DTOC which exhibit attractive growth characteristics, are meaningful in scale, and are driving digital transformation of various sectors of the healthcare industry. These target opportunities include companies supporting or enabling healthcare providers, healthcare facilities, practice management, billings & collections, health insurance, managed care, drug development, pharmaceuticals including digital therapeutics, healthcare financing solutions, and pharmacies.
We have a thematic and proactive investment strategy to identify and merge with a target company. We will leverage our deep healthcare and technology sector expertise to identify the companies that we think are best positioned in their respective sectors to capture leading market share and long-term growth. We will leverage our relationships with company founders and venture capital and growth equity investment firms to continue to source and build a pipeline of such well-positioned companies. We have cultivated a high priority list of potential targets that fit our investment criteria that we plan to pursue following our offering. We also plan to draw on the broad network and experience of our advisors to support our sourcing, diligence and transaction execution process. We will select a company that fits our acquisition criteria and that we expect to have sustainable long-term equity value appreciation as a public company.
We are particularly focused on targets that are benefiting from long-term, secular tailwinds in healthcare, including the migration to consumer-driven healthcare and value-based healthcare.
Consumer-driven Healthcare
Consumers are increasingly more proactive about their health and their healthcare, driven by multiple factors. More consumers are researching their health and healthcare providers online and are becoming more directive about their healthcare needs and selective of their healthcare providers. High deductible health plans require consumers to pay more out of pocket, so consumers are becoming more sensitive to which services they utilize and the cost of those services. Additionally, more healthcare is accessible in retail settings (e.g., Walmart, Walgreens) and directly from home via telehealth, giving consumers more convenient access to and options for care. The migration to consumer-driven healthcare presents several attractive areas for investment including:
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Marketing technology and lead generation for providers and insurers to support customer acquisition.
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Marketplaces for customers to find healthcare providers, services, and products with transparency on price, quality and customer experience.
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Physician and facility practice management technology to support contracting, revenue cycle management, and patient services including scheduling, communication, payments, and pharmacy services.
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Consumer-facing technology to support telehealth, health data access, education and other patient services.
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Well-being and preventative health solutions accessed directly by employees through employer health benefits technology platforms.
Value-based Healthcare
Healthcare costs are high and growing in the U.S., with consumers bearing these costs either directly or indirectly through taxes, social security, and their employers. U.S. healthcare spending is projected to grow to $6.2 trillion by 2028 and represent 19.7% of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product. U.S. healthcare is not well coordinated due to historical regulations that discouraged or even prevented collaboration between different providers. Additionally, U.S. healthcare is inefficient due to a reimbursement model that incentivizes the quantity of services rendered instead of the quality of care or outcomes. Given the status quo fee-for-service model in healthcare is both expensive and does not lead to the best quality of care, there is a drive from both government payors (Medicare and Medicaid) and employers to move away from the current fee-for-service model to value-based care models including managed care. This migration to value-based care presents several attractive areas for investment including:
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Technology enabling payors and providers to manage care for a patient population to improve quality and lower costs.
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Technology enabling providers to price and take risk for managing a patient population.
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Communications platforms that improve coordination among providers and between providers and their patients.
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Data analytics and management tools that leverage AI to improve transparency, efficiency, and/or quality of care by enabling insurers, self-insured employers, or at-risk providers to analyze utilization, expenses and identify areas for savings.
Acquisition Criteria
Consistent with our business strategy, we have identified the following general criteria and guidelines that we believe are important in evaluating prospective target businesses. We will use these criteria and guidelines in evaluating acquisition opportunities, but we may decide to enter into our initial business combination with a target business that does not meet these criteria and guidelines:
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Technology-first Business Model—the target business has a strong technology foundation that will enable continued scaling as technology is leveraged to serve customers in a manner that is superior to the status quo.
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Compelling Customer Value Proposition—the target business has a customer-centric focus reflected in a strong NPS and customer loyalty, which creates a sustainable competitive advantage.
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Strong Competitive Position—the target business uses scale, brand, and technology to differentiate its offering vis-à-vis competitors.
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Favorable Industry Tailwinds—the target business is supported by long-term consumer- and industry-specific tailwinds and focused on sectors with resilient or growing demand characteristics.
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Attractive and Repeatable Unit Economics—the target business has unit economics that are attractive and can be scaled without a material decline in return on growth investments.
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Entrepreneurial Management Team—the management team of the target business is entrepreneurial, data-driven, and committed to the long-term growth of the business.
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 from time to time our management may deem relevant.
In evaluating a prospective target business, we expect to conduct a thorough due diligence review which will encompass, among other things, meetings with incumbent management and employees, document reviews, inspection of facilities, as well as a review of financial, operational, legal and other information which will be made available to us.
Initial Business Combination
Nasdaq listing rules require that our initial business combination must be with one or more target businesses that together have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the value of the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting fees and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account) at the time of our signing a definitive agreement in connection with our initial business combination. We refer to this as the 80% of fair market value test. The fair market value of the target or targets will be determined by our board of directors based upon one or more standards generally accepted by the financial community (such as actual and potential sales, earnings, cash flow and/or book value). Even though our board of directors will rely on generally accepted standards, our board of directors will have discretion to select the standards employed. In addition, the application of the standards generally involves a substantial degree of judgment. Accordingly, investors will be relying on the business judgment of the board of directors in evaluating the fair market value of the target or targets. The proxy solicitation materials or tender offer documents used by us in connection with any proposed transaction will provide public stockholders with our analysis of our satisfaction of the 80% of fair market value test, as well as the basis for our determinations. If our board of directors is not able to independently determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses, 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 the 80% of fair market value test. While we consider it unlikely that our board of directors will not 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 a target’s assets or prospects. In addition, we have agreed not to enter into a definitive agreement regarding an initial business combination without the prior consent of our sponsor.
We anticipate structuring our initial business combination so that the post-transaction company in which our public stockholders own shares will own or acquire 100% of the outstanding 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 stockholders 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 stockholders prior to our initial business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post-transaction company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the initial 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 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 stockholders immediately prior to our initial business combination could own less than a majority of our 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 fair market value test. If our initial business combination involves more than one target business, the 80% of fair market value test will be based on the aggregate value of all of the target businesses.
We will file 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 will be 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
Other Considerations
In evaluating a prospective target business, we expect to conduct a thorough due diligence review, which will encompass, among other things, meetings with incumbent management and employees, document reviews, inspection of facilities, as well as a review of financial, operational, legal and other information which will be made available to us.
We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination or subsequent transaction with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers or directors. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination or, subject to certain exceptions, subsequent material transactions with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers or directors, we, or a committee of independent directors, to the extent required by applicable law or based upon the direction of our board of directors or a committee thereof, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), or from another entity that commonly renders valuation opinions that such initial business combination or transaction is fair to our company from a financial point of view.
Members of our management team will directly or indirectly own our securities following this offering, and accordingly, they may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination. Further, each of our officers and directors may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination if the retention or resignation of any such officers and directors was included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination.
Our officers and directors are not required to commit any specified amount of time to our affairs, and, accordingly, will have conflicts of interest in allocating management time among various business activities, including identifying potential business combinations and monitoring the related due diligence. As described in “Proposed Business—Other Considerations”, certain of our directors presently have, and any of our officers and directors in the future may have, additional fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties to one or more other entities pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity to such entities. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer of our company and such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company and such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue. Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for one or more entities to which he or she has fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties, he or she will honor these obligations and duties to present such business combination opportunity to such entities first, and only present it to us if such entities reject the opportunity and he or she determines to present the opportunity to us.
While our sponsor and its affiliates will not have any duty to offer acquisition opportunities to us, our sponsor and its affiliates may become aware of a potential transaction that is an attractive opportunity for us, which it may decide to share with us. Conflicts may arise from Digital Transformation Sponsor LLC’s sponsorship of our company, as well as from actions undertaken by Digital Transformation Sponsor LLC or any of its affiliates for their own account. When acting for their own account, Digital Transformation Sponsor LLC or any of its affiliates’ other activities may, individually or in the aggregate, have an adverse effect on us, and the interests of Digital Transformation Sponsor LLC or any of its affiliates may at times be adverse to ours. Please see “Proposed Business—Certain Potential Conflicts of Interest” for additional information regarding certain potential conflicts of interest.
We do not believe, however, that the fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties of our officers or directors or our sponsor and its affiliates, will materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.
Corporate Information
Our executive offices are located at 10485 NE 6th Street, Unit 3930, Bellevue, Washington 98004 and our telephone number is (360) 949-1111. We maintain a corporate website at dtocorp.com. The information contained on or accessible through our corporate website or any other website that we may maintain is not part of this prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
Emerging Growth Company and Smaller Reporting Company Status
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act. As such, we are eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the prices of our securities may be more volatile.
In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an emerging growth company can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We intend to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period.
We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the completion of this offering, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion (as adjusted for inflation pursuant to SEC rules from time to time), or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the aggregate worldwide market value of our Class A common stock that is held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $700,000,000 as of the prior June 30th, and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period. References herein to emerging growth company will have the meaning associated with it in the JOBS Act.
Additionally, we are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K. Smaller reporting companies may take advantage of certain reduced disclosure obligations, including, among other things, providing only two years of audited financial statements. We will remain a smaller reporting company until the last day of the fiscal year in which (1) the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $250,000,000 as of the prior June 30th and (2) our annual revenues equaled or exceeded $100,000,000 during such completed fiscal year or the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $700,000,000 as of the prior June 30th.
THE OFFERING
In deciding whether to invest in our securities, you should take into account not only the backgrounds of the members of our management team, but also the special risks we face as a blank check company and the fact that this offering is not being conducted in compliance with Rule 419 promulgated under the Securities Act. You will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors in Rule 419 blank check offerings. You should carefully consider these and the other risks set forth in the section of this prospectus entitled “Risk Factors.”
25,000,000 units (28,750,000 units if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full), at $10.00 per unit, each unit consisting of:
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one share of Class A common stock; and
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one-fourth of one redeemable warrant.
Units: “DTOCU”
Class A common stock: “DTOC”
Warrants: “DTOCW”
Trading commencement and separation of Class A common stock and warrants
The units are expected to begin trading on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. We expect the Class A common stock and warrants comprising the units will begin separate trading on the 52nd day following the date of this prospectus (or, if such date is not a business day, the following business day) unless the underwriter informs us of its decision to allow earlier separate trading, subject to our having filed the Current Report on Form 8-K described below and having issued a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. Once the shares of Class A common stock and warrants commence separate trading, holders will have the option to continue to hold units or separate their units into the component securities. Holders will need to have their brokers contact our transfer agent in order to separate the units into shares of Class A common stock and warrants. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade. Accordingly, unless you purchase at least four units, you will not be able to receive or trade a whole warrant.
Additionally, the units will automatically separate into their component parts and will not be traded after completion of our initial business combination.
In no event will the Class A common stock and warrants be traded separately until we have filed a Current Report on Form 8-K with the SEC containing an audited balance sheet reflecting our receipt of the gross proceeds at the closing of this offering. We will file the Current Report on Form 8-K promptly after the closing of this offering. If the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised following the initial filing of such Current Report on Form 8-K, a second or amended Current Report on Form 8-K will be filed to provide updated financial information to reflect the exercise of the underwriter’s over-allotment option.
Units:
Number outstanding before this offering
0
Number outstanding after this offering
25,000,000 1
Common Stock:
Number outstanding before this offering
7,187,500 shares of Class B common stock2
Number outstanding after this offering
31,250,000 shares of common stock3
Redeemable Warrants:
Number of private placement warrants to be sold in a private placement concurrently with this offering
5,000,0001
Number of warrants to be outstanding after this offering and the private placement
11,250,0001
Each whole warrant is exercisable to purchase one share of our Class A common stock, subject to adjustment as provided herein, and only whole warrants are exercisable.
We structured each unit to contain one-fourth of one redeemable warrant, with each whole warrant exercisable for one share of Class A common stock in order to reduce the dilutive effect of the warrants upon completion of an initial business combination.
$11.50 per share of Class A common stock, subject to adjustment as described herein.
In addition, if (x) we issue additional shares of Class A common stock or equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of our initial business combination at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $9.20 per share (with such issue price or effective issue price to be determined in good faith by our board of directors and, (i) in the case of any such issuance to our sponsor or any of its affiliates, without taking into account any founder shares held by our sponsor or such affiliates, as applicable, prior to such issuance, and (ii) to the extent that such issuance is made to our sponsor or any of its affiliates, without taking into account the transfer of founder shares or private placement warrants (including if such transfer is effectuated as a surrender to us and subsequent reissuance by us) by our sponsor in connection with such issuance) (the “Newly Issued Price”), (y) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for the funding of our initial business combination on the date of the
1
Assumes no exercise of the underwriter’s over-allotment option and the forfeiture by our sponsor of 937,500 shares of Class B common stock.
2
Includes up to 937,500 shares that are subject to forfeiture by our sponsor depending on the extent to which the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised.
3
Comprised of 25,000,000 shares of Class A common stock and 6,250,000 shares of Class B common stock (or founder shares). The Class B common stock is automatically convertible into shares of our Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment as described below adjacent to the caption “Founder shares conversion and anti-dilution rights.”
consummation of our initial business combination (net of redemptions), and (z) the volume weighted average trading price of our common stock during the 20 trading day period starting on the trading day prior to the day on which we consummate our initial business combination (such price, the “Market Value”) is below $9.20 per share, the exercise price of the warrants will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 115% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, and the $18.00 per share redemption trigger price described below in “Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00” and “Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00” will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, and the $10.00 per share redemption trigger described below in “Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00” will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price.
The warrants will become exercisable 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination; provided that we have an effective registration statement under the Securities Act covering the issuance of the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants and a current prospectus relating to them is available and such shares are registered, qualified or exempt from registration under the securities, or blue sky, laws of the state of residence of the holder (or we permit holders to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis under the circumstances specified in the warrant agreement, including our (i) failure to have an effective registration statement by the 60th business day after the closing of the initial business combination as described in the immediately following paragraph or (ii) as a result of a notice of redemption described below under “Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00”). If and when the warrants become redeemable by us, we may exercise our redemption rights even if we are unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under the applicable state securities laws.
We have agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 15 business days after the closing of our initial business combination, we will use our commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part or a new registration statement covering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants, and we will use our commercially reasonable efforts to cause such post-effective amendment or registration statement to become effective within 60 business days after the closing of our initial business combination and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement and a current prospectus relating to those shares of Class A common stock until the warrants expire or are redeemed, as specified in the warrant agreement; provided that if shares of our Class A common stock are at the time of any exercise of a public warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that they satisfy the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, we may, at our option, require holders of public warrants who exercise
their warrants to do so on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act and, in the event we so elect, we will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement, but we will use our commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available. If a registration statement covering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants is not effective by the 60th business day after the closing of our initial business combination, warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when we will have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise warrants on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act or another exemption. If that exemption, or another exemption, is not available, holders will not be able to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis.
The warrants will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, five years after the completion of our initial business combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation. On the exercise of any warrant, the warrant exercise price will be paid directly to us and not placed in the trust account.
Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00
Once the warrants become exercisable, we may redeem the outstanding warrants (except as described herein with respect to the private placement warrants):
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in whole and not in part;
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at a price of $0.01 per warrant;
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upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption, which we refer to as the 30-day redemption period; and
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if, and only if, the last reported sale price of our Class A common stock for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which we send the notice of redemption to the warrant holders (the “Reference Value”) equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like and certain issuances of Class A common stock and equity-linked securities).
We will not redeem the warrants as described above unless an effective registration statement under the Securities Act covering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants is effective and a current prospectus relating to those shares of Class A common stock is available throughout the 30-day redemption period. Any such exercise would not be on a “cashless” basis and would require the exercising holder to pay the exercise price for each warrant being exercised.
None of the private placement warrants will be redeemable by us (except as described below under “Redemption of warrants when the
price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00”) so long as they are held by our sponsor or its permitted transferees.
Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00
Once the warrants become exercisable, we may redeem the outstanding warrants:
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in whole and not in part;
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at $0.10 per warrant upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption, provided that holders will be able to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis prior to redemption and receive that number of shares determined by reference to the table set forth under “Description of Securities—Warrants—Public Stockholders’ Warrants” based on the redemption date and the “fair market value” of our Class A common stock (as defined below);
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if, and only if, the Reference Value equals or exceeds $10.00 per public share (as adjusted per stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like and certain issuances of Class A common stock and equity-linked securities); and
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if, and only if, the Reference Value is less than $18.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like and certain issuances of Class A common stock and equity-linked securities), the private placement warrants are also concurrently called for redemption on the same terms as the outstanding public warrants, as described above.
The “fair market value” of our Class A common stock for the above purpose shall mean the volume-weighted average price of our Class A common stock as reported during the ten trading days immediately following the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of warrants. We will provide our warrant holders with the final fair market value no later than one business day after the ten-trading day period described above ends. In no event will the warrants be exercisable in connection with this redemption feature for more than 0.361 shares of Class A common stock per whole warrant (subject to adjustment).
No fractional shares of Class A common stock will be issued upon redemption. If, upon redemption, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, we will round down to the nearest whole number of shares of Class A common stock to be issued to the holder. Please see the section of this prospectus entitled “Description of Securities—Redeemable Warrants—Public Stockholders’ Warrants” for additional information.
On January 8, 2021, our sponsor purchased 7,187,500 shares of Class B common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or approximately $0.003 per share. The per share purchase price of the Class B common stock was determined by dividing the amount
of cash contributed to the company by the aggregate number of shares of Class B common stock issued.
The number of shares of Class B common stock issued was determined based on the expectation that the shares of Class B common stock would represent 20% of the outstanding shares after this offering.
Up to 937,500 shares of Class B common stock will be subject to forfeiture by our sponsor depending on the extent to which the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised so that our initial stockholders will maintain ownership of 20% of our common stock (excluding any shares underlying units our initial stockholders may purchase in this offering) after this offering.
Our sponsor has agreed to transfer 25,000 founder shares to each of our independent director nominees, and 150,000 founder shares to Kyle Francis, our Chief Financial Officer. These founder shares are not subject to forfeiture in the event the underwriter’s over-allotment option is not exercised.
The shares of Class B common stock are identical to the shares of Class A common stock included in the units being sold in this offering, except that:
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only holders of the Class B common stock have the right to vote on the election of directors prior to our initial business combination and holders of a majority of our shares of Class B common stock may remove a member of the board of directors for any reason;
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prior to the completion of our initial business combination, with respect to any matter submitted to a vote of our stockholders, including any vote in connection with our initial business combination, other than the appointment of directors prior to the completion of our initial business combination, except as required by law or the applicable rules of Nasdaq then in effect, holders of our founders shares and holders of our public shares will vote together as a single class, with each public share entitling the holder to one vote per public share and each founder share entity the holder to a number of votes per founder share such that all of the founders shares would be entitled to cast a number of votes equal to 20% of the combined voting power of the founders shares and holders of our public shares voting together as a single class;
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the shares of Class B common stock automatically convert into shares of our Class A common stock at the time of our initial business combination, or at any time prior thereto at the option of the holder, on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment pursuant to certain anti-dilution rights, as described herein;
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the shares of Class B common stock are subject to certain transfer restrictions, as described in more detail below;
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our sponsor and each of our officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to (i) waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares and public shares in connection with the
completion of our initial business combination, (ii) waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares and public shares in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity and (iii) waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to their founder shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or during any extended time that we have to consummate a business combination beyond 24 months as a result of a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (an “Extension Period”), although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed timeframe;
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pursuant to the letter agreement, our sponsor and each of our officers and directors have agreed to vote any founder shares held by them and any public shares purchased during or after this offering (including in open market and privately negotiated transactions) in favor of our initial business combination. Further, we have agreed not to enter into a definitive agreement and initial business combination without the prior consent of our sponsor. If we submit our initial business combination to our public stockholders for a vote, we will complete our initial business combination only if a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock voted are voted in favor of the initial business combination. As a result, in addition to the founder shares, which are entitled to 20% of the combined voting power of the founders shares and public shares voting together as a single class, we would need only 9,375,001, or 37.5% (assuming all outstanding shares are voted and the underwriter’s over-allotment option is not exercised), of the 25,000,000 public shares sold in this offering to be voted in favor of an initial business combination in order to have our initial business combination approved; and
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the founder shares are entitled to registration rights.
Transfer restrictions on founder shares
Our initial stockholders have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of their founder shares until the earlier to occur of: (A) one year after the completion of our initial business combination or (B) subsequent to our initial business combination, (x) if the last reported sale price of our Class A common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after our initial business combination, or (y) the date on which we complete a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange or other
similar transaction that results in all of our stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property (except as described under the section of this prospectus entitled “Principal Stockholders—Restrictions on Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Warrants”), other than to specified permitted transferees or in connection with a complete liquidation, merger, share exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction following our initial business combination that results in all of our public stockholders having the right to exchange their common stock for cash, securities or other property. Any permitted transferees would be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements of our sponsor and founding team with respect to any founder shares and shares of Class A common stock issued upon conversion of any founder shares.
We refer to such transfer restrictions throughout this prospectus as the “lock-up.”
Founder shares conversion and anti-dilution rights
The shares of Class B common stock will automatically convert into shares of our Class A common stock at the time of our initial business combination on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like, and subject to further adjustment as provided herein. In the case that additional shares of Class A common stock, or equity-linked securities, are issued or deemed issued in excess of the amounts offered in this prospectus and related to the closing of the initial business combination, the ratio at which shares of Class B common stock shall convert into shares of Class A common stock will be adjusted (unless the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class B common stock agree to waive such adjustment with respect to any such issuance or deemed issuance) so that the number of shares of Class A common stock issuable upon conversion of all shares of Class B common stock will equal, in the aggregate, on an as-converted basis, 20% of the sum of (i) the total number of all shares of common stock outstanding upon the completion of this offering, plus (ii) all shares of Class A common stock and equity-linked securities issued or deemed issued in connection with the initial business combination (excluding any shares of Class A common stock or equity-linked securities issued, or to be issued, to any seller in the initial business combination and any private placement equivalent warrants issued to our sponsor or its affiliates upon conversion of loans made to us). Holders of founder shares may also elect to convert their shares of Class B common stock into an equal number of shares of Class A common stock, subject to adjustment as provided above, at any time. The term “equity-linked securities” refers to any debt or equity securities that are convertible, exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Class A common stock issued in a financing transaction in connection with our initial business combination, including but not limited to a private placement of equity or debt. Securities could be “deemed issued” for purposes of the conversion rate adjustment if such shares are issuable upon the conversion or exercise of convertible securities, warrants or similar securities
Election of directors;
voting rights
Prior to our initial business combination, only holders of our Class B common stock will have the right to vote on the election of directors. Holders of our public shares will not be entitled to vote on the election of directors during such time. In addition, prior to the completion of an initial business combination, holders of a majority of our Class B common stock may remove a member of the board of directors for any reason. These provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may only be amended by a resolution passed by holders of a majority of our Class B common stock. Each of our directors will hold office for a two-year term. With respect to any other matter submitted to a vote of our stockholders, including any vote in connection with our initial business combination, except as required by law or the applicable rules of Nasdaq then in effect, holders of our founder shares and holders of our Class A common stock will vote together as a single class, with each share of Class A common stock entitling the holder to one vote per share and each founder share entitling the holder to a number of votes per founder share such that all of the founder shares in the aggregate would be entitled to cast a number of votes equal to 20% of the combined voting power of the founder shares and holders of our public shares voting together as a single class.
Following the completion of our initial business combination, with respect to any matter submitted to a vote of our stockholders, except as required by law or the applicable rules of Nasdaq then in effect, holders of our founder shares and holders of shares of our Class A common stock shares will vote together as a single class, with each share entitling the holder to one vote.
Private placement warrants
Our sponsor has committed, pursuant to a written agreement, to purchase an aggregate of 5,000,000 private placement warrants (or 5,500,000 warrants if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $1.50 per whole warrant (including if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) in a private placement that will occur concurrently with the closing of this offering. Each whole private placement warrant is exercisable to purchase one share of our Class A common stock at $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described in this prospectus. A portion of the purchase price of the private placement warrants will be added to the proceeds from this offering to be held in the trust account such that at the time of closing $250,000,000 (or $287,500,000 if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be held in the trust account. If we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or during any Extension Period, the proceeds from the sale of the private placement warrants held in the trust account will be used to fund the redemption of our public shares (subject to the requirements of applicable law) and the private placement warrants will expire without value to the holder.
The private placement warrants will be non-redeemable by us (except as set forth under “Description of Securities—Redeemable Warrants—Public Stockholders’ Warrants—Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00”) and exercisable on a cashless basis so long as they are held by the sponsor or its permitted transferees (see “Description
of Securities—Redeemable Warrants— Placement Warrants”). If the private placement warrants are held by holders other than our sponsor or its permitted transferees, the private placement warrants will be redeemable by us and exercisable by the holders on the same basis as the warrants included in the units being sold in this offering.
Transfer restrictions on private placement warrants
The private placement warrants (including the Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants) will not be transferable, assignable or salable until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination, except as described under the section of this prospectus entitled “Principal Stockholders—Restrictions on Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Warrants.”
Cashless exercise of private placement warrants
If holders of private placement warrants elect to exercise them on a cashless basis, except as described under “Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00,” they would pay the exercise price by surrendering the warrants for that number of shares of Class A common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Class A common stock underlying the warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “fair market value” (as defined below) of our Class A common stock over the exercise price of the warrants by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” shall mean the average last reported sale price of the Class A common stock for the ten trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of exercise is received by the warrant agent or on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of warrants, as applicable. The reason that we have agreed that these warrants will be exercisable on a cashless basis so long as they are held by the sponsor or its permitted transferees is because it is not known at this time whether they will be affiliated with us following an initial business combination. If they remain affiliated with us, their ability to sell our securities in the open market will be significantly limited.
Proceeds to be held in trust account
Nasdaq rules provide that at least 90% of the gross proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants be deposited in a trust account. Of the net proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants, $250,000,000, or $10.00 per unit ($287,500,000, or $10.00 per unit, if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full), will be placed into a trust account in the United States with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee. These proceeds include $8,750,000 (or $10,062,500 if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) in deferred underwriting commissions.
Except with respect to interest earned on the funds held in the trust account that may be released to us to pay our franchise and income tax obligations (less up to $100,000 interest to pay dissolution expenses), the proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants will not be released from the trust account until the earliest of (a) the completion of our initial business combination, (b) the redemption of any public shares properly
submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (i) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (ii) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, and (c) the redemption of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or during any Extension Period, subject to applicable law. Public stockholders who redeem their shares of Class A common stock in connection with a stockholder vote described in clause (b) in the preceding sentence shall not be entitled to funds from the trust account upon the subsequent completion of an initial business combination or liquidation if we are unable to complete an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or during any Extension Period with respect to such shares of Class A common stock so redeemed. The proceeds deposited in the trust account could become subject to the claims of our creditors, if any, which could have priority over the claims of our public stockholders.
Anticipated expenses and funding sources
Except as described above with respect to the payment of franchise and income taxes, unless and until we complete our initial business combination, no proceeds held in the trust account will be available for our use. The proceeds held in the trust account, if invested, will be invested only in U.S. government securities 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. We will disclose in each quarterly and annual report filed with the SEC prior to our initial business combination whether the proceeds deposited in the trust account are invested in U.S. government treasury obligations or money market funds or a combination thereof. Based upon current interest rates, we expect the trust account to generate approximately $250,000 of interest annually assuming an interest rate of 0.1% per year; however, we can provide no assurances regarding this amount. Unless and until we complete our initial business combination, we may pay our expenses only from:
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the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants not held in the trust account, which will be approximately $1,300,000 in working capital after the payment of approximately $1,200,000 in expenses relating to this offering; and
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any loans or additional investments from our sponsor, members of our management team or their affiliates or other third parties, although they are under no obligation to advance funds or invest in us, and provided that any such loans will not have any claim on the proceeds held in the trust account unless such proceeds are released to us upon completion of an initial business combination.
Conditions to completing our initial business combination
There is no limitation on our ability to raise funds privately or through loans in connection with our initial business combination. Nasdaq listing rules require that our initial business combination must be with one or more target businesses that together have an aggregate fair market value equal to at least 80% of the value of the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting fees and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account) at the time of our signing a definitive agreement in connection with our initial business combination.
If our board of directors is not able to independently determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses, 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. We will complete our initial business combination only if the post-transaction company in which our public stockholders own shares will own or acquire 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. Even if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our stockholders prior to our initial business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post-transaction company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in our initial business combination transaction. If less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-transaction company, the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired is what will be taken into account for purposes of the 80% of fair market value test; provided that in the event that our initial business combination involves more than one target business, the 80% of fair market value test will be based on the aggregate value of all of the target businesses.
Permitted purchases of public shares and public warrants by our affiliates
If we seek stockholder 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 initial stockholders, directors, officers or their respective affiliates may purchase public 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. There is no limit on the number of shares our initial stockholders, directors, officers or their affiliates may purchase in such transactions, subject to compliance with applicable law and Nasdaq rules. 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 held in the trust account will be used to purchase public shares or public warrants in such transactions. If they engage in such transactions, they will not make any such purchases when they are in possession of any material non-public information not disclosed to the seller or if such purchases are prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act.
We do not currently anticipate that such purchases, if any, would constitute a tender offer subject to the tender offer rules under the Exchange Act or a going-private transaction subject to the going-private rules under the Exchange Act; however, if the purchasers determine at the time of any such purchases that the purchases are subject to such rules, the purchasers will comply with such rules. 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. None of the funds held in the trust account will be used to purchase public shares or public warrants in such transactions prior to completion of our initial business combination. See “Proposed Business-Permitted Purchases of Our Securities” for a description of how our initial stockholders, directors, officers or any of their affiliates will select which stockholders to purchase securities from in any private transaction.
The purpose of any such purchases of public shares could be to vote such shares in favor of the initial business combination and thereby increase the likelihood of obtaining stockholder approval of the initial business combination or 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. The purpose of any such purchases of public warrants could be to reduce the number of public warrants outstanding or to vote such warrants on any matters submitted to the warrant holders for approval in connection with our initial business combination. Any such purchases of our securities may result in the completion of our initial business combination that may not otherwise have been possible. In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of our shares of Class A common stock or 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.
Redemption rights for public stockholders upon completion
of our initial business combination
We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares upon the completion of our initial business combination at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations 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 underwriter. The redemption rights may include the requirement that a beneficial holder must identify itself in order to validly redeem its public shares. There will be no redemption rights upon the completion of our initial business combination with respect to our warrants. Our
sponsor and each of our 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 held by them and any public shares they may acquire during or after this offering in connection with the completion of our initial business combination or otherwise. We may require our public stockholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” to either tender their certificates to our transfer agent prior to the date set forth in the tender offer documents or proxy materials mailed to such holders, or up to two business days prior to the initial vote on the proposal to approve the initial business combination in the event we distribute proxy materials, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using The Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System, at the holder’s option. The tender offer or proxy materials, 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 stockholders to satisfy such delivery requirements, which may include the requirement that a beneficial holder must identify itself in order to validly redeem its public shares.
Manner of conducting redemptions
We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares upon the completion of our initial business combination either (i) in connection with a stockholder meeting called to approve the initial business combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer.
The decision as to whether we will seek stockholder 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 stockholder approval under the law or stock exchange listing requirements. Under Nasdaq rules, asset acquisitions and stock purchases would not typically require stockholder approval while direct mergers with our company where we do not survive and any transactions where we issue more than 20% of our issued and outstanding common stock or seek to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation would require stockholder approval. We may conduct redemptions without a stockholder vote pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC unless stockholder approval is required by law or stock exchange listing requirements or we choose to seek stockholder approval for business or other reasons. So long as maintain a listing for our securities on Nasdaq, we will be required to comply with such rules.
If a stockholder vote is not required and we do not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other reasons, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation:
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conduct the redemptions pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act, which regulate issuer tender offers, and
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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
Such provisions may be amended if approved by holders of 65% of our common stock entitled to vote thereon.
Whether or not we maintain our registration under the Exchange Act or our listing on Nasdaq, we will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares by one of the two methods listed above. 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 shares of our Class A common stock in the open market, in order to comply with Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act.
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. In addition, the tender offer will be conditioned on public stockholders not tendering more than a specified number of public shares, which number will be based on the requirement that we may not redeem public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 upon consummation of our initial business combination and after payment of deferred underwriting commissions (so that we are not subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules) or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement which may be contained in the agreement relating to our initial business combination. If public stockholders tender more shares than we have offered to purchase, we will withdraw the tender offer and not complete the initial business combination.
If, however, stockholder approval of the transaction is required by law or stock exchange listing requirements, or we decide to obtain stockholder approval for business or other reasons, we will:
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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
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file proxy materials with the SEC.
If we seek stockholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock voted are voted in favor of the initial business combination. A quorum for such meeting will consist of the holders present in person or by proxy of shares of outstanding capital stock of the company representing a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the company entitled to vote at such meeting. Our initial stockholders will count towards this quorum and, pursuant to the letter agreement, our sponsor and each of our officers and directors have agreed to vote their founder shares and any public shares purchased during or after
this offering (including in open market and privately negotiated transactions) in favor of our initial business combination. For purposes of seeking approval of the majority of our outstanding shares of common stock voted, non-votes will have no effect on the approval of our initial business combination once a quorum is obtained. As a result, in addition to our founder shares, which are entitled to 20% of the combined voting power of the founders shares and public shares voting together as a single class, we would need only 9,375,001, or 37.5% (assuming all issued and outstanding shares are voted and the over-allotment option is not exercised), or 1,562,501, or 6.25% (assuming only the minimum number of shares representing a quorum are voted and the over-allotment option is not exercised), of the 25,000,000 public shares sold in this offering to be voted in favor of an initial business combination in order to have our initial business combination approved. We intend to give approximately 30 days (but not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days) prior written notice of any such meeting, if required, at which a vote shall be taken to approve our initial business combination. These quorum and voting thresholds, and the voting agreements of our initial stockholders, may make it more likely that we will consummate our initial business combination. Each public stockholder may elect to redeem its public shares irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction.
We may require our public stockholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” to either tender their certificates to our transfer agent prior to the date set forth in the tender offer documents mailed to such holders, or up to two business days prior to the initial vote on the proposal to approve the initial business combination in the event we distribute proxy materials, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically. 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 stockholders, 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 delivered, or shares tendered electronically, by public stockholders who elected to redeem their shares.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that in no event will we redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 upon consummation of our initial business combination and after payment of deferred underwriting commissions (so that we are not subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules) or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement which may be contained in the agreement relating to our initial business combination. For example, the proposed initial business combination may require: (i) cash consideration to be paid to the target or its owners, (ii) cash to be transferred to the target for working capital or other general corporate purposes or (iii) the retention of cash to satisfy other conditions in accordance with the terms of the proposed initial business combination. In the event the aggregate cash consideration we would be required to pay for all shares of Class A common stock 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 shares of Class A common stock submitted for redemption will be returned to the holders thereof.
Limitation on redemption rights of stockholders holding 15% or more of the shares sold in this offering if we hold stockholder vote
Notwithstanding the foregoing redemption rights, if we seek stockholder 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 certificate of incorporation will provide that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from redeeming its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in this offering, without our prior consent. We believe the restriction described above will discourage stockholders from accumulating large blocks of shares, and subsequent attempts by such holders to use their ability to redeem their shares as a means to force us or our management team to purchase their shares at a significant premium to the then-current market price or on other undesirable terms. Absent this provision, a public stockholder holding more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in this offering could threaten to exercise its redemption rights against an initial business combination if such holder’s shares are not purchased by us or our management team at a premium to the then-current market price or on other undesirable terms. By limiting our stockholders’ ability to redeem to no more than 15% of the shares sold in this offering, we believe we will limit the ability of a small group of stockholders to unreasonably attempt to block our ability to complete our initial business combination, particularly in connection with an initial business combination with a target that requires as a closing condition that we have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash.
However, we will not restrict our stockholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including all shares held by those stockholders that hold more than 15% of the shares sold in this offering) for or against our initial business combination.
Redemption rights in connection with proposed amendments
to our certificate of incorporation
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that any of its provisions related to pre-initial business combination activity (including the requirement to deposit proceeds of this offering, the private placement of warrants into the trust account and not release such amounts except in specified circumstances, and to provide redemption rights to public stockholders as described herein) may be amended if approved by holders of 65% of our common stock entitled to vote thereon, and corresponding provisions of the trust agreement governing the release of funds from our trust account may be amended if approved by holders of 65% of
our common stock entitled to vote thereon. In all other instances, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may be amended by holders of a majority of our outstanding common stock entitled to vote thereon, subject to applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or the DGCL, or applicable stock exchange rules. Under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, we may not issue additional securities that can vote on amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or on our initial business combination or that would entitle holders thereof to receive funds from the trust account. Our initial stockholders will participate in any vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and/or trust agreement and will have the discretion to vote in any manner they choose. Our sponsor and each of our officers and directors have agreed, pursuant to a letter agreement with us, that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (i) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (ii) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, unless we provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their shares of Class A common stock 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 divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. Pursuant to the letter agreement, our sponsor and each of our officers and directors have also waived their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and any public shares held by them in connection with the completion of our initial business combination.
Release of funds in trust account on closing of our initial business combination
On the completion of our initial business combination, the funds held in the trust account will be used to pay amounts due to any public stockholders who exercise their redemption rights as described above under “Redemption rights for public stockholders upon completion of our initial business combination.” We will use the remaining funds to pay the underwriter its deferred underwriting commissions, to pay all or a portion of the consideration payable to the target or owners of the target of our initial business combination and to pay other expenses associated with our initial business combination. If our initial business combination is paid for using equity or debt securities, or not all of the funds released from the trust account are used for payment of the consideration in connection with our initial business combination, we may apply the balance of the cash released to us from the trust account for general corporate purposes, including for maintenance or expansion of operations of post-transaction businesses, the payment of principal or interest due on indebtedness incurred in completing our initial business combination, to fund the purchase of other companies or for working capital.
Redemption of public shares and distribution and liquidation if no initial business combination
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that we have only 24 months from the closing of this offering to complete our initial business combination. If we do not complete our initial business combination within such 24-month period or during any Extension Period, we will: (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire without value to the holder if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the 24-month time period, as may be extended by any Extension Period.
Our sponsor and each of our 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 held by them if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or during any Extension Period. However, if our sponsor, officers or directors acquire public shares in or after this offering, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to such public shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the allotted 24-month time period.
The underwriter has agreed to waive its rights to the deferred underwriting commission held in the trust account in the event we do not complete our initial business combination and subsequently liquidate and, in such event, such amounts will be included with the funds held in the trust account that will be available to fund the redemption of our public shares.
Limited payments to insiders
There will be no finder’s fees, reimbursement, consulting fee, non-cash payments, monies in respect of any payment of a loan or other compensation paid by us to our sponsor, officers or directors, or any affiliate of our sponsor, officers or directors prior to, or in connection with any services rendered in order to effectuate, the consummation of our initial business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is). However, the following payments will be made to our sponsor, officers or directors, or our or their affiliates, none of which will be made from the proceeds of this
offering held in the trust account prior to the completion of our initial business combination:
•
repayment of a loan of up to an aggregate of $300,000 made to us by our sponsor to cover offering related and organizational expenses;
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reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination; and
•
repayment of loans which may be made by our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of our officers or directors to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination. Up to $2,000,000 of such loans may be convertible into warrants, at a price of $1.50 per warrant at the option of the lender. Except for the foregoing, the terms of such loans have not been determined nor have any written agreements been executed with respect thereto. The warrants would be identical to the private placement warrants, including as to exercise price, exercisability and exercise period.
We will establish and maintain an audit committee, which will be composed entirely of independent directors to, among other things, monitor compliance with the terms described above and the other terms relating to this offering. If any noncompliance is identified, then the audit committee will be charged with the responsibility to immediately take all action necessary to rectify such noncompliance or otherwise to cause compliance with the terms of this offering. For more information, see the section of this prospectus entitled “Management—Committees of the Board of Directors—Audit Committee.”
As described in “Proposed Business—Other Considerations”, 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 one or more entities to which he or she has fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties, he or she will honor these obligations and duties to present such business combination opportunity to such entities first, and only present it to us if such entities reject the opportunity and he or she determines to present the opportunity to us (including as described above). These conflicts may not be resolved in our favor and a potential target business may be presented to another entity prior to its presentation to us.
The potential conflicts described above may limit our ability to enter into a business combination or other transactions. These circumstances could give rise to numerous situations where interests may conflict. There can be no assurance that these or other conflicts of interest with the potential for adverse effects on the company and investors will not arise.
Our sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a third party for services rendered or products
sold to us, or a prospective target business with which we have entered into a written letter of intent, confidentiality or similar agreement or business combination agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the trust account to below the lesser of (i) $10.00 per public share and (ii) the actual amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account, if less than $10.00 per share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, less taxes payable, provided that such liability will not apply to any claims by a third party or prospective target business who executed a waiver of any and all rights to the monies held in the trust account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable) nor will it apply to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriter of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. However, we have not asked our sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations, nor have we independently verified whether our sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and believe that our sponsor’s only assets are securities of our company. Therefore, we cannot assure you that our sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. None of our officers, directors or members of our sponsor will indemnify us for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.
Summary of Risks
We are a newly incorporated blank check company that has conducted no operations and has generated no revenues to date. Until we complete our initial business combination, we will have no operations and will generate no operating revenues. In making your decision whether to invest in our securities, you should take into account not only the background of our management team, but also the special risks we face as a blank check company. This offering is not being conducted in compliance with Rule 419 promulgated under the Securities Act. Accordingly, you will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors in Rule 419 blank check offerings. For additional information concerning how Rule 419 blank check offerings differ from this offering, please see “Proposed Business—Comparison of This Offering to Those of Blank Check Companies Subject to Rule 419.” You should carefully consider these and the other risks set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 34. Such risks include, but are not limited to:
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Our stockholders may not be afforded an opportunity to vote on our proposed initial business combination, which means we may complete our initial business combination even though a majority of our stockholders do not support such a combination.
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If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, our initial stockholders have agreed to vote in favor of such initial business combination, regardless of how our public stockholders vote.
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Your only opportunity to affect the investment decision regarding a potential business combination may be limited to the exercise of your right to redeem your shares from us for cash.
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The ability of our public stockholders to redeem their shares for cash may make our financial condition unattractive to potential business combination targets, which may make it difficult for us to enter into a business combination with a target.
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The ability of our public stockholders to exercise redemption rights with respect to a large number of our shares may not allow us to complete the most desirable business combination or optimize our capital structure.
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The ability of our public stockholders to exercise redemption rights with respect to a large number of our shares could increase the probability that our initial business combination would be unsuccessful and that you would have to wait for liquidation in order to redeem your shares.
•
The requirement that we consummate an initial business combination within 24 months (or such later date as approved by our stockholders) after the closing of this offering may give potential target businesses leverage over us in negotiating a business combination and may limit the time we have in which to conduct due diligence on potential business combination targets, in particular as we approach our dissolution deadline, which could undermine our ability to complete our initial business combination on terms that would produce value for our stockholders.
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We may not be able to consummate an initial business combination within 24 months after the closing of this offering, in which case we would cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up and we would redeem our public shares and liquidate.
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If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, our initial stockholders, directors, executive officers, advisors and their affiliates may elect to purchase public shares or warrants, which may influence a vote on a proposed business combination and reduce the public “float” of our Class A common stock or public warrants.
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Our search for a business combination, and any target business with which we ultimately consummate a business combination, may be materially adversely affected by the recent coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and the status of debt and equity markets.
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If a stockholder fails to receive notice of our offer to redeem our public shares in connection with our initial business combination, or fails to comply with the procedures for tendering its shares, such shares may not be redeemed.
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If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, and if you or a “group” of stockholders are deemed to hold in excess of 15% of our Class A common stock, you will lose the ability to redeem all such shares in excess of 15% of our Class A common stock.
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Because of our limited resources and the significant competition for business combination opportunities, it may be more difficult for us to complete our initial business combination. If we have not consummated our initial business combination within the required time period, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.00 per public share, or less in certain circumstances, on the liquidation of our trust account and our warrants will expire without value to the holder.
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If the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants not being held in the trust account are insufficient to allow us to operate for the 24 months following the closing of this offering, it could limit the amount available to fund our search for a target business or businesses and our ability to complete our initial business combination, and we will depend on loans from our sponsor, its affiliates or members of our management team to fund our search and to complete our initial business combination.
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Past performance by our management team or their affiliates may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in us or in the future performance of the business we may acquire.
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You will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors of many other blank check companies.
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We are a recently incorporated company with no operating history and no revenues, and you have no basis on which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective.
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You will not have any rights or interests in funds from the trust account, except under certain limited circumstances. Therefore, to liquidate your investment, you may be forced to sell your public shares or warrants, potentially at a loss.
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Nasdaq may delist our securities from trading on its exchange, which could limit investors’ ability to make transactions in our securities and subject us to additional trading restrictions.
Summary Financial Data
The following table summarizes the relevant financial data for our business and should be read with our financial statements, which are included in this prospectus. We have not had any significant operations to date, so only balance sheet data is presented.
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|
|
January 8,
2021
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|
|
|
|
Actual
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|
Balance Sheet Data:
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Working capital
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|
|
|
$ |
131 |
|
|
Total assets
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|
|
|
$ |
49,035 |
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Total liabilities
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|
|
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$ |
24,869 |
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Stockholder’s equity
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|
|
|
$ |
24,166 |
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If our initial business combination is not completed within 24 months from the closing of this offering or during any Extension Period, the proceeds then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), will be used to fund the redemption of our public shares. Our sponsor and each of our officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with us pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to the founder shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within such 24-month time period or during any Extension Period.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements in this prospectus may constitute “forward-looking statements.” Our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our or our management team’s expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking.
The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on us. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be those that we have anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following risks, uncertainties and other factors:
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our being a company with no operating history and no revenues;
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our ability to select an appropriate target business or businesses;
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our ability to complete our initial business combination, particularly given competition from other blank check companies and financial and strategic buyers;
•
our expectations around the performance of the prospective target business or businesses, including competitive prospects of the business following our initial business combination;
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our success in retaining or recruiting, or changes required in, our officers, key employees or directors following our initial business combination;
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our officers and directors allocating their time to other businesses and potentially having conflicts of interest with our business or in approving our initial business combination, as a result of which they would then receive expense reimbursements;
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our potential ability to obtain additional financing to complete our initial business combination;
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the number, variety and characteristics of prospective target businesses;
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our ability to consummate an initial business combination amidst the uncertainty resulting from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and other events (such as terrorist attacks, natural disasters or a significant outbreak of other infectious diseases) and the effects of such events on our target industries, the economy and any business or businesses with which we consummate our initial business combination;
•
the ability of our officers and directors to generate a number of potential acquisition opportunities;
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our public securities’ potential liquidity and trading;
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the lack of a market for our securities;
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the use of proceeds not held in the trust account or available to us from interest income on the trust account balance;
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the trust account not being subject to claims of third parties;
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our financial performance following this offering; and
•
the other risks and uncertainties discussed in “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus.
Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.
RISK FACTORS
An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should consider carefully all of the risks described below, together with the other information contained in this prospectus, before making a decision to invest in our units. If any of the following events occur, our business, financial condition and operating results may be materially adversely affected. In that event, the trading price of our securities could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment.
Risks Relating to our Search for, and Consummation of or Inability to Consummate, a Business Combination
Our public stockholders may not be afforded an opportunity to vote on our proposed initial business combination, which means we may complete our initial business combination even though a majority of our public stockholders do not support such a combination.
We may choose not to hold a stockholder vote to approve our initial business combination unless the initial business combination would require stockholder approval under applicable law or stock exchange listing rules or if we decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other reasons. For instance, Nasdaq rules currently allow us to engage in a tender offer in lieu of a stockholder meeting but would still require us to obtain stockholder approval if we were seeking to issue more than 20% of our outstanding shares to a target business as consideration in any business combination. Therefore, if we were structuring a business combination that required us to issue more than 20% of our outstanding shares, we would seek stockholder approval of such business combination. However, except as required by applicable law or stock exchange rules, the decision as to whether we will seek stockholder approval of a proposed business combination or will allow stockholders to sell their shares to us in a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors, such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would otherwise require us to seek stockholder approval. Accordingly, we may complete our initial business combination even if holders of a majority of our public shares do not approve of the initial business combination we complete. Please see the section of this prospectus entitled “Proposed Business—Stockholders May Not Have the Ability to Approve Our Initial Business Combination” for additional information.
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, our sponsor and each of our officers and directors have agreed to vote in favor of such initial business combination, regardless of how our public stockholders vote.
Pursuant to a letter agreement, our sponsor and each of our officers and directors have agreed to vote their founder shares, as well as any public shares purchased during or after this offering (including in open market and privately negotiated transactions), in favor of our initial business combination. As a result, in addition to our founder shares, which are entitled to 20% of the combined voting power of the founders shares and public shares voting together as a single class, we would need only 9,375,001, or 37.5% (assuming all issued and outstanding shares are voted and the over-allotment option is not exercised), or 1,562,501, or 6.25% (assuming only the minimum number of shares representing a quorum are voted and the over-allotment option is not exercised), of the 25,000,000 public shares sold in this offering to be voted in favor of an initial business combination in order to have our initial business combination approved. Accordingly, if we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, the agreement by our sponsor, each of our officers and directors to vote in favor of our initial business combination will increase the likelihood that we will receive the requisite stockholder approval for such initial business combination.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will require the affirmative vote of a majority of our board of directors to approve our initial business combination, which may have the effect of delaying or preventing a business combination that our public stockholders would consider favorable.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will require the affirmative vote of a majority of our board of directors, which must include a majority of our independent directors to approve our initial business combination. Accordingly, it is unlikely that we will be able to enter into an initial business combination unless our sponsor’s members find the target and the business combination attractive. This may make it more difficult for us to approve and enter into an initial business combination than other blank
check companies and could result in us not pursuing an acquisition target or other board or corporate action that our public stockholders would find favorable.
Your only opportunity to affect the investment decision regarding a potential initial business combination will be limited to the exercise of your right to redeem your shares from us for cash, unless we seek stockholder approval of the initial business combination.
At the time of your investment in us, you will not be provided with an opportunity to evaluate the specific merits or risks of our initial business combination. Since our board of directors may complete an initial business combination without seeking stockholder approval, public stockholders may not have the right or opportunity to vote on the initial business combination, unless we seek such stockholder vote.
Accordingly, if we do not seek stockholder approval, your only opportunity to affect the investment decision regarding a potential initial business combination may be limited to exercising your redemption rights within the period of time (which will be at least 20 business days) set forth in our tender offer documents mailed to our public stockholders in which we describe our initial business combination.
The ability of our public stockholders to redeem their shares for cash may make our financial condition unattractive to potential business combination targets, which may make it difficult for us to enter into an initial business combination with a target.
We may seek to enter into an initial business combination agreement with a prospective target that requires as a closing condition that we have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. If too many public stockholders exercise their redemption rights, we would not be able to meet such closing condition and, as a result, would not be able to proceed with the initial business combination. Furthermore, in no event will we redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 upon consummation of our initial business combination and after payment of deferred underwriting commissions (so that we are not subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules) or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement which may be contained in the agreement relating to our initial business combination. Consequently, if accepting all properly submitted redemption requests would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 upon consummation of our initial business combination and after payment of deferred underwriting commissions or such greater amount necessary to satisfy a closing condition as described above, we would not proceed with such redemption and the related business combination and may instead search for an alternate business combination. Prospective targets will be aware of these risks and, thus, may be reluctant to enter into an initial business combination with us.
The ability of our public stockholders to exercise redemption rights with respect to a large number of our shares may not allow us to complete the most desirable business combination or optimize our capital structure.
At the time we enter into an agreement for our initial business combination, we will not know how many stockholders may exercise their redemption rights, and therefore will need to structure the transaction based on our expectations as to the number of shares that will be submitted for redemption. If our initial business combination agreement requires us to use a portion of the cash in the trust account to pay the purchase price, or requires us to have a minimum amount of cash at closing, we will need to reserve a portion of the cash in the trust account to meet such requirements, or arrange for third-party financing. In addition, if a larger number of shares are submitted for redemption than we initially expected, we may need to restructure the transaction to reserve a greater portion of the cash in the trust account or arrange for third-party financing. Raising additional third-party financing may involve dilutive equity issuances or the incurrence of indebtedness at higher than desirable levels. Furthermore, this dilution would increase to the extent that the anti-dilution provisions of the Class B common stock result in the issuance of Class A shares on a greater than one-to-one basis upon conversion of the Class B common stock at the time of our initial business combination. The above considerations may limit our ability to complete the most desirable business combination available to us or optimize our capital structure. The amount of the deferred underwriting commissions payable to the underwriter will not be adjusted for any shares that are redeemed in connection with an initial business combination. The per-share amount we will distribute to stockholders who properly exercise their redemption rights will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commissions
and after such redemptions, the per-share value of shares held by non-redeeming stockholders will reflect our obligation to pay the deferred underwriting commissions.
The ability of our public stockholders to exercise redemption rights with respect to a large number of our shares could increase the probability that our initial business combination would be unsuccessful and that you would have to wait for liquidation in order to redeem your stock.
If our initial business combination agreement requires us to use a portion of the cash in the trust account to pay the purchase price, or requires us to have a minimum amount of cash at closing, the probability that our initial business combination would be unsuccessful is increased. If our initial business combination is unsuccessful, you would not receive your pro rata portion of the trust account until we liquidate the trust account. If you are in need of immediate liquidity, you could attempt to sell your stock in the open market; however, at such time our stock may trade at a discount to the pro rata amount per share in the trust account. In either situation, you may suffer a material loss on your investment or lose the benefit of funds expected in connection with our redemption until we liquidate or you are able to sell your stock in the open market.
The requirement that we complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the time of this offering may give potential target businesses leverage over us in negotiating an initial business combination and may limit the time we have to conduct due diligence on potential business combination targets as we approach our initial business combination deadline, which could undermine our ability to complete our initial business combination on terms that would produce value for our stockholders.
Any potential target business with which we enter into negotiations concerning an initial business combination will be aware that we must complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or seek a stockholder approved extension of such period. Consequently, such target business may obtain leverage over us in negotiating an initial business combination, knowing that if we do not complete our initial business combination with that particular target business, we may be unable to complete our initial business combination with any target business. This risk will increase as we get closer to the timeframe described above. In addition, we may have limited time to conduct due diligence and may enter into our initial business combination on terms that we would have rejected upon a more comprehensive investigation.
Our search for a business combination, and any target business with which we ultimately consummate a business combination, may be materially adversely affected by the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the status of debt and equity markets.
In March 2020, the World Health Organization characterized the COVID-19 outbreak as a “pandemic.” The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted, and other infectious diseases could result, in a widespread health crisis that has and will continue to adversely affect economies and financial markets worldwide, and the business of any potential target business with which we consummate a business combination may also be materially and adversely affected. Furthermore, we may be unable to complete a business combination if continued concerns relating to COVID-19 restrict travel, limit the ability to have meetings with potential investors or the target company’s personnel, vendors and services providers are unavailable to negotiate and consummate a transaction in a timely manner, or if COVID-19 causes a prolonged economic downturn. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on businesses, and the inability to accurately predict the future impact of the pandemic on businesses, has also made determinations and negotiations of valuation more difficult, which could make it more difficult to consummate a business combination transaction.
The extent to which COVID-19 ultimately impacts our identification and consummation of a business combination will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including new information which may emerge concerning the severity and spread of COVID-19 and actions to contain the virus or treat its impact, among others. If the disruptions posed by COVID-19 or other matters of global concern continue for an extended period of time, our ability to consummate a business combination, or the operations of a target business with which we ultimately consummate a business combination, may be materially adversely affected.
In addition, our ability to consummate a business combination may be dependent on the ability to raise equity and debt financing which may be adversely impacted by COVID-19 and other events, including as a result of increased market volatility, decreased market liquidity and third-party financing being available on terms acceptable to us or at all.
We may not be able to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed timeframe, in which case we would cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up and we would redeem our public shares and liquidate, in which case our public stockholders may only receive $10.00 per share, or less than such amount in certain circumstances, and our warrants will expire without value to the holder.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that we must complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering. We may not be able to find a suitable target business and complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time period. If we have not completed our initial business combination within such time period or during any Extension Period, we will: (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. In such case, our public stockholders may only receive $10.00 per share, and our warrants will expire without value to the holder. In certain circumstances, our public stockholders may receive less than $10.00 per share on the redemption of their shares. See “—If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share” and other risk factors below.
Our independent registered public accounting firm’s report contains an explanatory paragraph that expresses substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a “going concern.”
As of January 8, 2021, we had $25,000 cash and a working capital deficiency of $131. Further, we have incurred and expect to continue to incur significant costs in pursuit of our finance and acquisition plans. Management’s plans to address this need for capital through this offering are discussed in the section of this prospectus titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” Our plans to raise capital or to consummate an initial business combination may not be successful. These factors, among others, raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements contained elsewhere in this prospectus do not include any adjustments that might result from our inability to consummate this offering or our inability to continue as a going concern.
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, our sponsor, directors, officers or their affiliates may elect to purchase public shares or public warrants from public stockholders, which may influence a vote on a proposed initial business combination and reduce the public “float” of our Class A common stock.
If we seek stockholder 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, directors, officers or their affiliates may purchase public shares or public warrants or a combination thereof 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 to do so. 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 public warrants in such transactions.
Such a purchase may include a contractual acknowledgement that such stockholder, although still the record holder of our shares, is no longer the beneficial owner thereof and therefore agrees not to exercise its
redemption rights. In the event that our sponsor, directors, officers or their affiliates purchase public shares in privately negotiated transactions from public stockholders who have already elected to exercise their redemption rights, such selling stockholders would be required to revoke their prior elections to redeem their shares. The purpose of such purchases could be to vote such shares in favor of the initial business combination and thereby increase the likelihood of obtaining stockholder approval of the initial business combination, or 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. The purpose of any such purchases of public warrants could be to reduce the number of public warrants outstanding or to vote such warrants on any matters submitted to the warrant holders for approval in connection with our initial business combination. Any such purchases of our securities may result in the completion of an initial business combination that may not otherwise have been possible. 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.
In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of our Class A common stock or public warrants and the number of beneficial holders of our securities may be reduced, possibly making it difficult to obtain or maintain the quotation, listing or trading of our securities on a national securities exchange.
Members of our management team and board of directors have significant experience as founders, board members, officers, executives or employees of other companies. Certain of those persons have been, may be, or may become, involved in litigation, investigations or other proceedings, including related to those companies or otherwise. This may have an adverse effect on us, which may impede our ability to consummate an initial business combination.
During the course of their careers, members of our management team and board of directors have had significant experience as founders, board members, officers, executives or employees of other companies. Certain of those persons have been, may be or may in the future become involved in litigation, investigations or other proceedings, including relating to the business affairs of such companies, transactions entered into by such companies, or otherwise. Any such litigation, investigations or other proceedings may divert the attention and resources of our management team and board of directors away from identifying and selecting a target business or businesses for our initial business combination and may negatively affect our reputation, which may impede our ability to complete an initial business combination.
If a stockholder fails to receive notice of our offer to redeem our public shares in connection with our initial business combination, or fails to comply with the procedures for tendering its shares, such shares may not be redeemed.
We will comply with the tender offer rules or proxy rules, as applicable, when conducting redemptions in connection with our initial business combination. Despite our compliance with these rules, if a stockholder fails to receive our tender offer or proxy materials, as applicable, such stockholder may not become aware of the opportunity to redeem its shares. In addition, proxy materials or tender offer documents, as applicable, that we will furnish to holders of our public shares in connection with our initial business combination will describe the various procedures that must be complied with in order to validly tender or redeem public shares, which may include the requirement that a beneficial holder must identify itself. For example, we may require our public stockholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” to either tender their certificates to our transfer agent prior to the date set forth in the tender offer documents mailed to such holders, or up to two business days prior to the initial vote on the proposal to approve the initial business combination in the event we distribute proxy materials, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically. In the event that a stockholder fails to comply with these or any other procedures, its shares may not be redeemed. See the section of this prospectus entitled “Proposed Business-Redemption Rights for Public Stockholders upon Completion of our Initial Business Combination-Tendering Stock Certificates in Connection with a Tender Offer or Redemption Rights.”
You will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors of many other blank check companies.
Since the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants are intended to be used to complete an initial business combination with a target business that has not been identified, we
may be deemed to be a “blank check” company under the United States securities laws. However, because we will have net tangible assets in excess of $5,000,000 upon the successful completion of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants and will file a Current Report on Form 8-K, including an audited balance sheet demonstrating this fact, we are exempt from rules promulgated by the SEC to protect investors in blank check companies, such as Rule 419. Accordingly, investors will not be afforded the benefits or protections of those rules. Among other things, this means our units will be immediately tradable and we will have a longer period of time to complete our initial business combination than do companies subject to Rule 419. Moreover, if this offering were subject to Rule 419, that rule would prohibit the release of any interest earned on funds held in the trust account to us unless and until the funds in the trust account were released to us in connection with our completion of an initial business combination. For a more detailed comparison of our offering to offerings that comply with Rule 419, please see the section of this prospectus entitled “Proposed Business—Comparison of This Offering to Those of Blank Check Companies Subject to Rule 419.”
If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, and if you or a “group” of stockholders are deemed to hold in excess of 15% of our Class A common stock, you will lose the ability to redeem all such shares in excess of 15% of our Class A common stock.
If we seek stockholder 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 certificate of incorporation will provide that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder 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 more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in this offering without our prior consent, which we refer to as the “Excess Shares.” However, we will not restrict our stockholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including Excess Shares) for or against our initial business combination. Your inability to redeem the Excess Shares will reduce your influence over our ability to complete our initial business combination and you could suffer a material loss on your investment in us if you sell Excess Shares in open market transactions. Additionally, you will not receive redemption distributions with respect to the Excess Shares if we complete our initial business combination. As a result, you will continue to hold that number of shares exceeding 15% and, in order to dispose of such shares, would be required to sell your stock in open market transactions, potentially at a loss.
Because of our special purpose acquisition company structure and limited resources and the significant competition for business combination opportunities, it may be more difficult for us to complete our initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.00 per share on our redemption of our public shares, or less than such amount in certain circumstances, and our warrants will expire without value to the holder.
We expect to encounter intense competition from other entities having a business objective similar to ours, including private investors (which may be individuals or investment partnerships), other blank check companies and other entities, domestic and international, competing for the types of businesses we intend to acquire. Many of these individuals and entities are well-established and have extensive experience in identifying and effecting, directly or indirectly, acquisitions of companies operating in or providing services to various industries. Many of these competitors possess greater technical, human and other resources than we do and our financial resources will be relatively limited when contrasted with those of many of these competitors. While we believe there are numerous target businesses we could potentially acquire with the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants, our ability to compete with respect to the acquisition of certain target businesses that are sizable will be limited by our available financial resources. This inherent competitive limitation gives others an advantage in pursuing the acquisition of certain target businesses. Furthermore, because we are obligated to pay cash for the shares of Class A common stock which our public stockholders redeem in connection with our initial business combination, target companies will be aware that this may present closing risk by reducing the resources available to us for our initial business combination. Additionally, potential target companies may be less inclined to consummate a transaction with us because definitive documentation for such a transaction will preclude any recourse against our trust account, meaning that potential counterparties may determine that they do
not have adequate contractual remedies in the event a transaction fails to close. Any of these factors may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating an initial business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.00 per share on the liquidation of our trust account and our warrants will expire without value to the holder. In certain circumstances, our public stockholders may receive less than $10.00 per share upon our liquidation. See “—If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share” and other risk factors below.
As the number of special purpose acquisition companies evaluating targets increases, attractive targets may become scarcer and there may be more competition for attractive targets. This could increase the cost of our initial business combination and could even result in our inability to find a target or to consummate an initial business combination.
In recent years, the number of special purpose acquisition companies that have been formed has increased substantially. Many potential targets for special purpose acquisition companies have already entered into an initial business combination, and there are still many special purpose acquisition companies preparing for an initial public offering, as well as many such companies currently in registration. As a result, at times, fewer attractive targets may be available to consummate an initial business combination. In addition, because there are more special purpose acquisition companies seeking to enter into an initial business combination with available targets, the competition for available targets with attractive fundamentals or business models may increase, which could cause target companies to demand improved financial terms. Attractive deals could also become scarcer for other reasons, such as economic or industry sector downturns, geopolitical tensions, or increases in the cost of additional capital needed to close business combinations or operate targets post-business combination. This could increase the cost of, delay or otherwise complicate or frustrate our ability to find and consummate an initial business combination, and may result in our inability to consummate an initial business combination on terms favorable to our investors altogether.
If the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants not being held in the trust account are insufficient to allow us to operate for at least the next 24 months, we may be unable to complete our initial business combination, in which case our public stockholders may only receive $10.00 per share, or less than such amount in certain circumstances, and our warrants will expire without value to the holder.
The funds available to us outside of the trust account may not be sufficient to allow us to operate for at least the next 24 months, assuming that our initial business combination is not completed during that time. We believe that, upon the closing of this offering, the funds available to us outside of the trust account will be sufficient to allow us to operate for at least the next 24 months; however, we cannot assure you that our estimate is accurate. Of the funds available to us, we could use a portion of the funds available to us to pay fees to consultants to assist us with our search for a target business. We could also use a portion of the funds as a down payment or to fund a “no-shop” provision (a provision in letters of intent or merger agreements designed to keep target businesses from “shopping” around for transactions with other companies on terms more favorable to such target businesses) with respect to a particular proposed initial business combination, although we do not have any current intention to do so. If we entered into a letter of intent or other agreement where we paid for the right to receive exclusivity from a target business and were subsequently required to forfeit such funds (whether as a result of our breach or otherwise), we might not have sufficient funds to continue searching for, or conduct due diligence with respect to, a target business. If we do not complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.00 per share on the liquidation of our trust account and our warrants will expire without value to the holder. In certain circumstances, our public stockholders may receive less than $10.00 per share upon our liquidation. See “—If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share” and other risk factors below.
If the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants not being held in the trust account are insufficient, it could limit the amount available to fund our search for a target business or businesses and complete our initial business combination and we will depend on loans from our sponsor or management team to fund our search for an initial business combination, to pay our franchise and income taxes and to complete our initial business combination. If we are unable to obtain these loans, we may be unable to complete our initial business combination.
Of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants, only approximately $1,300,000 will be available to us initially outside the trust account to fund our working capital requirements. In the event that our offering expenses exceed our estimate of $1,200,000, we may fund such excess with funds not to be held in the trust account. In such case, the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would decrease by a corresponding amount. The amount held in the trust account will not be impacted as a result of such increase or decrease. Conversely, in the event that the offering expenses are less than our estimate of $1,200,000, the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would increase by a corresponding amount. If we are required to seek additional capital, we would need to borrow funds from our sponsor, management team or other third parties to operate or may be forced to liquidate. None of our sponsor, officers or directors, members of our management team, nor any of their affiliates, is under any obligation to advance funds to us in such circumstances. Any such advances would be repaid only from funds held outside the trust account or from funds released to us upon completion of our initial business combination. Up to $2,000,000 of such loans may be convertible into private placement-equivalent warrants at a price of $1.50 per warrant at the option of the lender. Prior to the completion of our initial business combination, we do not expect to seek loans from parties other than our sponsor, or an affiliate of our sponsor, as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our trust account. If we are unable to obtain these loans, we may be unable to complete our initial business combination. If we do not complete our initial business combination because we do not have sufficient funds available to us, we will be forced to cease operations and liquidate the trust account. Consequently, our public stockholders may only receive approximately $10.00 per share on our redemption of our public shares, and our warrants will expire without value to the holder. In certain circumstances, our public stockholders may receive less than $10.00 per share on the redemption of their shares.
If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share.
Our placing of funds in the trust account may not protect those funds from third-party claims against us. 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 stockholders, such parties may not execute such agreements, or even if they execute such agreements they may not 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 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 team will perform an analysis of the alternatives available to it and will only enter into an agreement with a third party that has not executed a waiver if our management team believes that such third party’s engagement would be significantly more beneficial to us than any alternative. Making such a request of potential target businesses may make our acquisition proposal less attractive to them and, to the extent prospective target businesses refuse to execute such a waiver, it may limit the field of potential target businesses that we might pursue. Marcum LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm, and the underwriter of this offering will not execute agreements with us waiving such claims to the monies held in the trust account.
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 our management team is unable to find a service provider willing to execute a waiver. 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. Upon redemption of our public shares, if we do not complete our initial business combination within the prescribed timeframe, or upon the exercise of a redemption right in connection with our initial business combination, we will be required to provide for payment of claims of creditors that were not waived that may be brought against us within the ten years following redemption. Accordingly, the per-share redemption amount received by public stockholders could be less than the $10.00 per share initially held in the trust account, due to claims of such creditors. Pursuant to a letter agreement, the form of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, our sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold to us, or a prospective target business with which we have entered into a written letter of intent, confidentiality or similar agreement or business combination agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the trust account to below the lesser of (i) $10.00 per public share and (ii) the actual amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account, if less than $10.00 per share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, less taxes payable, provided that such liability will not apply to any claims by a third party or prospective target business who executed a waiver of any and all rights to the monies held in the trust account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable) nor will it apply to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriter of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. However, we have not asked our sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations, nor have we independently verified whether our sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and believe that our sponsor’s only assets are securities of our company. Therefore, we cannot assure you that our sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. 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, directors or members of our sponsor will indemnify us for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.
Our directors may decide not to enforce the indemnification obligations of our sponsor, resulting in a reduction in the amount of funds in the trust account available for distribution to our public stockholders.
In the event that the proceeds in the trust account are reduced below the lesser of (i) $10.00 per share and (ii) the actual amount per share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account if less than $10.00 per share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes, and our sponsor asserts that it is unable to satisfy its obligations or that it has no indemnification obligations related to a particular claim, our independent directors would determine 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 and subject to their fiduciary duties, may choose not to do so in any particular instance if, for example, the cost of such legal action is deemed by the independent directors to be too high relative to the amount recoverable or if the independent directors determine that a favorable outcome is not likely. If our independent directors choose not to enforce these indemnification obligations, the amount of funds in the trust account available for distribution to our public stockholders may be reduced below $10.00 per share.
We may not have sufficient funds to satisfy indemnification claims of our directors and officers.
We have agreed to indemnify our officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted by law. However, our officers and directors have agreed to waive (and any other persons who may become an officer or director prior to the initial business combination will also be required to waive) any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the trust account and not to seek recourse against the trust account for any reason whatsoever (except to the extent they are entitled to funds from the trust account due to their ownership of public shares). Accordingly, any indemnification provided will be able to be satisfied by us only if (i) we
have sufficient funds outside of the trust account or (ii) we consummate an initial business combination. Our obligation to indemnify our officers and directors may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against our officers or directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions also may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against our officers and directors, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders. Furthermore, a stockholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against our officers and directors pursuant to these indemnification provisions.
The securities in which we invest the proceeds held in the trust account could bear a negative rate of interest, which could reduce the interest income available for payment of taxes or reduce the value of the assets held in trust such that the per share redemption amount received by public stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share.
The net proceeds of this offering and certain proceeds from the sale of the private placement warrants, in the amount of $250,000,000, will be held in an interest-bearing trust account. The proceeds held in the trust account may only be invested in direct U.S. government securities with a maturity of 185 days or less, or in certain money market funds which invest only in direct U.S. Treasury obligations. While short-term U.S. government treasury obligations currently yield a positive rate of interest, they have briefly yielded negative interest rates in recent years. Central banks in Europe and Japan pursued interest rates below zero in recent years, and the Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve has not ruled out the possibility that it may in the future adopt similar policies in the United States. In the event of very low or negative yields, the amount of interest income (which we may withdraw to pay income taxes, if any) would be reduced. In the event that we are unable to complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders are entitled to receive their share of the proceeds held in the trust account, plus any interest income. If the balance of the trust account is reduced below $250,000,000 as a result of negative interest rates, the amount of funds in the trust account available for distribution to our public stockholders may be reduced below $10.00 per share.
If, after we distribute the proceeds in the trust account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, a bankruptcy court may seek to recover such proceeds, and we and our board may be exposed to claims of punitive damages.
If, after we distribute the proceeds in the trust account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, any distributions received by stockholders could be viewed under applicable debtor/creditor and/or bankruptcy laws as either a “preferential transfer” or a “fraudulent conveyance.” As a result, a bankruptcy court could seek to recover all amounts received by our stockholders. In addition, our board of directors may be viewed as having breached its fiduciary duty to our creditors and/or having acted in bad faith, thereby exposing itself and us to claims of punitive damages, by paying public stockholders from the trust account prior to addressing the claims of creditors.
If, before distributing the proceeds in the trust account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, the claims of creditors in such proceeding may have priority over the claims of our stockholders and the per-share amount that would otherwise be received by our stockholders in connection with our liquidation may be reduced.
If, before distributing the proceeds in the trust account to our public stockholders, we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, the proceeds held in the trust account could be subject to applicable bankruptcy law, and may be included in our bankruptcy estate and subject to the claims of third parties with priority over the claims of our stockholders. To the extent any bankruptcy claims deplete the trust account, the per-share amount that would otherwise be received by our stockholders in connection with our liquidation may be reduced.
If we are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act, we may be required to institute burdensome compliance requirements and our activities may be restricted, which may make it difficult for us to complete our initial business combination.
If we are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act, our activities may be restricted, including:
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restrictions on the nature of our investments; and
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restrictions on the issuance of securities, each of which may make it difficult for us to complete our initial business combination.
In addition, we may have imposed upon us burdensome requirements, including:
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registration as an investment company;
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adoption of a specific form of corporate structure; and
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reporting, record keeping, voting, proxy and disclosure requirements and other rules and regulations.
In order not to be regulated as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, unless we can qualify for an exclusion, we must ensure that we are engaged primarily in a business other than investing, reinvesting or trading in securities and that our activities do not include investing, reinvesting, owning, holding or trading “investment securities” constituting more than 40% of our total assets (exclusive of U.S. government securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis. Our business will be to identify and complete an initial business combination and thereafter to operate the post-transaction business or assets for the long term. We do not plan to buy businesses or assets with a view to resale or profit from their resale. We do not plan to buy unrelated businesses or assets or to be a passive investor.
We do not believe that our anticipated principal activities will subject us to the Investment Company Act. To this end, the proceeds held in the trust account may only be invested in United States “government securities” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act having a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations. Pursuant to the trust agreement, the trustee is not permitted to invest in other securities or assets. By restricting the investment of the proceeds to these instruments, and by having a business plan targeted at acquiring and growing businesses for the long term (rather than on buying and selling businesses in the manner of a merchant bank or private equity fund), we intend to avoid being deemed an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act. This offering is not intended for persons who are seeking a return on investments in government securities or investment securities. The trust account is intended as a holding place for funds pending the earliest to occur of: (i) the completion of our initial business combination; (ii) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity; or (iii) absent an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or during any Extension Period, our return of the funds held in the trust account to our public stockholders as part of our redemption of the public shares. If we do not invest the proceeds as discussed above, we may be deemed to be subject to the Investment Company Act. If we were deemed to be subject to the Investment Company Act, compliance with these additional regulatory burdens would require additional expenses for which we have not allotted funds and may hinder our ability to complete an initial business combination or may result in our liquidation. If we do not complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.00 per share on the liquidation of our trust account and our warrants will expire without value to the holder.
Changes in laws or regulations, or a failure to comply with any laws and regulations, may adversely affect our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete our initial business combination.
We are subject to laws and regulations enacted by national, regional and local governments. In particular, we will be required to comply with certain SEC and other legal requirements and numerous
complex tax laws. Compliance with, and monitoring of, applicable laws and regulations may be difficult, time consuming and costly.
Those laws and regulations and their interpretation and application may also change from time to time and those changes could have a material adverse effect on our business, investments and results of operations. In addition, a failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations, as interpreted and applied, could have a material adverse effect on our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete our initial business combination, and results of operations.
Because we are not limited to a particular industry, sector or any specific target businesses with which to pursue our initial business combination, you will be unable to ascertain the merits or risks of any particular target business’s operations.
Although we intend to focus our search on a target business in the healthcare industry, we may complete a business combination with an operating company in any industry or sector. However, we will not, under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, be permitted to effectuate our initial business combination solely with another blank check company or similar company with nominal operations. Because we have not yet selected or approached any specific target business with respect to a business combination, there is no basis to evaluate the possible merits or risks of any particular target business’s operations, results of operations, cash flows, liquidity, financial condition or prospects. To the extent we complete our initial business combination, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in the business operations with which we combine. For example, if we combine with a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established record of revenues or earnings, we may be affected by the risks inherent in the business and operations of a financially unstable or a development stage entity. Although our officers and directors will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we cannot assure you that we will properly ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors or that we will have adequate time to complete due diligence. Furthermore, some of these risks may be outside of our control and leave us with no ability to control or reduce the chances that those risks will adversely impact a target business. We also cannot assure you that an investment in our units will ultimately prove to be more favorable to investors than a direct investment, if such opportunity were available, in a business combination target. Accordingly, any stockholders who choose to remain stockholders following the business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their securities. Such stockholders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value.
Changes in the market for directors and officers liability insurance could make it more difficult and more expensive for us to negotiate and complete an initial business combination.
In recent months, the market for directors and officers liability insurance for special purpose acquisition companies has changed. Fewer insurance companies are offering quotes for directors and officers liability coverage, the premiums charged for such policies have generally increased and the terms of such policies have generally become less favorable. There can be no assurance that these trends will not continue.
The increased cost and decreased availability of directors and officers liability insurance could make it more difficult and more expensive for us to negotiate an initial business combination. In order to obtain directors and officers liability insurance or modify its coverage as a result of becoming a public company, the post-business combination entity might need to incur greater expense, accept less favorable terms or both. However, any failure to obtain adequate directors and officers liability insurance could have an adverse impact on the post-business combination’s ability to attract and retain qualified officers and directors.
In addition, even after we were to complete an initial business combination, our directors and officers could still be subject to potential liability from claims arising from conduct alleged to have occurred prior to the initial business combination. As a result, in order to protect our directors and officers, the post-business combination entity may need to purchase additional insurance with respect to any such claims (“run-off insurance”). The need for run-off insurance would be an added expense for the post-business combination entity, and could interfere with or frustrate our ability to consummate an initial business combination on terms favorable to our investors.
If we have not completed an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, our public stockholders may be forced to wait beyond such 24 months before redemption from our trust account.
If we have not completed an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or during any Extension Period, the proceeds then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay taxes (less up to $100,000 of the interest to pay dissolution expenses), will be used to fund the redemption of our public shares, as further described herein. Any redemption of public stockholders from the trust account will be effected automatically by function of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation prior to any voluntary winding up. If we are required to wind-up, liquidate the trust account and distribute such amount therein, pro rata, to our public stockholders, as part of any liquidation process, such winding up, liquidation and distribution must comply with the applicable provisions of the DGCL. In that case, investors may be forced to wait beyond 24 months from the closing of this offering or the expiration of any Extension Period before the redemption proceeds of our trust account become available to them, and they receive the return of their pro rata portion of the proceeds from our trust account. We have no obligation to return funds to investors prior to the date of our redemption of public shares or liquidation unless we complete our initial business combination prior thereto and only then in cases where investors have sought to redeem their Class A common stock. Only upon our redemption or any liquidation will public stockholders be entitled to distributions if we do not complete our initial business combination.
Our stockholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against us to the extent of distributions received by them upon redemption of their shares.
Under the DGCL, stockholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against a corporation to the extent of distributions received by them in a dissolution. The pro rata portion of our trust account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of our public shares in the event we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or during any Extension Period may be considered a liquidating distribution under Delaware law. If a corporation complies with certain procedures set forth in Section 280 of the DGCL intended to ensure that it makes reasonable provision for all claims against it, including a 60-day notice period during which any third-party claims can be brought against the corporation, a 90-day period during which the corporation may reject any claims brought, and an additional 150-day waiting period before any liquidating distributions are made to stockholders, any liability of stockholders with respect to a liquidating distribution is limited to the lesser of such stockholder’s pro rata share of the claim or the amount distributed to the stockholder, and any liability of the stockholder would be barred after the third anniversary of the dissolution. However, it is our intention to redeem our public shares as soon as reasonably possible following the end of the 24th month after the closing of this offering or the expiration of any Extension Period in the event we do not complete our initial business combination and, therefore, we do not intend to comply with the foregoing procedures.
Because we will not be complying with Section 280, Section 281(b) of the DGCL requires us to adopt a plan, based on facts known to us at such time that will provide for our payment of all existing and pending claims or claims that may be potentially brought against us within the ten years following our dissolution. However, because we are a blank check company, rather than an operating company, and our operations will be limited to searching for prospective target businesses to acquire, the only likely claims to arise would be from our vendors (such as lawyers, investment bankers, etc.) or prospective target businesses. If our plan of distribution complies with Section 281(b) of the DGCL, any liability of stockholders with respect to a liquidating distribution is limited to the lesser of such stockholder’s pro rata share of the claim or the amount distributed to the stockholder, and any liability of the stockholder would likely be barred after the third anniversary of the dissolution. We cannot assure you that we will properly assess all claims that may be potentially brought against us. As such, our stockholders could potentially be liable for any claims to the extent of distributions received by them (but no more) and any liability of our stockholders may extend beyond the third anniversary of such date. Furthermore, if the pro rata portion of our trust account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of our public shares in the event we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or during any Extension Period is not considered a liquidating distribution under Delaware law and such redemption distribution is deemed to be unlawful (potentially due to the imposition of legal proceedings that a party may bring or due to other circumstances that are currently unknown), then pursuant to Section 174 of the
DGCL, the statute of limitations for claims of creditors could then be six years after the unlawful redemption distribution, instead of three years, as in the case of a liquidating distribution.
We may not hold an annual meeting of stockholders until after the consummation of our initial business combination.
In accordance with Nasdaq corporate governance requirements, we are not required to hold an annual meeting until no later than one year after our first fiscal year end following our listing on Nasdaq. Under Section 211(b) of the DGCL, we are, however, required to hold an annual meeting of stockholders for the purposes of electing directors in accordance with our bylaws unless such election is made by written consent in lieu of such a meeting. We may not hold an annual meeting of stockholders to elect new directors prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, and thus we may not be in compliance with Section 211(b) of the DGCL. Therefore, if our stockholders want us to hold an annual meeting prior to our consummation of a business combination, they may attempt to force us to hold one by submitting an application to the Delaware Court of Chancery in accordance with Section 211(c) of the DGCL.
Although we are registering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants under the Securities Act or any state securities laws at this time, such registration may not be in place when an investor desires to exercise warrants, thus precluding such investor from being able to exercise its warrants except on a cashless basis. If the issuance of the shares upon exercise of warrants is not registered, qualified or exempt from registration or qualification, the holder of such warrant will not be entitled to exercise such warrant and such warrant may have no value and expire without value to the holder.
We have agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 15 business days, after the closing of our initial business combination, we will use our commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part or a new registration statement for the registration under the Securities Act of the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants, and thereafter will use our commercially reasonable efforts to cause such post-effective amendment or registration statement to become effective within 60 business days following our initial business combination and to maintain a current prospectus relating to the Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants until the expiration of the warrants in accordance with the provisions of the warrant agreement. We cannot assure you that we will be able to do so if, for example, any facts or events arise which represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement or prospectus, the financial statements contained or incorporated by reference therein are not current or correct or the SEC issues a stop order. If the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants are not registered under the Securities Act, we will be required to permit holders to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis, in which case the number of shares of our Class A common stock that you will receive upon cashless exercise will be based on a formula subject to a maximum number of shares equal to 0.361 shares of our Class A common stock per warrant (subject to adjustment). However, no warrant will be exercisable for cash or on a cashless basis, and we will not be obligated to issue any shares to holders seeking to exercise their warrants, unless the issuance of the shares upon such exercise is registered or qualified under the securities laws of the state of the exercising holder, or an exemption from state registration is available. If an exemption is not available, holders will not be able to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis. Notwithstanding the above, if shares of our Class A common stock are at the time of any exercise of a public warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that they satisfy the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, we may, at our option, require holders of public warrants who exercise their warrants to do so on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act and, in the event we so elect, we will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement, but we will use our commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available. In no event will we be required to net cash settle any warrant, or issue securities or other compensation in exchange for the warrants in the event that we are unable to register or qualify the shares underlying the warrants under applicable state securities laws and there is no exemption available. If the issuance of the shares upon exercise of the warrants is not so registered or qualified or exempt from registration or qualification, the holder of such warrant will not be entitled to exercise such warrant and such warrant may have no value and expire without value to the holder. In such event, holders who acquired their warrants as part of a purchase of units will have paid the full unit purchase price solely for the shares of Class A common stock included in the units. If and
when the warrants become redeemable by us, we may exercise our redemption right even if we are unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws.
The warrants may become exercisable and redeemable for a security other than the shares of Class A common stock, and you will not have any information regarding such other security at this time.
In certain situations, including if we are not the surviving entity in our initial business combination, the warrants may become exercisable for a security other than the shares of Class A common stock. As a result, if the surviving company redeems your warrants for securities pursuant to the warrant agreement, you may receive a security in a company of which you do not have information at this time. Pursuant to the warrant agreement, the surviving company will be required to use commercially reasonable efforts to register the issuance of the security underlying the warrants within 15 business days of the closing of an initial business combination.
If you exercise your public warrants on a “cashless basis,” you will receive fewer shares of Class A common stock from such exercise than if you were to exercise such warrants for cash.
There are circumstances in which the exercise of the public warrants may be required or permitted to be made on a cashless basis.
First, if a registration statement covering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants is not effective by the 60th business day after the closing of our initial business combination, warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement, exercise warrants on a cashless basis in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act or another exemption. If this exemption, or another exemption is not available, holders will not be able to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis. In the event of an exercise on a cashless basis under these circumstances, a holder would pay the warrant exercise price by surrendering the warrants for that number of shares of Class A common stock equal to the lesser of (A) the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Class A common stock underlying the warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “fair market value” of our Class A common stock (defined above) over the exercise price of the warrants by (y) the fair market value and (B) 0.361 shares of Class A common stock per whole warrant, and the number of shares of our Class A common stock received by a holder upon exercise will be fewer than it would have been had such holder exercised the warrant for cash. For example, if the holder is exercising 875 public warrants at $11.50 per share through a cashless exercise when the shares of our Class A common stock have a fair market value of $17.50 per share when there is no effective registration statement, then upon the cashless exercise, the holder will receive 300 shares of our Class A common stock. The holder would have received 875 shares of our Class A common stock if the exercise price was paid in cash.
Second, if we call the public warrants for redemption in the circumstances described in “Description of Securities-Warrants-Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00”, holders who wish to exercise their warrants may do so on a cashless basis. In the event of an exercise on a cashless basis under those circumstances, a holder would receive that number of shares determined by reference to an agreed table based on the redemption date and the “fair market value” of Class A common stock (See “Description of Securities-Redeemable Warrants-Public Stockholders’ Warrants-Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00”).
In either case, a cashless exercise will have the effect of reducing the potential “upside” of the holder’s investment in our company because the warrant holder will hold a smaller number of shares of our Class A common stock upon a cashless exercise of the warrants they hold.
The grant of registration rights to our initial stockholders and sponsor may make it more difficult to complete our initial business combination, and the future exercise of such rights may adversely affect the market price of our Class A common stock.
Pursuant to an agreement to be entered into concurrently with the issuance and sale of the securities in this offering, our initial stockholders and their permitted transferees can demand that we register the shares of Class A common stock into which our shares of Class B common stock are convertible, the private
placement warrants, the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the private placement warrants held, or to be held, by them. We will bear the cost of registering these securities. The registration and availability of such a significant number of securities for trading in the public market may have an adverse effect on the market price of our Class A common stock. In addition, the existence of the registration rights may make our initial business combination more costly or difficult to conclude. This is because the stockholders of the target business may increase the equity stake they seek in the combined entity or ask for more cash consideration to offset the negative impact on the market price of our Class A common stock that is expected when the securities owned by our initial stockholders, sponsor or holders of working capital loans or their respective permitted transferees are registered.
Any stockholders who choose to remain stockholders following our initial business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their securities.
We will seek to complete an initial business combination with companies focusing on our target industry and related industries, but may also pursue other business combination opportunities, except that we will not, under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, be permitted to effectuate our initial business combination with another blank check company or similar company with nominal operations. Because we have not yet selected or approached any specific target business with respect to a business combination, there is no basis to evaluate the possible merits or risks of any particular target business’s operations, results of operations, cash flows, liquidity, financial condition or prospects. To the extent we complete our initial business combination, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in the business operations with which we combine. For example, if we combine with a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established record of sales or earnings, we may be affected by the risks inherent in the business and operations of a financially unstable or a development stage entity. Although our officers and directors will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we cannot assure you that we will properly ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors or that we will have adequate time to complete due diligence. Furthermore, some of these risks may be outside of our control and leave us with no ability to control or reduce the chances that those risks will adversely impact a target business. We also cannot assure you that an investment in our units will ultimately prove to be more favorable to investors than a direct investment, if such opportunity were available, in a business combination target. Accordingly, any stockholders who choose to remain stockholders following our initial business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their securities. Such stockholders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value unless they are able to successfully claim that the reduction was due to the breach by our officers or directors of a duty of care or other fiduciary duty owed to them, or if they are able to successfully bring a private claim under securities laws that the proxy solicitation or tender offer materials, as applicable, relating to the business combination contained an actionable material misstatement or material omission.
We may seek business combination opportunities in industries or sectors which may or may not be outside of our management team’s area of expertise.
Although we intend to focus on identifying companies focusing on our target industry and related industries, we will consider an initial business combination outside of our management team’s area of expertise if an initial business combination candidate is presented to us and we determine that such candidate offers an attractive business combination opportunity for our company or we are unable to identify a suitable candidate in this sector after having expanded a reasonable amount of time and effort in an attempt to do so. Although our management team will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in any particular business combination candidate, we cannot assure you that we will adequately ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors. We also cannot assure you that an investment in our units will not ultimately prove to be less favorable to investors in this offering than a direct investment, if an opportunity were available, in an initial business combination candidate. In the event we elect to pursue a business combination outside of the areas of our management team’s expertise, our management team’s expertise may not be directly applicable to its evaluation or operation, and the information contained in this prospectus regarding the areas of our management team’s expertise would not be relevant to an understanding of the business that we elect to acquire. As a result, our management team may not be able to adequately ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors associated with such an initial business combination. Accordingly, any
stockholders who choose to remain stockholders following our initial business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their shares. Such stockholders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value.
Although we have identified general criteria and guidelines that we believe are important in evaluating prospective target businesses, we may enter into our initial business combination with a target that does not meet such criteria and guidelines, and as a result, the target business with which we enter into our initial business combination may not have attributes entirely consistent with our general criteria and guidelines.
Although we have identified general criteria and guidelines for evaluating prospective target businesses, it is possible that a target business with which we enter into our initial business combination will not have these positive attributes. If we complete our initial business combination with a target that does not meet some or all of these guidelines, such combination may not be as successful as a combination with a business that does meet all of our general criteria and guidelines. In addition, if we announce a prospective business combination with a target that does not meet our general criteria and guidelines, a greater number of stockholders may exercise their redemption rights, which may make it difficult for us to meet any closing condition with a target business that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. In addition, if stockholder approval of the transaction is required by law, or we decide to obtain stockholder approval for business or other reasons, it may be more difficult for us to attain stockholder approval of our initial business combination if the target business does not meet our general criteria and guidelines. If we do not complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.00 per share on the liquidation of our trust account and our warrants will expire without value to the holder. In certain circumstances, our public stockholders may receive less than $10.00 per share on the redemption of their shares. See “— If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share” and other risk factors below.
We may seek business combination opportunities with an early stage company, a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established record of revenue, cash flow or earnings, which could subject us to volatile revenues, cash flows or earnings or difficulty in retaining key personnel.
To the extent we complete our initial business combination with an early stage company, a financially unstable business or an entity lacking an established record of revenues, cash flows or earnings, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in the operations of the business with which we combine. These risks include investing in a business without a proven business model and with limited historical financial data, volatile revenues or earnings and difficulties in obtaining and retaining key personnel. Although our officers and directors will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we may not be able to properly ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors and we may not have adequate time to complete due diligence. Furthermore, some of these risks may be outside of our control and leave us with no ability to control or reduce the chances that those risks will adversely impact a target business.
We are not required to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another entity that commonly renders valuation opinions and, consequently, you may have no assurance from an independent source that the price we are paying for the business is fair to our company from a financial point of view.
We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination or subsequent transaction with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, or our officers or directors. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination or, subject to certain exceptions, subsequent material transactions with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, or our officers or directors, we, or a committee of independent directors, to the extent required by applicable law or based upon the direction of our board of directors or a committee thereof, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA or another entity that commonly renders valuation opinions that such initial business combination or transaction is fair to our company from a financial point of view. If no opinion is obtained, our stockholders will be relying on the judgment of our board of directors, who will determine fair market value based on standards generally accepted by the financial community. Such standards used will be disclosed in our proxy materials or tender offer documents, as applicable, related to 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. However, our stockholders may not be provided with a copy of such opinion, nor will they be able to rely on such opinion.
We may issue additional common stock or preferred stock to complete our initial business combination or under an employee incentive plan after completion of our initial business combination. We may also issue shares of Class A common stock upon the conversion of the Class B common stock at a ratio greater than one-to-one at the time of our initial business combination as a result of the anti-dilution provisions contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Any such issuances would dilute the interest of our stockholders and likely present other risks.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will authorize the issuance of up to 200,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, 20,000,000 shares of Class B common stock, and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock. Immediately after this offering, there will be 175,000,000 and 13,750,000 (assuming, in each case, that the underwriter has not exercised their over-allotment option) authorized but unissued shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock, respectively, available for issuance, which amount does not take into account the shares of Class A common stock reserved for issuance upon exercise of outstanding warrants or conversion of shares of Class B common stock. Immediately after the consummation of this offering, there will be no shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding. Shares of Class B common stock are convertible into shares of our Class A common stock initially at a one-for-one ratio but subject to adjustment as set forth herein, including in certain circumstances in which we issue Class A common stock or equity-linked securities related to our initial business combination. Shares of Class B common stock are also convertible at the option of the holder at any time.
We may issue a substantial number of additional shares of common or preferred stock to complete our initial business combination or under an employee incentive plan after completion of our initial business combination. We may also issue shares of Class A common stock to redeem the warrants as described in “Description of Securities-Redeemable Warrants-Redemption of warrants when the price per share of our Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00” or upon conversion of the Class B common stock at a ratio greater than one-to-one at the time of our initial business combination as a result of the anti-dilution provisions contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. However, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides, among other things, that prior to or in connection with our initial business combination, we may not issue additional shares of capital stock that would entitle the holders thereof to (i) receive funds from the trust account or (ii) vote on any initial business combination. These provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, like all provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, may be amended with the approval of our stockholders. However, our sponsor and each of our officers and directors have agreed, pursuant to a letter agreement with us, that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, unless we provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their shares of common stock 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, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares.
The issuance of additional shares of common or preferred stock:
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may significantly dilute the equity interest of investors in this offering;
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may subordinate the rights of holders of common stock if preferred stock is issued with rights senior to those afforded our common stock;
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could cause a change of control if a substantial number of shares of our common stock are issued, which may affect, among other things, our ability to use our net operating loss carry forwards, if any, and could result in the resignation or removal of our present officers and directors; and
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may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our units, Class A common stock and/or warrants.
Our initial stockholders will receive additional shares of Class A common stock if we issue shares to consummate an initial business combination and may receive additional shares of Class A common stock if we meet certain share price targets.
The Class B common stock will automatically convert into Class A common stock at the time of our initial business combination, or earlier at the option of the holders, on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment as provided herein. In the case that additional shares of Class A common stock, or equity-linked securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Class A common stock, are issued or deemed issued in excess of the amounts offered in this prospectus and related to the closing of the initial business combination, the ratio at which founder shares shall convert into Class A common stock will be adjusted so that the number of Class A common stock issuable upon conversion of all shares of Class B common stock will equal, in the aggregate, on an as-converted basis, 20% of the sum of (i) the total number of all shares of common stock outstanding upon the completion of this offering, plus (ii) all shares of Class A common stock and equity-linked securities issued or deemed issued in connection with the initial business combination (excluding any shares of Class A common stock or equity-linked securities issued, or to be issued, to any seller in the initial business combination and any private placement equivalent warrants issued to our sponsor or its affiliates upon conversion of loans made to us).
Resources could be wasted in researching business combinations that are not completed, which could materially adversely affect subsequent attempts to locate and acquire or merge with another business. If we do not complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.00 per share, or less than such amount in certain circumstances, on the liquidation of our trust account and our warrants will expire without value to the holder.
We anticipate that the investigation of each specific target business and the negotiation, drafting and execution of relevant agreements, disclosure documents and other instruments will require substantial management time and attention and substantial costs for accountants, attorneys, consultants and others. If we decide not to complete a specific initial business combination, the costs incurred up to that point for the proposed transaction likely would not be recoverable. Furthermore, if we reach an agreement relating to a specific target business, we may fail to complete our initial business combination for any number of reasons including those beyond our control. Any such event will result in a loss to us of the related costs incurred which could materially adversely affect subsequent attempts to locate and acquire or merge with another business. If we do not complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.00 per share on the liquidation of our trust account and our warrants will expire without value to the holder. In certain circumstances, our public stockholders may receive less than $10.00 per share on the redemption of their shares. See “—If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share” and other risk factors below.
Since our sponsor and its investors and our directors will lose their entire at-risk investment in us if our initial business combination is not completed, a conflict of interest may arise in determining whether a particular business combination target is appropriate for our initial business combination.
On January 8, 2021, our sponsor purchased 7,187,500 shares of Class B common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or approximately $0.003 per share. The per share purchase price of the Class B common stock was determined by dividing the amount of cash contributed to the company by the aggregate number of shares of Class B common stock shares issued. Our sponsor has agreed to transfer 25,000 founder shares to each of our independent director nominees, and 150,000 founder shares to Kyle Francis, our Chief Financial Officer. These founder shares are not subject to forfeiture in the event the underwriter’s over-allotment option is not exercised. The number of shares of Class B common stock issued was determined based on the expectation that such shares of Class B common stock would represent 20% of the outstanding shares of common stock after this offering.
All of the founder shares will expire without value to the holder if we do not complete an initial business combination.
In addition, our sponsor has agreed to purchase an aggregate of 5,000,000 warrants (or 5,500,000 warrants if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $1.50 per warrant
($7,500,000 in the aggregate, or $8,250,000 in the aggregate if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full), which will also expire without value to the holder if we do not complete an initial business combination.
Our sponsor and each of our officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with us pursuant to which they have agreed to vote any shares owned by them in favor of any proposed initial business combination and to waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares and public shares in connection with (i) the completion of our initial business combination and (ii) any stockholder vote to approve an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity. In addition, we may obtain loans from our sponsor, affiliates of our sponsor or an officer or director. The personal and financial interests of our officers and directors may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business combination, completing an initial business combination and influencing the operation of the business following the initial business combination.
We may issue notes or other debt securities, or otherwise incur substantial debt, to complete an initial business combination, which may adversely affect our leverage and financial condition and thus negatively impact the value of our stockholders’ investment in us.
Although we have no commitments as of the date of this prospectus to issue any notes or other debt securities, or to otherwise incur outstanding debt following this offering, we may choose to incur substantial debt to complete our initial business combination. We have agreed that we will not incur any indebtedness unless we have obtained from the lender a waiver of any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to the monies held in the trust account.
As such, no issuance of debt will affect the per-share amount available for redemption from the trust account. Nevertheless, the incurrence of debt could have a variety of negative effects, including:
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default and foreclosure on our assets if our operating revenues after an initial business combination are insufficient to repay our debt obligations;
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acceleration of our obligations to repay the indebtedness even if we make all principal and interest payments when due if we breach certain covenants that require the maintenance of certain financial ratios or reserves without a waiver or renegotiation of that covenant;
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our immediate payment of all principal and accrued interest, if any, if the debt is payable on demand;
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our inability to obtain necessary additional financing if the debt contains covenants restricting our ability to obtain such financing while the debt is outstanding;
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our inability to pay dividends on our common stock;
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using a substantial portion of our cash flow to pay principal and interest on our debt, which will reduce the funds available for dividends on our common stock if declared, our ability to pay expenses, make capital expenditures and acquisitions, and fund other general corporate purposes;
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limitations on our flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in our business and in the industry in which we operate;
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increased vulnerability to adverse changes in general economic, industry and competitive conditions and adverse changes in government regulation;
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limitations on our ability to borrow additional amounts for expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions, debt service requirements and execution of our strategy; and
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other disadvantages compared to our competitors who have less debt.
We may only be able to complete one business combination with the proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants which will cause us to be solely dependent on a single business which may have a limited number of services and limited operating activities. This lack of diversification may negatively impact our operating results and profitability.
Of the net proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants, $250,000,000 (or $287,500,000 if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be available to complete our initial business combination and pay related fees and expenses (which includes up to $8,750,000, or up to $10,062,500 if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full, for the payment of deferred underwriting commissions).
We may effectuate our initial business combination with a single target business or multiple target businesses concurrently or within a short period of time. However, we may not be able to effectuate our initial business combination with more than one target business because of various factors, including the existence of complex accounting issues and the requirement that we prepare and file pro forma financial statements with the SEC that present operating results and the financial condition of several target businesses as if they had been operated on a combined basis. By completing our initial business combination with only a single entity, our lack of diversification may subject us to numerous economic, competitive and regulatory developments. Further, we would not be able to diversify our operations or benefit from the possible spreading of risks or offsetting of losses, unlike other entities which may have the resources to complete several business combinations in different industries or different areas of a single industry. In addition, we intend to focus our search for an initial business combination in a single industry. Accordingly, the prospects for our success may be:
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solely dependent upon the performance of a single business, property or asset, or
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dependent upon the development or market acceptance of a single or limited number of products, processes or services.
This lack of diversification may subject us to numerous economic, competitive and regulatory risks, any or all of which may have a substantial adverse impact upon the particular industry in which we may operate subsequent to our initial business combination.
We may attempt to concurrently complete business combinations with multiple prospective targets, which may hinder our ability to complete our initial business combination and give rise to increased costs and risks that could negatively impact our operations and profitability.
If we determine to concurrently acquire several businesses that are owned by different sellers, we will need for each of such sellers to agree that our purchase of its business is contingent on the simultaneous closings of the other business combinations, which may make it more difficult for us, and delay our ability, to complete our initial business combination. We do not, however, intend to purchase multiple businesses in unrelated industries in conjunction with our initial business combination. With multiple business combinations, we could also face additional risks, including additional burdens and costs with respect to possible multiple negotiations and due diligence investigations (if there are multiple sellers) and the additional risks associated with the subsequent assimilation of the operations and services or products of the acquired companies in a single operating business. If we are unable to adequately address these risks, it could negatively impact our profitability and results of operations.
We may attempt to complete our initial business combination with a private company about which little information is available, which may result in an initial business combination with a company that is not as profitable as we suspected, if at all.
In pursuing our initial business combination strategy, we may seek to effectuate our initial business combination with a privately held company. Very little public information generally exists about private companies, and we could be required to make our decision on whether to pursue a potential initial business combination on the basis of limited information, which may result in an initial business combination with a company that is not as profitable as we suspected, if at all.
We do not have a specified maximum redemption threshold. The absence of such a redemption threshold may make it possible for us to complete an initial business combination with which a substantial majority of our stockholders do not agree.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will not provide a specified maximum redemption threshold, except that in no event will we redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 upon consummation of our initial business combination and after payment of deferred underwriting commissions (such that we are not subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules) or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement which may be contained in the agreement relating to our initial business combination. As a result, we may be able to complete our initial business combination even though a substantial majority of our public stockholders do not agree with the transaction and have redeemed their shares or, if we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, have entered into privately negotiated agreements to sell their shares to our sponsor, officers, directors or their affiliates. In the event the aggregate cash consideration we would be required to pay for all shares of Class A common stock 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, all shares of Class A common stock submitted for redemption will be returned to the holders thereof, and we instead may search for an alternate business combination.
In order to effectuate an initial business combination, blank check companies have, in the recent past, amended various provisions of their charters and other governing instruments. We cannot assure you that we will not seek to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or governing instrument in a manner that will make it easier for us to complete our initial business combination that some of our stockholders or warrant holders may not support.
In order to effectuate an initial business combination, blank check companies have, in the recent past, amended various provisions of their charters and governing instruments, including their warrant agreements. For example, blank check companies have amended the definition of business combination, increased redemption thresholds and extended the time to consummate an initial business combination. We cannot assure you that we will not seek to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or governing instruments, including to extend the time to consummate an initial business combination in order to effectuate our initial business combination.
The provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that relate to our pre-initial business combination activity (and corresponding provisions of the agreement governing the release of funds from our trust account), including an amendment to permit us to withdraw funds from the trust account such that the per share amount investors will receive upon any redemption or liquidation is substantially reduced or eliminated, may be amended with the approval of holders of 65% of our common stock, which is a lower amendment threshold than that of some other blank check companies. It may be easier for us, therefore, to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and the trust agreement to facilitate the completion of an initial business combination that some of our stockholders may not support.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that any of its provisions related to pre-initial business combination activity (including the requirement to deposit proceeds of this offering and the private placement of warrants into the trust account and not release such amounts except in specified circumstances, and to provide redemption rights to public stockholders as described herein and including to permit us to withdraw funds from the trust account such that the per share amount investors will receive upon any liquidation is substantially reduced or eliminated) may be amended if approved by holders of 65% of our common stock entitled to vote thereon, and corresponding provisions of the trust agreement governing the release of funds from our trust account may be amended if approved by holders of 65% of our common stock entitled to vote thereon. In all other instances, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may be amended by holders of a majority of our outstanding common stock entitled to vote thereon, subject to applicable provisions of the DGCL or applicable stock exchange rules. We may not issue additional securities that can vote on amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Our initial stockholders will participate in any vote to amend our amended and restated
certificate of incorporation and/or trust agreement and will have the discretion to vote in any manner they choose. As a result, we may be able to amend the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation which govern our pre-initial business combination behavior more easily than some other blank check companies, and this may increase our ability to complete an initial business combination with which you do not agree. Our stockholders may pursue remedies against us for any breach of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.
Our sponsor and each of our officers and directors have agreed, pursuant to a written agreement with us, that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (i) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (ii) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, unless we provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their shares of Class A common stock 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, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. These agreements are contained in a letter agreement that we have entered into with our sponsor and each of our officers and directors. Persons who are not party to, or third-party beneficiaries of, these agreements will not have the ability to pursue remedies against our sponsor or any of our officers or directors for any breach of these agreements. As a result, in the event of a breach, such persons would need to pursue a stockholder derivative action, subject to applicable law.
We may be unable to obtain additional financing to complete our initial business combination or to fund the operations and growth of a target business, which could compel us to restructure or abandon a particular business combination.
We have not selected any specific business combination target but may target businesses larger than we could acquire with the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants. As a result, we may be required to seek additional financing to complete such proposed initial business combination. We cannot assure you that such financing will be available on acceptable terms, if at all. To the extent that additional financing proves to be unavailable when needed to complete our initial business combination, we would be compelled to either restructure the transaction or abandon that particular business combination and seek an alternative target business candidate. Further, the amount of additional financing we may be required to obtain could increase as a result of future growth capital needs for any particular transaction, the depletion of the available net proceeds in search of a target business, the obligation to repurchase for cash a significant number of public shares from stockholders who elect redemption in connection with our initial business combination and/or the terms of negotiated transactions to purchase public shares in connection with our initial business combination. If we do not complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may receive only approximately $10.00 per share plus any pro rata interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes on the liquidation of our trust account, and our warrants will expire without value to the holder. In addition, even if we do not need additional financing to complete our initial business combination, we may require such financing to fund the operations or growth of the target business. The failure to secure additional financing could have a material adverse effect on the continued development or growth of the target business. None of our officers, directors or stockholders is required to provide any financing to us in connection with or after our initial business combination. If we do not complete our initial business combination, our public stockholders may only receive approximately $10.00 per share on the liquidation of our trust account, and our warrants will expire without value to the holder. Furthermore, as described in the risk factor entitled “If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share,” under certain circumstances our public stockholders may receive less than $10.00 per share upon the liquidation of the trust account.
Holders of our public shares will not be entitled to vote on any election of directors we hold prior to our initial business combination and, upon consummation of our initial business combination, our sponsor will have certain rights to designate individuals for nomination for election as directors.
Prior to our initial business combination, only holders of our Class B common stock will have the right to vote on the election of directors. Holders of our public shares will not be entitled to vote on the election
of directors during such time. In addition, prior to the completion of an initial business combination, holders of a majority of our Class B common stock may remove a member of the board of directors for any reason. Accordingly, you may not have any say in the management of our company prior to the consummation of an initial business combination.
Further, pursuant to a registration and stockholder rights agreement, upon consummation of an initial business combination, our sponsor will be entitled to designate three individuals for nomination for election to our board of directors. This may result in our sponsor having significant control over our business.
Our initial stockholders will control the election of our board of directors until consummation of our initial business combination and will hold a substantial interest in us. As a result, they will elect all of our directors and may exert a substantial influence on actions requiring a stockholder vote, potentially in a manner that you do not support.
Upon the closing of this offering, our initial stockholders will own founder shares representing 20% of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock. In addition, the Class B common stock, all of which are held by our initial stockholders, will entitle the holders to appoint all of our directors prior to our initial business combination. Holders of our public shares will have no right to vote on the appointment of directors during such time.
As a result of their substantial ownership in our company, our initial stockholders may exert a substantial influence on actions requiring a stockholder vote, potentially in a manner that you do not support, including amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and approval of major corporate transactions. In addition, our board of directors, whose members were elected by our initial stockholders, is and will be divided into two classes, each of which will generally serve for a term of two years with only one class of directors being elected in each year. If our initial stockholders purchase any units in this offering or if our initial stockholders purchase any additional shares of common stock in the aftermarket or in privately negotiated transactions, this would increase their control. Factors that would be considered in making such additional purchases would include consideration of the current trading price of our Class A common stock. In addition, we have agreed not to enter into a definitive agreement regarding an initial business combination without the prior consent of our sponsor.
Because we must furnish our stockholders with target business financial statements, we may lose the ability to complete an otherwise advantageous initial business combination with some prospective target businesses.
The federal proxy rules require that a proxy statement with respect to a vote on an initial business combination meeting certain financial significance tests include historical and/or pro forma financial statement disclosure in periodic reports. We would include the same financial statement disclosure in connection with any tender offer documents. These financial statements may be required to be prepared in accordance with, or be reconciled to, accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or GAAP, or international financial reporting standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, or IFRS, depending on the circumstances, and the historical financial statements may be required to be audited in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), or PCAOB. These financial statement requirements may limit the pool of potential target businesses we may acquire because some targets may be unable to provide such financial statements in time for us to disclose such statements in accordance with federal proxy or tender offer rules and complete our initial business combination within the prescribed timeframe.
Risks Relating to the Post-Business Combination Company
Subsequent to the completion of our initial business combination, we may be required to take write-downs or write-offs, restructuring and impairment or other charges that could have a significant negative effect on our financial condition, results of operations and our stock price, which could cause you to lose some or all of your investment.
Even if we conduct extensive due diligence on a target business with which we combine, we cannot assure you that this diligence will surface all material issues that may be present inside a particular target business, that it would be possible to uncover all material issues through a customary amount of due diligence,
or that factors outside of the target business and outside of our control will not later arise. As a result of these factors, we may be forced to later write-down or write-off assets, restructure our operations, or incur impairment or other charges that could result in our reporting losses. Even if our due diligence successfully identifies certain risks, unexpected risks may arise and previously known risks may materialize in a manner not consistent with our preliminary risk analysis. Even though these charges may be non-cash items and not have an immediate impact on our liquidity, the fact that we report charges of this nature could contribute to negative market perceptions about us or our securities. In addition, charges of this nature may cause us to violate net worth or other covenants to which we may be subject as a result of assuming pre-existing debt held by a target business or by virtue of our obtaining debt financing to partially finance the initial business combination. Accordingly, any stockholders who choose to remain stockholders following the initial business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their shares. Such stockholders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value unless they are able to successfully claim that the reduction was due to the breach by our officers or directors of a duty of care or other fiduciary duty owed to them, or if they are able to successfully bring a private claim under securities laws that the proxy solicitation or tender offer materials, as applicable, relating to the initial business combination constituted an actionable material misstatement or omission.
Our management team may not be able to maintain control of a target business after our initial business combination.
We may structure an initial business combination so that the post-transaction company in which our public stockholders own shares will own less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business, 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 us not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. We will not consider any transaction that does not meet such criteria. Even if the post-transaction company owns 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our stockholders prior to the initial business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post business combination company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the initial business combination. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares of Class A common stock in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock of a target. In this case, we would acquire a 100% interest in the target. However, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares of common stock, our stockholders immediately prior to such transaction could own less than a majority of our outstanding shares of common stock subsequent to such transaction. In addition, other minority stockholders may subsequently combine their holdings resulting in a single person or group obtaining a larger share of the company’s stock than we initially acquired. Accordingly, this may make it more likely that our management team will not be able to maintain our control of the target business. We cannot provide assurance that, upon loss of control of a target business, new management will possess the skills, qualifications or abilities necessary to profitably operate such business.
Our current officers may not remain in their positions following our initial business combination. We may have a limited ability to assess the management of a prospective target business and, as a result, may complete our initial business combination with a target business whose management may not have the skills, qualifications or abilities to manage a public company, which could, in turn, negatively impact the value of our stockholders’ investment in us.
When evaluating the desirability of effecting our initial business combination with a prospective target business, our ability to assess the target business’s management may be limited due to a lack of time, resources or information. Our assessment of the capabilities of the target’s management, therefore, may prove to be incorrect and such management may lack the skills, qualifications or abilities we suspected. Should the target’s management not possess the skills, qualifications or abilities necessary to manage a public company, the operations and profitability of the post-combination business may be negatively impacted. Accordingly, any stockholders who choose to remain stockholders following the initial business combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their shares. Such stockholders are unlikely to have a remedy for such reduction in value.
We may engage the underwriter or one of its affiliates to provide additional services to us after this offering, which may include acting as financial advisor in connection with an initial business combination or as placement agent in connection with a related financing transaction. The underwriter is entitled to receive deferred commissions that will released from the trust only on a completion of an initial business combination. These financial incentives may cause the underwriter to have potential conflicts of interest in rendering any such additional services to us after this offering, including, for example, in connection with the sourcing and consummation of an initial business combination.
We may engage the underwriter or one of its affiliates to provide additional services to us after this offering, including, for example, identifying potential targets, providing financial advisory services, acting as a placement agent in a private offering or arranging debt financing. We may pay the underwriter or its affiliate fair and reasonable fees or other compensation that would be determined at that time in an arm’s length negotiation; provided that no agreement will be entered into with the underwriter or its affiliates and no fees or other compensation for such services will be paid to the underwriter or its affiliates prior to the date that is 60 days from the date of this prospectus, unless such payment would not be deemed underwriter’s compensation in connection with this offering. The underwriter is also entitled to receive deferred commissions that are conditioned on the completion of an initial business combination. The fact that the underwriter or its affiliates’ financial interests are tied to the consummation of a business combination transaction may give rise to potential conflicts of interest in providing any such additional services to us, including potential conflicts of interest in connection with the sourcing and consummation of an initial business combination.
Risks Relating to our Management Team
Our ability to successfully effect our initial business combination and to be successful thereafter will be totally dependent upon the efforts of our key personnel, some of whom may join us following our initial business combination. The loss of key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business.
Our ability to successfully effect our initial business combination is dependent upon the efforts of our key personnel. The role of our key personnel in the target business, however, cannot presently be ascertained. Although some of our key personnel may remain with the target business in senior management or advisory positions following our initial business combination, it is likely that some or all of the management of the target business will remain in place. While we intend to closely scrutinize any individuals we employ after our initial business combination, we cannot assure you that our assessment of these individuals will prove to be correct. These individuals may be unfamiliar with the requirements of operating a company regulated by the SEC, which could cause us to have to expend time and resources helping them become familiar with such requirements. In addition, the officers and directors of an initial business combination candidate may resign upon completion of our initial business combination. The departure of an initial business combination target’s key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business. The role of an initial business combination candidate’s key personnel upon the completion of our initial business combination cannot be ascertained at this time. Although we contemplate that certain members of an initial business combination candidate’s management team will remain associated with the initial business combination candidate following our initial business combination, it is possible that members of the management of an initial business combination candidate will not wish to remain in place. The loss of key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business.
We are dependent upon our officers and directors and their departure could adversely affect our ability to operate.
Our operations are dependent upon a relatively small group of individuals and, in particular, our officers and directors. We believe that our success depends on the continued service of our officers and directors, at least until we have completed our initial business combination. We do not have an employment agreement with, or key-man insurance on the life of, any of our directors or officers. The unexpected loss of the services of one or more of our directors or officers could have a detrimental effect on us.
Our key personnel may negotiate employment or consulting agreements as well as reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses, if any, with a target business in connection with a particular business combination. These agreements may provide for them to receive compensation or reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses, if any, following our initial business combination and as a result, may cause them to have conflicts of interest in determining whether a particular business combination is the most advantageous.
Our key personnel may be able to remain with the company after the completion of our initial business combination only if they are able to negotiate employment or consulting agreements in connection with the initial business combination. Additionally, they may negotiate reimbursement of any out-of-pocket expenses incurred on our behalf prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, should they choose to do so. Such negotiations would take place concurrently with the negotiation of the initial business combination and could provide for such individuals to receive compensation in the form of cash payments and/or our securities for services they would render to us after the completion of the initial business combination, or as reimbursement for such out-of-pocket expenses. The personal and financial interests of such individuals may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business. However, we believe the ability of such individuals to remain with us after the completion of our initial business combination will not be the determining factor in our decision as to whether or not we will proceed with any potential business combination. There is no certainty, however, that any of our key personnel will remain with us after the completion of our initial business combination. We cannot assure you that any of our key personnel will remain in senior management or advisory positions with us. The determination as to whether any of our key personnel will remain with us will be made at the time of our initial business combination. In addition, pursuant to an agreement to be entered into concurrently with the issuance and sale of the securities in this offering, our sponsor, upon consummation of an initial business combination, will be entitled to nominate three individuals for election to our board of directors.
Our officers and directors will allocate their time to other businesses thereby causing conflicts of interest in their determination as to how much time to devote to our affairs. This conflict of interest could have a negative impact on our ability to complete our initial business combination.
Our officers and directors are not required to, and will not, commit their full time to our affairs, which may result in a conflict of interest in allocating their time between our operations and our search for an initial business combination and their other businesses. Each of our officers and directors is engaged in other business endeavors for which he or she may be entitled to substantial compensation and our officers and directors are not obligated to contribute any specific number of hours per week to our affairs. Our independent directors may also serve as officers or board members for other entities. If our officers’ and directors’ other business affairs require them to devote substantial amounts of time to such affairs in excess of their current commitment levels, it could limit their ability to devote time to our affairs which may have a negative impact on our ability to complete our initial business combination. For a complete discussion of our officers’ and directors’ other business affairs, please see the section of this prospectus entitled “Management-Officers and Directors.”
Certain of our officers and directors are now, and all of them may in the future become, affiliated with entities engaged in business activities similar to those intended to be conducted by us and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in allocating their time and determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented.
Following the completion of this offering and until we consummate our initial business combination, we intend to engage in the business of identifying and combining with one or more businesses. Our officers and directors are, and may in the future become, affiliated with entities (such as operating companies or investment vehicles) that are engaged in a similar business.
There could be overlap between companies that would be suitable for a business combination with us and companies that present an attractive investment opportunity for our directors or officers, and entities with which they currently are or may in the future be affiliated.
Our officers and directors also may become aware of business opportunities which may be appropriate for presentation to us and other entities to which they owe certain fiduciary or contractual duties. Any such opportunities may present additional conflicts of interest in pursuing an acquisition target, and our
directors and officers may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented. These conflicts may not be resolved in our favor and a potential target business may be presented to another entity prior to its presentation to us. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company and such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue, and to the extent the director or officer is permitted to refer that opportunity to us without violating another legal obligation.
For a complete discussion of our officers’ and directors’ business affiliations and the potential conflicts of interest that you should be aware of, please see the sections of this prospectus entitled “Management—Officers and Directors,” “Management—Conflicts of Interest” and “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions.”
Our officers, directors, security holders and their respective affiliates may have competitive pecuniary interests that conflict with our interests.
We have not adopted a policy that expressly prohibits our directors, officers, security holders or affiliates from having a direct or indirect pecuniary or financial interest in any investment to be acquired or disposed of by us or in any transaction to which we are a party or have an interest. In fact, we may enter into an initial business combination with a target business that is affiliated with our sponsor, our directors or officers, although we do not intend to do so. We do not have a policy that expressly prohibits any such persons from engaging for their own account in business activities of the types conducted by us. Accordingly, such persons or entities may have a conflict between their interests and ours.
We may engage in a business combination with one or more target businesses that have relationships with entities that may be affiliated with our sponsor, officers, directors or existing holders which may raise potential conflicts of interest.
In light of the involvement or potential involvement of our sponsor, officers and directors with other entities, we may decide to acquire one or more businesses affiliated with our sponsor, officers, directors or existing holders. Our officers and directors also serve as officers and board members for other entities, including, without limitation, those described under “Management—Conflicts of Interest.” They may also have investments in target businesses. Such entities may compete with us for business combination opportunities. Our sponsor, officers and directors are not currently aware of any specific opportunities for us to complete our initial business combination with any entities with which they are affiliated, and there have been no preliminary discussions concerning a business combination with any such entity or entities. Although we will not be specifically focusing on, or targeting, any transaction with any affiliated entities, we would pursue such a transaction if we determined that such affiliated entity met our criteria for a business combination as set forth in “Proposed Business—Selection of a Target Business and Structuring of our Initial Business Combination” and such transaction was approved by a majority of our independent and disinterested directors. Despite our obligation to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA or from another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions regarding the fairness to our company from a financial point of view of a business combination with one or more domestic or international businesses affiliated with our sponsor, officers or directors, potential conflicts of interest still may exist and, as a result, the terms of the business combination may not be as advantageous to our public shareholders as they would be absent any conflicts of interest.
Moreover, we may, at our option, pursue an affiliated joint acquisition opportunity with entities to which an officer or director has a fiduciary, contractual or other obligation or duty. Any such parties may co-invest with us in the target business at the time of our initial business combination, or we could raise additional proceeds to complete the acquisition by issuing equity to any such parties, which may give rise to certain conflicts of interest.
Risks Relating to our Securities
You will not have any rights or interests in funds from the trust account, except under certain limited circumstances. To liquidate your investment, therefore, you may be forced to sell your public shares or warrants, potentially at a loss.
Our public stockholders will be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only upon the earliest to occur of: (i) our completion of an initial business combination, and then only in connection with those shares of Class A common stock that such stockholder properly elected to redeem, subject to the limitations described herein, (ii) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity and (iii) the redemption of our public shares if we do not complete an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or during any Extension Period, subject to applicable law and as further described herein. In no other circumstances will a public stockholder have any right or interest of any kind in the trust account. Holders of warrants will not have any right to the proceeds held in the trust account with respect to the warrants. Accordingly, to liquidate your investment, you may be forced to sell your public shares or warrants, potentially at a loss.
Nasdaq may delist our securities from trading on its exchange, which could limit investors’ ability to make transactions in our securities and subject us to additional trading restrictions.
We have applied to list our units for trading on Nasdaq. Following the date the shares of our Class A common stock and warrants are eligible to trade separately, we anticipate that the shares of our Class A common stock and warrants will be separately listed on Nasdaq. Although after giving effect to this offering we expect to meet the minimum initial listing standards set forth in Nasdaq listing standards, we cannot assure you that our securities will continue to be listed on Nasdaq in the future or prior to our initial business combination. In order to continue listing our securities on Nasdaq prior to our initial business combination, we must maintain certain financial, distribution and stock price levels. In general, we must maintain a minimum amount in stockholders’ equity (generally $2,500,000) and a minimum of 300 public holders. Additionally, in connection with our initial business combination, we will be required to demonstrate compliance with Nasdaq’s initial listing requirements, which are more rigorous than Nasdaq’s continued listing requirements, in order to continue to maintain the listing of our securities on Nasdaq. For instance, our stock price would generally be required to be at least $4.00 per share, our stockholders’ equity would generally be required to be at least $5,000,000 and we would be required to have a minimum of 300 round-lot holders of our unrestricted securities (with at least 50% of such round-lot holders holding unrestricted securities with a market value of at least $2,500). We cannot assure you that we will be able to meet those initial listing requirements at that time. If Nasdaq delists any of our securities from trading on its exchange and we are not able to list such securities on another national securities exchange, we expect such securities could be quoted on an over-the-counter market. If this were to occur, we could face significant material adverse consequences, including:
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a limited availability of market quotations for our securities;
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reduced liquidity for our securities;
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a determination that our Class A common stock is a “penny stock” which will require brokers trading in our Class A common stock to adhere to more stringent rules and possibly result in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for our securities;
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a limited amount of news and analyst coverage; and
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a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future.
The National Securities Markets Improvement Act of 1996, which is a federal statute, prevents or preempts the states from regulating the sale of certain securities, which are referred to as “covered securities.” Because our units are, and we expect that eventually our Class A common stock and warrants will be,
listed on Nasdaq, our units, Class A common stock and warrants will be covered securities. Although the states are preempted from regulating the sale of our securities, the federal statute does allow the states to investigate companies if there is a suspicion of fraud, and, if there is a finding of fraudulent activity, then the states can regulate or bar the sale of covered securities in a particular case. While we are not aware of a state having used these powers to prohibit or restrict the sale of securities issued by blank check companies, other than the State of Idaho, certain state securities regulators view blank check companies unfavorably and might use these powers, or threaten to use these powers, to hinder the sale of securities of blank check companies in their states. Further, if we were no longer listed on Nasdaq, our securities would not be covered securities and we would be subject to regulation in each state in which we offer our securities, including in connection with our initial business combination.
Our sponsor paid an aggregate of $25,000 in exchange for 6,250,000 shares of Class B common stock and, accordingly, you will experience immediate and substantial dilution from your purchase of our Class A common stock.
The difference between the public offering price per share (allocating all of the unit purchase price to the Class A common stock and none to the fraction of a warrant included in the unit) and the pro forma net tangible book value per share of our Class A common stock after this offering constitutes the dilution to you and the other investors in this offering. Our sponsor acquired the shares of Class B common stock at a nominal price, significantly contributing to this dilution. Upon the closing of this offering, and assuming no value is attributed to the warrants included in the units we are offering pursuant to this prospectus or the private placement warrants, you and the other public stockholders will incur an immediate and substantial dilution of approximately 93.3% (or $9.33 per share, assuming no exercise of the underwriter’s over-allotment option), the difference between the pro forma net tangible book value per share of $0.67 and the initial offering price of $10.00 per unit. In addition, because of the anti-dilution rights of the Class B common stock, any equity or equity-linked securities issued or deemed issued in connection with our initial business combination would be disproportionately dilutive to our Class A common stock.
We may amend the terms of the warrants in a manner that may be adverse to holders of public warrants with the approval by the holders of at least 50% of the then outstanding public warrants. As a result, the exercise price of your warrants could be increased, the exercise period could be shortened and the number of shares of our Class A common stock purchasable upon exercise of a warrant could be decreased, all without your approval.
Our warrants will be issued in registered form under a warrant agreement between , as warrant agent, and us. The warrant agreement provides that the terms of the warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder to cure any ambiguity or correct any defective provision, but requires the approval by the holders of at least 50% of the then outstanding public warrants to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders of public warrants. Accordingly, we may amend the terms of the public warrants in a manner adverse to a holder if holders of at least 50% of the then outstanding public warrants approve of such amendment. Although our ability to amend the terms of the public warrants with the consent of at least 50% of the then outstanding public warrants is unlimited, examples of such amendments could be amendments to, among other things, increase the exercise price of the warrants, convert the warrants into cash or stock, shorten the exercise period or decrease the number of shares of our Class A common stock purchasable upon exercise of a warrant.
Certain agreements related to this offering may be amended without stockholder approval.
Certain agreements, including the underwriting agreement relating to this offering, the letter agreement among us and our sponsor, officers and directors, and the registration rights agreement among us and our initial stockholders, may be amended without stockholder approval. These agreements contain various provisions that our public stockholders might deem to be material. While we do not expect our board to approve any amendment to any of these agreements prior to our initial business combination, it may be possible that our board, in exercising its business judgment and subject to its fiduciary duties, chooses to approve one or more amendments to any such agreement in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination. Any such amendments would not require approval from our stockholders, may result in the completion of our initial business combination that may not otherwise have been possible, and may have an adverse effect on the value of an investment in our securities.
Our warrant agreement will designate the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by holders of our warrants, which could limit the ability of warrant holders to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with our company.
Our warrant agreement provides that, subject to applicable law, (i) any action, proceeding or claim against us arising out of or relating in any way to the warrant agreement, including under the Securities Act, will be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and (ii) that we irrevocably submit to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be the exclusive forum for any such action, proceeding or claim. We will waive any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, these provisions of the warrant agreement will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are the sole and exclusive forum. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any of our warrants shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the forum provisions in our warrant agreement. If any action, the subject matter of which is within the scope of the forum provisions of our warrant agreement, is filed in a court other than a court of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (a “foreign action”) in the name of any holder of our warrants, such holder shall be deemed to have consented to: (x) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in the State of New York in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the forum provisions (an “enforcement action”), and (y) having service of process made upon such warrant holder in any such enforcement action by service upon such warrant holder’s counsel in the foreign action as agent for such warrant holder.
This choice-of-forum provision may limit a warrant holder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with our company, which may discourage such lawsuits. Alternatively, if a court were to find this provision of our warrant agreement inapplicable or unenforceable with respect to one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and result in a diversion of the time and resources of our management and board of directors.
A provision of our warrant agreement may make it more difficult for us to consummate an initial business combination.
If:
(i)
we issue additional shares of Class A common stock or equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of our initial business combination at a Newly Issued Price of less than $9.20 per share (with such issue price or effective issue price to be determined in good faith by our board of directors and, (i) in the case of any such issuance to our sponsor or any of its affiliates, without taking into account any founder shares held by our sponsor or its affiliates, as applicable, prior to such issuance, and (ii) to the extent that such issuance is made to our sponsor or any of its affiliates, without taking into account the transfer of founder shares or private placement warrants (including if such transfer is effectuated as a surrender to us and subsequent reissuance by us) by our sponsor in connection with such issuance);
(ii)
the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for the funding of our initial business combination on the date of the consummation of our initial business combination (net of redemptions); and
(iii)
the Market Value is below $9.20 per share, then the exercise price of the warrants will be adjusted to be equal to 115% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, and the $18.00 per share redemption trigger prices described under “Description of Securities—Redeemable Warrants—Public Stockholders’ Warrants—Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00” will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, and the $10.00 per share
redemption trigger price described under “Description of Securities—Redeemable Warrants — Public Stockholders’ Warrants—Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00” will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price.
This may make it more difficult for us to consummate an initial business combination with a target business.
We may redeem your unexpired warrants prior to their exercise at a time that is disadvantageous to you, thereby making your warrants without value.
We have the ability to redeem outstanding warrants at any time after they become exercisable and prior to their expiration at a price of $0.01 per warrant upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption, provided that the closing price of our Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like and certain issuances of Class A common stock and equity-linked securities) for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which we give proper notice of such redemption and provided certain other conditions are met. If and when the warrants become redeemable by us, we may exercise our redemption right even if we are unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws. Redemption of the outstanding warrants could force you to (i) exercise your warrants and pay the exercise price therefor at a time when it may be disadvantageous for you to do so, (ii) sell your warrants at the then-current market price when you might otherwise wish to hold your warrants or (iii) accept the nominal redemption price which, at the time the outstanding warrants are called for redemption, is likely to be substantially less than the market value of your warrants.
In addition, we have the ability to redeem the outstanding public warrants at any time after they become exercisable and prior to their expiration, at a price of $0.10 per warrant upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption, provided that the closing price of our Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like and certain issuances of Class A common stock and equity-linked securities) for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which we give proper notice of such redemption and provided certain other conditions are met, including that holders will only be able to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis prior to redemption for a number of shares of Class A common stock determined based on the redemption date and the fair market value of shares of our Class A common stock. Please see “Description of Securities—Redeemable Warrants—Public Stockholders’ Warrants — Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00.” The value received upon exercise of the warrants (1) may be less than the value the holders would have received if they had exercised their warrants at a later time where the underlying share price is higher and (2) may not compensate the holders for the value of the warrants, including because the number of shares received is capped at 0.361 shares of Class A common stock per whole warrant (subject to adjustment) irrespective of the remaining life of the warrants.
None of the private placement warrants will be redeemable by us (except as set forth under “Description of Securities—Redeemable Warrants—Public Stockholders’ Warrants—Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00”) so long as they are held by our sponsor or its permitted transferees.
Our warrants and founder shares may have an adverse effect on the market price of our Class A common stock and make it more difficult to effectuate our initial business combination.
We will be issuing warrants to purchase 6,250,000 shares of Class A common stock (or 7,187,500 shares of Class A common stock if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) as part of the units offered by this prospectus and, concurrently with the closing of this offering, we will be issuing private placements warrants to purchase an aggregate of 5,000,000 shares of Class A common stock (or 5,500,000 if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) at $11.50 per share. Our initial stockholders currently own an aggregate of 7,187,500 shares of Class B common stock. The shares of Class B common stock are convertible into shares of Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment. In addition, if our sponsor makes any working capital loans, up to $2,000,000 of such loans
may be converted into warrants at a price of $1.50 per warrant at the option of the lender. Such warrants would be identical to the private placement warrants, including as to exercise price, exercisability and exercise period.
To the extent we issue shares of Class A common stock to effectuate an initial business combination, the potential for the issuance of a substantial number of additional shares of Class A common stock upon exercise of these warrants and conversion rights could make us a less attractive business combination vehicle to a target business. Any such issuance will increase the number of issued and outstanding shares of our Class A common stock and reduce the value of the shares of Class A common stock issued to complete the initial business combination. Therefore, our warrants and founder shares may make it more difficult to effectuate an initial business combination or increase the cost of acquiring the target business.
The private placement warrants are identical to the warrants sold as part of the units in this offering except that, so long as they are held by our sponsor or its permitted transferees, (i) they will not be redeemable by us (except as described under “Description of Securities—Redeemable Warrants—Public Stockholders’ Warrants—Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00”), (ii) they (including the Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of these warrants) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by our sponsor until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination, (iii) they may be exercised by the holders on a cashless basis and (iv) they are entitled to registration rights.
Because each unit contains one-fourth of one redeemable warrant and only a whole warrant may be exercised, the units may be worth less than units of other blank check companies.
Each unit contains one-fourth of one redeemable warrant. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade. Accordingly, unless you purchase at least four units, you will not be able to receive or trade a whole warrant. We have established the components of the units in this way in order to reduce the dilutive effect of the warrants upon completion of our initial business combination since the warrants will be exercisable in the aggregate for one-fourth of the number of shares compared to units that each contain a whole warrant to purchase one share, thus making us, we believe, a more attractive merger partner for target businesses. Nevertheless, this unit structure may cause our units to be worth less than if they included a warrant to purchase one whole share.
The determination of the offering price of our units and the size of this offering is more arbitrary than the pricing of securities and size of an offering of an operating company in a particular industry. You may have less assurance, therefore, that the offering price of our units properly reflects the value of such units than you would have in a typical offering of an operating company.
Prior to this offering there has been no public market for any of our securities. The public offering price of the units and the terms of the warrants were negotiated between us and the underwriter. In determining the size of this offering, management held customary organizational meetings with the underwriter, both prior to our inception and thereafter, with respect to the state of capital markets generally, and the amount the underwriter believed it reasonably could raise on our behalf. Factors considered in determining the size of this offering, price and terms of the units, including the Class A common stock and warrants underlying the units, include:
•
the history and prospects of companies whose principal business is the acquisition of other companies;
•
prior offerings of those companies;
•
our prospects for acquiring an operating business;
•
a review of debt to equity ratios in leveraged transactions;
•
our capital structure;
•
an assessment of our management and their experience in identifying operating companies;
•
general conditions of the securities markets at the time of this offering; and
•
other factors as were deemed relevant.
Although these factors were considered, the determination of our offering price is more arbitrary than the pricing of securities of an operating company in a particular industry since we have no historical operations or financial results.
There is currently no market for our securities and a market for our securities may not develop, which would adversely affect the liquidity and price of our securities.
There is currently no market for our securities. Stockholders therefore have no access to information about prior market history on which to base their investment decision. Following this offering, the price of our securities may vary significantly due to one or more potential business combinations and general market or economic conditions. Furthermore, an active trading market for our securities may never develop or, if developed, it may not be sustained. You may be unable to sell your securities unless a market can be established and sustained.
General Risk Factors
We are a newly incorporated company with no operating history and no revenues, our management team has no history of operating a blank check company, and you have no basis on which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective.
We are a newly incorporated Delaware corporation with no operating results, and we will not commence operations until obtaining funding through this offering. Because we lack an operating history and our management team has no history of operating a blank check company, you have no basis upon which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective of completing our initial business combination with one or more target businesses. We have no plans, arrangements or understandings with any prospective target business concerning a business combination and may be unable to complete our initial business combination. If we fail to complete our initial business combination, we will never generate any operating revenues.
Past performance by our management team, directors and their respective affiliates may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in the company or in the future performance of any business we may acquire.
Information regarding performance by, or businesses associated with, our management team, directors and their respective affiliates is presented for informational purposes only. Past performance by our management team, directors and such affiliates is not a guarantee (i) either of success with respect to any business combination we may consummate or (ii) that we will be able to locate a suitable candidate for our initial business combination. You should not rely on the historical performance of our management team and directors or that of their respective affiliates as indicative of the future performance of an investment in the company or the returns the company will, or is likely to, generate going forward. Our management team and directors and their respective affiliates have had limited past experience with blank check and special purpose acquisition companies.
We are an emerging growth company and a smaller reporting company within the meaning of the Securities Act, and if we take advantage of certain exemptions from disclosure requirements available to emerging growth companies or smaller reporting companies, this could make our securities less attractive to investors and may make it more difficult to compare our performance with other public companies.
We are an “emerging growth company” within the meaning of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act, and we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. As a result, our stockholders may not have access to certain information they may deem important. We could be an emerging growth company for up to five years, although circumstances could cause us to lose that status earlier, including if the aggregate worldwide market value of our Class A common stock held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $700,000,000 as of any June 30 before that time, in which case we would no longer be an
emerging growth company as of the following December 31. We cannot predict whether investors will find our securities less attractive because we will rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result of our reliance on these exemptions, the trading prices of our securities may be lower than they otherwise would be, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the trading prices of our securities may be more volatile.
Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies, but any such an election to opt out is irrevocable. We have elected not to opt out of such extended transition period, which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, we, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of our financial statements with another public company difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
Additionally, we are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K. Smaller reporting companies may take advantage of certain reduced disclosure obligations, including, among other things, providing only two years of audited financial statements. We will remain a smaller reporting company until the last day of the fiscal year in which (1) the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $250,000,000 as of the prior June 30th, and (2) our annual revenues equal or exceed $100,000,000 during such completed fiscal year or the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $700,000,000 as of the prior June 30th. To the extent we take advantage of such reduced disclosure obligations, it may also make comparison of our financial statements and other disclosures with other public companies difficult or impossible.
Compliance obligations under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may make it more difficult for us to effectuate our initial business combination, require substantial financial and management resources, and increase the time and costs of completing an initial business combination.
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires that we evaluate and report on our system of internal controls beginning with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2021. Only in the event we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer or an accelerated filer, and no longer qualify as an emerging growth company, will we be required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement on our internal control over financial reporting. Further, for as long as we remain an emerging growth company, we will not be required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement on our internal control over financial reporting. The fact that we are a blank check company makes compliance with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act particularly burdensome on us as compared to other public companies because a target company with which we seek to complete our initial business combination may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding adequacy of its internal controls. The development of the internal control of any such entity to achieve compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may increase the time and costs necessary to complete any such business combination.
Provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and Delaware law may inhibit a takeover of us, which could limit the price investors might be willing to pay in the future for our Class A common stock and could entrench management.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will contain provisions that may discourage unsolicited takeover proposals that stockholders may consider to be in their best interests. These provisions will include two-year director terms, the ability of the board of directors to designate the terms of and issue new series of preferred stock, and the fact that, prior to the completion of our initial business combination, only holders of shares of our Class B common stock will have the right to vote in the election of directors, which may make the removal of management more difficult and may discourage transactions that otherwise could involve payment of a premium over prevailing market prices for our securities.
We are also subject to anti-takeover provisions under Delaware law, which could delay or prevent a change of control. Together these provisions may make the removal of management more difficult and may discourage transactions that otherwise could involve payment of a premium over prevailing market prices for our securities.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will require, to the fullest extent permitted by law, that derivative actions brought in our name, actions against our directors, officers, other employees or stockholders for breach of fiduciary duty and other similar actions may be brought only in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware and, if brought outside of Delaware, the stockholder bringing the suit will be deemed to have consented to service of process on such stockholder’s counsel, which may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors, officers, other employees or stockholders.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will require, to the fullest extent permitted by law, that derivative actions brought in our name, actions against our directors, officers, other employees or stockholders for breach of fiduciary duty and other similar actions may be brought only in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware and, if brought outside of Delaware, the stockholder bringing the suit will be deemed to have consented to service of process on such stockholder’s counsel except any action (A) as to which the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten days following such determination), (B) which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery, (C) for which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction, or (D) any action created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock shall be deemed to have notice of, and consented to, the forum provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States shall be the exclusive forum for any action arising under the Securities Act. This choice of forum provision may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or any of our directors, officers, other employees or stockholders, which may discourage lawsuits with respect to such claims, although our stockholders will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. Alternatively, if a court were to find the choice of forum provision contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions, which could harm our business, operating results and financial condition.
Our amended and restated of incorporation will provide that the exclusive forum provision will be applicable to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, subject to certain exceptions. Section 27 of the Exchange Act creates exclusive federal jurisdiction over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. As a result, the exclusive forum provision will not apply to suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933 or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. We note, however, that there is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce this provision and that investors cannot waive compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for state and federal courts over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.
Cyber incidents or attacks directed at us could result in information theft, data corruption, operational disruption and/or financial loss.
We depend on digital technologies, including information systems, infrastructure and cloud applications and services, including those of third parties with which we may deal. Sophisticated and deliberate attacks on, or security breaches in, our systems or infrastructure, or the systems or infrastructure of third parties or the cloud, could lead to corruption or misappropriation of our assets, proprietary information and
sensitive or confidential data. As an early stage company without significant investments in data security protection, we may not be sufficiently protected against such occurrences. We may not have sufficient resources to adequately protect against, or to investigate and remediate any vulnerability to, cyber incidents. It is possible that any of these occurrences, or a combination of them, could have adverse consequences on our business and lead to financial loss.
Since only holders of our Class B common stock will have the right to vote on the election of directors, upon the listing of our shares on Nasdaq, Nasdaq may consider us to be a “controlled company” within the meaning of Nasdaq rules and, as a result, we may qualify for exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements.
After completion of this offering, only holders of our Class B common stock will have the right to vote on the election of directors. As a result, Nasdaq may consider us to be a “controlled company” within the meaning of Nasdaq corporate governance standards. Under Nasdaq, corporate governance standards, a company of which more than 50% of the voting power is held by an individual, group or another company is a “controlled company” and may elect not to comply with certain corporate governance requirements, including the requirements that:
•
we have a board that includes a majority of “independent directors,” as defined under the rules of Nasdaq; and
•
we have a compensation committee of our board that is comprised entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee’s purpose and responsibilities.
•
we have independent director oversight of our director nominations.
We do not intend to utilize these exemptions and intend to comply with the corporate governance requirements of Nasdaq, subject to applicable phase-in rules. However, if we determine in the future to utilize some or all of these exemptions, you will not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to all of Nasdaq corporate governance requirements.
An investment in this offering may result in uncertain or adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences for an investor.
An investment in this offering may result in uncertain U.S. federal income tax consequences. For instance, because there are no authorities that directly address instruments similar to the units we are issuing in this offering, the allocation an investor makes with respect to the purchase price of a unit between the share of Class A common stock and the one-fourth of one redeemable warrant to purchase one share of our Class A common stock included in each unit could be challenged by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, or the courts. Furthermore, the U.S. federal income tax consequences of a cashless exercise of warrants included in the units we are issuing in this offering is unclear under current law, and the adjustment to the exercise price and/or redemption price of the warrants could give rise to dividend income to investors without a corresponding payment of cash. Finally, it is unclear whether the redemption rights with respect to our shares of common stock suspend the running of a U.S. holder’s holding period for purposes of determining whether any gain or loss realized by such holder on the sale or exchange of common stock is long-term capital gain or loss and for determining whether any dividend we pay would be considered a “qualified dividend” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. See the section of this prospectus titled “U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” for a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to an investment in our securities. Prospective investors are urged to consult their tax advisors with respect to these and other tax consequences applicable to their specific circumstances of purchasing, holding or disposing of our securities.
We may reincorporate in another jurisdiction in connection with our initial business combination and such reincorporation may result in taxes imposed on stockholders or warrant holders.
We may, in connection with our initial business combination and subject to requisite stockholder approval under Delaware law, reincorporate in the jurisdiction in which the target company or business is located or in another jurisdiction. The transaction may require a stockholder or warrant holder to recognize taxable income in the jurisdiction in which the stockholder or warrant holder is a tax resident or in which
its members are resident if it is a tax transparent entity (or may otherwise result in adverse tax consequences). We do not intend to make any cash distributions to stockholders or warrant holders to pay such taxes.
Stockholders or warrant holders may be subject to withholding taxes or other taxes with respect to their ownership of us after the reincorporation.
If we effect our initial business combination with a company with operations or opportunities outside of the United States, we would be subject to a variety of additional risks that may negatively impact our operations.
If we effect our initial business combination with a company with operations or opportunities outside of the United States, we would be subject to any special considerations or risks associated with companies operating in an international setting, including any of the following:
•
higher costs and difficulties inherent in managing cross-border business operations and complying with different commercial and legal requirements of overseas markets;
•
rules and regulations regarding currency redemption;
•
complex corporate withholding taxes on individuals;
•
laws governing the manner in which future business combinations may be effected;
•
tariffs and trade barriers;
•
regulations related to customs and import/export matters;
•
longer payment cycles and challenges in collecting accounts receivable;
•
tax issues, including but not limited to tax law changes and variations in tax laws as compared to the United States;
•
currency fluctuations and exchange controls;
•
rates of inflation;
•
cultural and language differences;
•
employment regulations;
•
data privacy;
•
changes in industry, regulatory or environmental standards within the jurisdictions where we operate;
•
public health or safety concerns and governmental restrictions, including those caused by outbreaks of pandemic disease such as the COVID-19 pandemic;
•
crime, strikes, riots, civil disturbances, terrorist attacks, natural disasters and wars;
•
deterioration of political relations with the United States; and
•
government appropriations of assets.
We may not be able to adequately address these additional risks. If we were unable to do so, our operations might suffer, which may adversely impact our results of operations and financial condition.
We may face risks related to the healthcare industry.
Business combinations with businesses in the healthcare industry and related industries may involve special considerations and risks. If we complete our initial business combination with a business in such industries, we will be subject to the following risks, any of which could be detrimental to us and the business we acquire:
•
Competition could reduce profit margins.
•
Our inability to comply with governmental regulations affecting the healthcare industry could negatively affect our operations.
•
An inability to license or enforce intellectual property rights on which our business may depend.
•
The success of our planned business following consummation of our initial business combination may depend on maintaining a well-secured business and technology infrastructure.
•
If we are required to obtain governmental approval of our products, the production of our products could be delayed and we could be required to engage in a lengthy and expensive approval process that may not ultimately be successful.
•
Continuing government and private efforts to contain healthcare costs, including through the implementation of legal and regulatory changes, may reduce our future revenue and our profitability following such business combination.
•
Changes in the healthcare related wellness industry and markets for such products affecting our customers or retailing practices could negatively impact customer relationships and our results of operations.
•
The healthcare industry is susceptible to significant liability exposure. If liability claims are brought against us following a business combination, it could materially adversely affect our operations.
•
Dependence of our operations upon third-party suppliers, manufacturers or contractors whose failure to perform adequately could disrupt our business.
•
A disruption in supply could adversely impact our business.
Any of the foregoing could have an adverse impact on our operations following our initial business combination. However, our efforts in identifying prospective target businesses will not be limited to businesses in our target industries. Accordingly, if we acquire a target business in another industry, these risks will likely not affect us and we will be subject to other risks attendant with the specific industry in which we operate or target business which we acquire, none of which can be presently ascertained.
USE OF PROCEEDS
We are offering 25,000,000 units at an offering price of $10.00 per unit. We estimate that the net proceeds of this offering together with the funds we will receive from the sale of the private placement warrants will be used as set forth in the following table.
|
|
|
Without
Over-Allotment
Option
|
|
|
Over-Allotment
Option
Exercised
|
|
Gross proceeds
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross proceeds from units offered to public
|
|
|
|
$ |
250,000,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
287,500,000 |
|
|
Gross proceeds from private placement warrants
|
|
|
|
|
7,500,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
8,250,000 |
|
|
Total gross proceeds
|
|
|
|
$ |
257,500,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
295,750,000 |
|
|
Estimated offering expenses1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Underwriting commissions (2% of gross proceeds from units offered to public, excluding deferred portion)2
|
|
|
|
$ |
5,000,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
5,750,000 |
|
|
Legal fees and expenses
|
|
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
Accounting fees and expenses
|
|
|
|
|
60,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
60,000 |
|
|
SEC filing fees
|
|
|
|
|
40,384 |
|
|
|
|
|
40,384 |
|
|
FINRA filing fees
|
|
|
|
|
56,023 |
|
|
|
|
|
56,023 |
|
|
Nasdaq filing fee
|
|
|
|
|
75,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
75,000 |
|
|
Director and officer liability insurance premiums
|
|
|
|
|
600,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
600,000 |
|
|
Printing and engraving expenses
|
|
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
Miscellaneous3
|
|
|
|
|
43,593 |
|
|
|
|
|
43,593 |
|
|
Total estimated offering expenses (other than underwriting commissions)
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,200,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,200,000 |
|
|
Proceeds after offering expenses
|
|
|
|
$ |
251,300,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
288,800,000 |
|
|
Held in trust account
|
|
|
|
$ |
250,000,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
287,500,000 |
|
|
% of public offering size
|
|
|
|
|
100% |
|
|
|
|
|
100% |
|
|
Not held in trust account
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,300,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,300,000 |
|
|
The following table shows the use of the approximately $1,300,000 of net proceeds not held in the trust account4.
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
% of Total
|
|
Legal, accounting, due diligence, travel, and other expenses in connection with any
business combination
|
|
|
|
$ |
650,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
50.0% |
|
|
Legal and accounting fees related to regulatory reporting obligations
|
|
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
7.7% |
|
|
Nasdaq listing fees
|
|
|
|
|
128,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
9.8% |
|
|
Other miscellaneous expenses
|
|
|
|
|
422,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
32.5% |
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,300,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
100.0% |
|
|
1
A portion of the offering expenses have been paid from the proceeds of a loan from our sponsor of up to $300,000 as described in this prospectus. As of January 8, 2021, we had $0 outstanding under the promissory note with our sponsor. This loan will be repaid upon completion of this offering out of the proceeds that have been allocated for the payment of offering expenses (other than underwriting commissions) and amounts not to be held in the trust account. In the event that offering expenses are less than as set forth in this table, any such amounts will be used for post-closing working capital expenses. In the event that the offering expenses are more than as set forth in this table, we may fund such excess with funds not held in the trust account.
2
The underwriter has agreed to defer underwriting commissions equal to 3.5% of the gross proceeds of
this offering. Upon completion of our initial business combination, $8,750,000 (or $10,062,500 if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full), which constitutes the underwriter’s deferred commissions will be paid to the underwriter from the funds held in the trust account, and the remaining funds, less amounts released by the trustee to pay redeeming stockholders, will be released to us and can be used to pay all or a portion of the purchase price of the business or businesses with which our initial business combination occurs or for general corporate purposes, including payment of principal or interest on indebtedness incurred in connection with our initial business combination, to fund the purchases of other companies or for working capital. The underwriter will not be entitled to any interest accrued on the deferred underwriting commissions.
3
Includes organizational and administrative expenses and may include amounts related to the above-listed expenses in the event actual amounts exceed estimates.
4
These expenses are estimates only and do not include interest which may be available to us from the trust account. Our actual expenditures for some or all of these items may differ from the estimates set forth herein. For example, we may incur greater legal and accounting expenses than our current estimates in connection with negotiating and structuring our initial business combination based upon the level of complexity of such business combination. In the event we identify an initial business combination target in a specific industry subject to specific regulations, we may incur additional expenses associated with legal due diligence and the engagement of special legal counsel. In addition, our staffing needs may vary and, as a result, we may engage a number of consultants to assist with legal and financial due diligence. We do not anticipate any change in our intended use of proceeds, other than fluctuations among the current categories of allocated expenses, which fluctuations, to the extent they exceed current estimates for any specific category of expenses, would not be available for our expenses.
Nasdaq rules provide that at least 90% of the gross proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants be deposited in a trust account. Of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants, $250,000,000 (or $287,500,000 if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full), including $8,750,000 (or up to $10,062,500 if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) of deferred underwriting commissions, will be placed in a trust account in the United States with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee, and will be invested only in U.S. government treasury bills 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. We estimate that the interest earned on the trust account will be approximately $250,000 per year, assuming an interest rate of 0.1% per year; however, we can provide no assurance regarding this amount. Except with respect to interest earned on the funds held in the trust account that may be released to us to pay our franchise and income tax obligations and to pay up to $100,000 in dissolution expenses, the proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants will not be released from the trust account until the earliest to occur of: (a) the completion of our initial business combination, (b) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, and (c) the redemption of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or during any Extension Period, subject to applicable law.
The net proceeds held in the trust account may be used as consideration to pay the sellers of a target business with which we ultimately complete our initial business combination. If our initial business combination is paid for using equity or debt securities, or not all of the funds released from the trust account are used for payment of the consideration in connection with our initial business combination, we may apply the balance of the cash released from the trust account for general corporate purposes, including for maintenance or expansion of operations of the post-transaction company, the payment of principal or interest due on indebtedness incurred in completing our initial business combination, to fund the purchase of other companies or for working capital. There is no limitation on our ability to raise funds privately or through loans in connection with our initial business combination.
We believe that amounts not held in trust will be sufficient to pay the costs and expenses to which such proceeds are allocated. This belief is based on the fact that while we may begin preliminary due diligence of a target business in connection with an indication of interest, we intend to undertake in-depth due diligence, depending on the circumstances of the relevant prospective business combination, only after we have negotiated and signed a letter of intent or other preliminary agreement that addresses the terms of an initial business combination. However, if our estimate of the costs of undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating an initial business combination is less than the actual amount necessary to do so, we may be required to raise additional capital, the amount, availability and cost of which is currently unascertainable. If we are required to seek additional capital, we could seek such additional capital through loans or additional investments from our sponsor, members of our management team or their affiliates, but such persons are not under any obligation to advance funds to, or invest in, us.
Our sponsor has agreed to loan us up to $300,000 to be used for a portion of the expenses of this offering. As of January 8, 2021, we had $0 outstanding under the promissory note with our sponsor. This loan is non-interest bearing, unsecured and is due at the earlier of December 31, 2021 or the closing of this offering. The loan will be repaid upon the closing of this offering out of offering proceeds not held in the trust account.
In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our sponsor, or an affiliate of our sponsor, or certain of our officers or directors may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. If we complete our initial business combination, we would repay such loaned amounts out of the proceeds of the trust account released to us. Otherwise, such loans would be repaid only out of funds held outside the trust account. In the event that our initial business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts, but no proceeds from our trust account would be used to repay such loaned amounts. Up to $2,000,000 of such loans may be convertible into warrants at a price of $1.50 per warrant at the option of the lender. The warrants would be identical to the private placement warrants, including as to exercise price, exercisability and exercise period. Except for the foregoing, the terms of such loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. We do not expect to seek loans from parties other than our sponsor, or an affiliate of our sponsor, or certain of our officers or directors, as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our trust account.
If we seek stockholder 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, directors, officers or their respective affiliates may purchase public 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. There is no limit on the number of shares our sponsor, directors, officers or their affiliates may purchase in such transactions, subject to compliance with applicable law and Nasdaq rules. 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. If they engage in such transactions, they will not make any such purchases when they are in possession of any material non-public information not disclosed to the seller or if such purchases are prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act. We do not currently anticipate that such purchases, if any, would constitute a tender offer subject to the tender offer rules under the Exchange Act or a going-private transaction subject to the going-private rules under the Exchange Act; however, if the purchasers determine at the time of any such purchases that the purchases are subject to such rules, the purchasers will comply with such rules. 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. None of the funds held in the trust account will be used to purchase public shares or public warrants in such transactions prior to completion of our initial business combination. See “Proposed Business-Permitted Purchases of Our Securities” for a description of how our sponsor, initial stockholders, directors, officers or any of their respective affiliates will select which stockholders to purchase securities from in any private transaction.
The purpose of any such purchases of shares could be to vote such shares in favor of the initial business combination and thereby increase the likelihood of obtaining stockholder approval of the initial business combination or 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. The purpose of any such purchases of public warrants could be to reduce the number of public warrants outstanding or to vote such warrants on any matters submitted to the warrant holders for approval in connection with our initial business combination. Any such purchases of our securities may result in the completion of our initial business combination that may not otherwise have been possible. In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of our shares of common stock or 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.
We may not redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 upon consummation of our initial business combination and after payment of deferred underwriting commissions (so that we are not subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules) and the agreement for our initial business combination may require as a closing condition that we have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. If too many public stockholders exercise their redemption rights so that we cannot satisfy the net tangible asset requirement or any net worth or cash requirements, we would not proceed with the redemption of our public shares or the initial business combination, and instead may search for an alternate business combination.
A public stockholder will be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only upon the earliest to occur of: (i) our completion of an initial business combination, (ii) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, and (iii) the redemption of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months following the closing of this offering or during any Extension Period, subject to applicable law and as further described herein and any limitations (including but not limited to cash requirements) created by the terms of the proposed initial business combination. In no other circumstances will a public stockholder have any right or interest of any kind to or in the trust account.
Our sponsor and each of our officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to (i) waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares and public shares in connection with the completion of our initial business combination, (ii) waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares and public shares in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity and (iii) waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to their founder shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or during any Extension Period, although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed timeframe.
DIVIDEND POLICY
We have not paid any cash dividends on our common stock to date and do not intend to pay cash dividends prior to the completion of our initial business combination. The payment of cash dividends in the future will be dependent upon our revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements and general financial condition subsequent to completion of our initial business combination. If we incur any indebtedness in connection with our initial business combination, our ability to declare dividends may be limited by restrictive covenants we may agree to in connection therewith.
DILUTION
The difference between the public offering price per share of Class A common stock, assuming no value is attributed to the warrants included in the units we are offering pursuant to this prospectus or the private placement warrants, and the pro forma net tangible book value per share of our Class A common stock after this offering constitutes the dilution to investors in this offering. Such calculation does not reflect any dilution associated with the sale and exercise of warrants, including the private placement warrants, which would cause the actual dilution to the public stockholders to be higher, particularly where a cashless exercise is utilized. Net tangible book value per share is determined by dividing our net tangible book value, which is our total tangible assets less total liabilities (including the value of Class A common stock which may be redeemed for cash), by the number of outstanding shares of our Class A common stock.
At January 8, 2021, our net tangible book value was $131, or approximately $0.00 per share of common stock. After giving effect to the sale of 25,000,000 shares of Class A common stock included in the units we are offering by this prospectus (or 28,750,000 shares of Class A common stock if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full), the sale of the private placement warrants and the deduction of underwriting commissions and estimated expenses of this offering, our pro forma net tangible book value at January 8, 2021 would have been $5,000,006, or approximately $0.67 per share (or $5,000,006, or approximately $0.58 per share, if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full), representing an immediate increase in net tangible book value (as decreased by the value of 23,757,416 shares of Class A common stock that may be redeemed for cash, or 27,376,166 shares of Class A common stock if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) of approximately $0.67 per share (or approximately $0.58 per share if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) to our initial stockholders as of the date of this prospectus and dilution to public stockholders from this offering will be approximately $9.33 per share (or approximately $9.42 per share if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full).
The following table illustrates the dilution to the public stockholders on a per-share basis, assuming no value is attributed to the warrants included in the units we are offering pursuant to this prospectus or the private placement warrants:
|
|
|
Without Over-
Allotment
|
|
|
With Over-
Allotment
|
|
Public offering price
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
10.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
10.00 |
|
|
Net tangible book value before this offering
|
|
|
|
|
0.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Increase attributable to public stockholders
|
|
|
|
|
0.67 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.58 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pro forma net tangible book value after this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.67 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.58 |
|
|
Dilution to public stockholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
9.33 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
9.42 |
|
|
Percentage of dilution to public stockholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
93.3% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
94.2% |
|
|
For purposes of presentation, we have reduced our pro forma net tangible book value after this offering (assuming no exercise of the underwriter’s over-allotment option) by $237,574,160 because holders of up to approximately 95.0% of our public shares may redeem their shares for a pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account at a per share redemption price equal to the amount in the trust account as set forth in our tender offer or proxy materials (initially anticipated to be the aggregate amount held in trust two days prior to the commencement of our tender offer or stockholders meeting, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes), divided by the number of shares of Class A common stock sold in this offering.
The following table sets forth information with respect to our initial stockholders (who hold shares of our Class B common stock) and the public stockholders:
|
|
|
Shares Purchased
|
|
|
Total Consideration
|
|
|
Average
Price Per
Share
|
|
|
|
|
Number
|
|
|
Percentage
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
Percentage
|
|
Initial Stockholders1
|
|
|
|
|
6,250,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
20% |
|
|
|
|
$ |
25,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.01% |
|
|
|
|
$ |
0.004 |
|
|
Public Stockholders
|
|
|
|
|
25,000,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
80% |
|
|
|
|
|
250,000,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
99.99% |
|
|
|
|
$ |
10.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
31,250,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
100% |
|
|
|
|
$ |
250,025,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
100.00% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
Assumes no exercise of the underwriter’s over-allotment option and the corresponding forfeiture of an aggregate of 937,500 shares of Class B common stock.
The pro forma net tangible book value per share after the offering is calculated as follows:
|
|
|
Without Over-
Allotment
|
|
|
With Over-
Allotment
|
|
Numerator:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net tangible book value before this offering
|
|
|
|
$ |
131 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
131 |
|
|
Net proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants1
|
|
|
|
|
251,300,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
288,800,000 |
|
|
Plus: Offering costs accrued or paid in advance, excluded from tangible
book value
|
|
|
|
|
24,035 |
|
|
|
|
|
24,035 |
|
|
Less: Deferred underwriting commissions
|
|
|
|
|
(8,750,000) |
|
|
|
|
|
(10,062,500) |
|
|
Less: Proceeds held in trust subject to redemption2
|
|
|
|
|
(237,574,160) |
|
|
|
|
|
(273,761,660) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
5,000,006 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
5,000,006 |
|
|
Denominator:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares of Class B common stock outstanding prior to this offering
|
|
|
|
|
7,187,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
7,187,500 |
|
|
Shares of Class B common stock forfeited if over-allotment is not exercised
|
|
|
|
|
(937,500) |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
Shares of Class A common stock included in the units offered
|
|
|
|
|
25,000,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
28,750,000 |
|
|
Less: Shares subject to redemption
|
|
|
|
|
(23,757,416) |
|
|
|
|
|
(27,376,166) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,492,584 |
|
|
|
|
|
8,561,334 |
|
|
1
Expenses applied against gross proceeds include offering expenses of $1,200,000 and underwriting commissions of $5,000,000 without the over-allotment option exercise and $5,750,000 with the over-allotment option exercise (excluding deferred underwriting fees). See “Use of Proceeds.”
2
If we seek stockholder 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 stockholders, directors, officers or their respective affiliates may purchase public 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. In the event of any such purchases of our shares prior to the completion of our initial business combination, the number of shares of Class A common stock subject to redemption will be reduced by the amount of any such purchases, increasing the pro forma net tangible book value per share. See “Proposed Business-Permitted Purchases of Our Securities.”
CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth our capitalization at January 8, 2021 and as adjusted to give effect to the filing of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, the sale of our units in this offering, the sale of the private placement warrants and the application of the estimated net proceeds derived from the sale of such securities, assuming no exercise by the underwriter of its over-allotment option:
|
|
|
January 8, 2021
|
|
|
|
|
Actual
|
|
|
As Adjusted1
|
|
Note payable to related party1
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
Deferred underwriting commissions
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
8,750,000 |
|
|
Class A common stock subject to possible redemption; 0 and 23,757,416 shares, actual and as adjusted, respectively2
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
237,574,160 |
|
|
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and
outstanding, actual and as adjusted
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value, 200,000,000 shares authorized; 0 and
1,242,584 shares issued and outstanding (excluding 0 and 23,757,416 shares
subject to possible redemption), actual and as adjusted, respectively
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
124 |
|
|
Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized,
7,187,500 and 6,250,000 shares issued and outstanding, actual and as adjusted,
respectively3
|
|
|
|
|
719 |
|
|
|
|
|
625 |
|
|
Additional paid-in capital
|
|
|
|
|
24,281 |
|
|
|
|
|
5,000,091 |
|
|
Accumulated deficit
|
|
|
|
|
(834) |
|
|
|
|
|
(834) |
|
|
Total stockholders’ equity
|
|
|
|
$ |
24,166 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
5,000,006 |
|
|
Total capitalization
|
|
|
|
$ |
24,166 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
251,324,166 |
|
|
1
Our sponsor has agreed to loan us up to $300,000 to be used for a portion of the expenses of this offering. The “as adjusted” information gives effect to the repayment of this note out of the proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants. As of January 8, 2021, we had $0 outstanding under the promissory note with our sponsor.
2
Upon the completion of our initial business combination, we will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares for cash equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account 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 and not previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes, subject to the limitations described herein whereby our net tangible assets will be maintained at a minimum of $5,000,001 upon consummation of our initial business combination and any limitations (including, but not limited to, cash requirements) created by the terms of the proposed initial business combination.
3
Actual share amount is prior to any forfeiture of shares of Class B common stock by our sponsor and as adjusted amount assumes no exercise of the underwriter’s over-allotment option, and, consequently, forfeiture of 937,500 shares of Class B common stock.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Overview
We are a blank check company incorporated as a Delaware corporation and formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock 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, initiated any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target. We intend to effectuate our initial business combination using cash from the proceeds of this offering and the private placement of the private placement warrants, the proceeds of the sale of our shares in connection with our initial business combination (pursuant to forward purchase agreements or backstop agreements we may enter into following the consummation of this offering or otherwise), shares issued to the owners of the target, debt issued to bank or other lenders or the owners of the target, or a combination of the foregoing.
The issuance of additional shares in connection with an initial business combination to the owners of the target or other investors:
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may significantly dilute the equity interest of investors in this offering, which dilution would increase if the anti-dilution provisions in the Class B common stock resulted in the issuance of shares of Class A common stock on a greater than one-to-one basis upon conversion of the Class B common stock;
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may subordinate the rights of holders of our common stock if preferred stock is issued with rights senior to those afforded our common stock;
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could cause a change in control if a substantial number of shares of our common stock is issued, which may affect, among other things, our ability to use our net operating loss carry forwards, if any, and could result in the resignation or removal of our present officers and directors;
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may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control of us by diluting the stock ownership or voting rights of a person seeking to obtain control of us; and
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may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our Class A common stock and/or warrants.
Similarly, if we issue debt securities or otherwise incur significant debt to bank or other lenders or the owners of a target, it could result in:
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default and foreclosure on our assets if our operating revenues after an initial business combination are insufficient to repay our debt obligations;
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acceleration of our obligations to repay the indebtedness even if we make all principal and interest payments when due if we breach certain covenants that require the maintenance of certain financial ratios or reserves without a waiver or renegotiation of that covenant;
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our immediate payment of all principal and accrued interest, if any, if the debt is payable on demand;
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our inability to obtain necessary additional financing if the debt contains covenants restricting our ability to obtain such financing while the debt is outstanding;
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our inability to pay dividends on our common stock;
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using a substantial portion of our cash flow to pay principal and interest on our debt, which will reduce the funds available for dividends on our common stock if declared, our ability to pay expenses, make capital expenditures and acquisitions, and fund other general corporate purposes;
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limitations on our flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in our business and in the industry in which we operate;
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increased vulnerability to adverse changes in general economic, industry and competitive conditions and adverse changes in government regulation;
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limitations on our ability to borrow additional amounts for expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions, debt service requirements, and execution of our strategy; and
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other purposes and other disadvantages compared to our competitors who have less debt.
As indicated in the accompanying financial statements, at January 8, 2021 and December 31, 2020, we had cash of $25,000 and $0, respectively, and deferred offering costs of $24,035 and $9,572, respectively. Further, we expect to continue to incur significant costs in the pursuit of our initial business combination plans. We cannot assure you that our plans to raise capital or to complete our initial business combination will be successful.
Results of Operations and Known Trends or Future Events
We have neither engaged in any operations nor generated any revenues to date. Our only activities since inception have been organizational activities and those necessary to prepare for this offering. Following this offering, we will not generate any operating revenues until after completion of our initial business combination (at the earliest). We will generate non-operating income in the form of interest income on cash and cash equivalents after this offering. There has been no significant change in our financial or trading position and no material adverse change has occurred since the date of our audited financial statements. After this offering, we expect to incur increased expenses as a result of being a public company (for legal, financial reporting, accounting and auditing compliance), as well as expenses as we conduct due diligence on prospective business combination candidates. We expect our expenses to increase substantially after the closing of this offering.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As indicated in the accompanying financial statements, at January 8, 2021 and December 31, 2020, we had cash of $25,000 and $0, respectively, and working capital and (deficit) of approximately $131 and ($10,406), respectively. Further, we have incurred and expect to continue to incur significant costs in the pursuit of our initial business combination plans. Management’s plans to address this uncertainty through this offering are discussed above. We cannot assure you that our plans to raise capital or to consummate an initial business combination will be successful.
Our liquidity needs have been satisfied prior to completion of this offering through receipt of $25,000 from the sale of shares of Class B common stock to our sponsor and up to $300,000 in a loan from our sponsor under an unsecured promissory note. As of January 8, 2021 and December 31, 2020, we had $0 outstanding under the promissory note with our sponsor.
We estimate that the net proceeds from (i) the sale of the units in this offering, after deducting offering expenses of approximately $1,200,000 and underwriting commissions of $5,000,000, or $5,750,000 if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full (excluding deferred underwriting commissions of $8,750,000 (or $10,062,500 if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full)) and (ii) the sale of the private placement warrants for a purchase price of $7,500,000 (or $8,250,000 if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be $251,300,000 (or $288,800,000 if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full).
Of this amount, $250,000,000, or $287,500,000 if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full, including $8,750,000 (or $10,062,500 if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) in deferred underwriting commissions, will be deposited into a trust account. The proceeds held in the trust account 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. We will disclose in each quarterly and annual report filed with the SEC prior to our initial business combination whether the proceeds deposited in the trust account are invested in U.S. government treasury obligations or money market funds or a combination thereof. The remaining $1,300,000 will not be held in the trust account. In the event that our offering expenses exceed our estimate of $1,200,000, we may fund such excess with funds not to be held in the trust account. In such case, the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would decrease by a corresponding amount. Conversely, in the event that the offering expenses are less than our estimate of
$1,200,000, the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would increase by a corresponding amount.
We intend to use substantially all of the funds held in the trust account, including any amounts representing interest earned on the trust account (less deferred underwriting commissions) to complete our initial business combination. We may withdraw interest to pay franchise and income taxes. We estimate our annual franchise tax obligations, based on the number of shares of our common stock authorized and outstanding after the completion of this offering, to be $200,000, which is the maximum amount of annual franchise taxes payable by us as a Delaware corporation per annum, which we may pay from funds from this offering held outside of the trust account or from interest earned on the funds held in our trust account and released to us for this purpose. Our annual income tax obligations will depend on the amount of interest and other income earned on the amounts held in the trust account.
We expect the interest earned on the amount in the trust account will be sufficient to pay our franchise and income taxes. To the extent that our capital stock or debt is used, in whole or in part, as consideration to complete our initial business combination, the remaining proceeds held in the trust account will be used as working capital to finance the operations of the target business or businesses, make other acquisitions and pursue our growth strategies.
Prior to the completion of our initial business combination, we will have available to us the approximately $1,300,000 of proceeds held outside the trust account. We will use these funds to identify and evaluate target businesses, perform business due diligence on prospective target businesses, travel to and from the offices, plants or similar locations of prospective target businesses or their representatives or owners, review corporate documents and material agreements of prospective target businesses, and structure, negotiate and complete an initial business combination.
We do not believe we will need to raise additional funds following this offering in order to meet the expenditures required for operating our business prior to our initial business combination. However, if our estimates of the costs of identifying a target business, undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating an initial business combination are less than the actual amount necessary to do so, we may have insufficient funds available to operate our business prior to our initial business combination. In order to fund working capital deficiencies or finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor, or certain of our officers or directors may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. If we complete our initial business combination, we would repay such loaned amounts. In the event that our initial business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts, but no proceeds from our trust account would be used for such repayment. Up to $2,000,000 of such loans may be convertible into warrants at a price of $1.50 per warrant at the option of the lender. The warrants would be identical to the private placement warrants, including as to exercise price, exercisability and exercise period. Except for the foregoing, the terms of such loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. We do not expect to seek loans from parties other than our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor, or certain of our officers or directors as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our trust account.
We expect our primary liquidity requirements prior to our initial business combination to include approximately $650,000 for legal, accounting, due diligence, travel and other expenses associated with structuring, negotiating and documenting successful business combinations; approximately $100,000 for legal and accounting fees related to regulatory reporting requirements; approximately $128,000 for Nasdaq listing fees; and approximately $422,000 for general working capital that will be used for miscellaneous expenses and reserves net of estimated interest income.
These amounts are estimates and may differ materially from our actual expenses. In addition, we could use a portion of the funds not being placed in trust to pay commitment fees for financing, fees to consultants to assist us with our search for a target business or as a down payment or to fund a “no-shop” provision (a provision designed to keep target businesses from “shopping” around for transactions with other companies on terms more favorable to such target businesses) with respect to a particular proposed initial business combination, although we do not have any current intention to do so. If we entered into an agreement where we paid for the right to receive exclusivity from a target business, the amount that would be used as a down
payment or to fund a “no-shop” provision would be determined based on the terms of the specific business combination and the amount of our available funds at the time. Our forfeiture of such funds (whether as a result of our breach or otherwise) could result in our not having sufficient funds to continue searching for, or conducting due diligence with respect to, prospective target businesses.
We do not believe we will need to raise additional funds following this offering in order to meet the expenditures required for operating our business. However, if our estimates of the costs of identifying a target business, undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating an initial business combination are less than the actual amount necessary to do so, we may have insufficient funds available to operate our business prior to our initial business combination. Moreover, we may need to obtain additional financing either to complete our initial business combination or because we become obligated to redeem a significant number of our public shares upon completion of our initial business combination, in which case we may issue additional securities or incur debt in connection with such business combination. In addition, we may target businesses larger than we could acquire with the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants, and may as a result be required to seek additional financing to complete such proposed initial business combination. Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, we would only complete such financing concurrently with the completion of our initial business combination. If we do not complete our initial business combination because we do not have sufficient funds available to us, we will be forced to cease operations and liquidate the trust account. In addition, following our initial business combination, if cash on hand is insufficient, we may need to obtain additional financing in order to meet our obligations.
Controls and Procedures
We are not currently required to maintain an effective system of internal controls as defined by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. We will be required to comply with the internal control requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021. Only in the event that we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer or an accelerated filer would we be required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement. Further, for as long as we remain an emerging growth company as defined in the JOBS Act, we intend to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement.
Prior to the closing of this offering, we have not completed an assessment, nor has our independent registered public accounting firm tested our systems, of internal controls. We expect to assess the internal controls of our target business or businesses prior to the completion of our initial business combination and, if necessary, to implement and test additional controls as we may determine are necessary in order to state that we maintain an effective system of internal controls. A target business may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding the adequacy of internal controls. Many small and mid-sized target businesses we may consider for our initial business combination may have internal controls that need improvement in areas such as:
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staffing for financial, accounting and external reporting areas, including segregation of duties;
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reconciliation of accounts;
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proper recording of expenses and liabilities in the period to which they relate;
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evidence of internal review and approval of accounting transactions;
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documentation of processes, assumptions and conclusions underlying significant estimates; and
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documentation of accounting policies and procedures.
Because it will take time, management involvement and perhaps outside resources to determine what internal control improvements are necessary for us to meet regulatory requirements and market expectations for our operation of a target business, we may incur significant expense in meeting our public reporting responsibilities, particularly in the areas of designing, enhancing, or remediating internal and disclosure controls. Doing so effectively may also take longer than we expect, thus increasing our exposure to financial fraud or erroneous financing reporting.
Once our management team’s report on internal controls is complete, we will retain our independent registered public accounting firm to audit and render an opinion on such report when required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The independent registered public accounting firm may identify additional issues concerning a target business’s internal controls while performing their audit of internal control over financial reporting.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
The net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants held in the trust account will be invested in U.S. government treasury bills 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. Due to the short-term nature of these investments, we believe there will be no associated material exposure to interest rate risk. However, if the interest rates of U.S. government treasury obligations become negative, we may have less interest income available to us for payment of taxes, and a decline in the value of the assets held in the trust account could reduce the principal below the amount initially deposited in the trust account.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements; Commitments and Contractual Obligations; Quarterly Results
As of January 8, 2021 and December 31, 2020, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of Regulation S-K and did not have any commitments or contractual obligations. No unaudited quarterly operating data is included in this prospectus, as we have conducted no operations to date.
Emerging Growth Company and Smaller Reporting Company Status
On April 5, 2012, the JOBS Act was signed into law. The JOBS Act contains provisions that, among other things, relax certain reporting requirements for qualifying public companies. We will qualify as an “emerging growth company” and under the JOBS Act will be allowed to comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements based on the effective date for private (not publicly traded) companies. We are electing to delay the adoption of new or revised accounting standards, and as a result, we may not comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for non-emerging growth companies. As a result, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates.
Additionally, we are in the process of evaluating the benefits of relying on the other reduced reporting requirements provided by the JOBS Act. Subject to certain conditions set forth in the JOBS Act, if, as an “emerging growth company,” we choose to rely on such exemptions we may not be required to, among other things, (i) provide an independent registered public accounting firm’s attestation report on our system of internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, (ii) provide all of the compensation disclosure that may be required of non-emerging growth public companies under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, (iii) comply with any requirement that may be adopted by the PCAOB regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the report of independent registered public accounting firm providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements (auditor discussion and analysis), and (iv) disclose certain executive compensation related items such as the correlation between executive compensation and performance and comparisons of the principal executive officer’s compensation to median employee compensation. These exemptions will apply for a period of five years following the completion of this offering or until we are no longer an “emerging growth company,” whichever is earlier.
Additionally, we are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K. Smaller reporting companies may take advantage of certain reduced disclosure obligations, including, among other things, providing only two years of audited financial statements. We will remain a smaller reporting company until the last day of the fiscal year in which (1) the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $250,000,000 as of the prior June 30th, and (2) our annual revenues equal or exceed $100,000,000 during such completed fiscal year or the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $700,000,000 as of the prior June 30th.
PROPOSED BUSINESS
Our Company
We are a blank check company incorporated in November 2020 as a Delaware corporation whose business purpose is to effect a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses, which we refer to as our initial business combination. 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.
While we may pursue an initial business combination opportunity in any business, industry, sector or geographical location, we intend to focus our investment efforts on the healthcare industry, with a particular focus on healthcare technology and adjacent verticals. Our strategy will be to identify and acquire an established business with attractive growth prospects and at a compelling value proposition for our shareholders. Post business combination we believe our management team and advisors are well-suited to assist our partner company with executing on its financial, strategic and operational growth plans in order to create long-term shareholder value. While we may pursue an acquisition opportunity broadly across the entire healthcare industry, we intend to focus on areas that leverage technology to improve healthcare quality and clinical outcomes, lower operating costs, enhance access and improve the consumer, payor and/or provider experience. We expect to source potential investment opportunities through the proprietary and differentiated network our collective team brings—including our management team, Board of Directors and advisors—through investing in, operating and growing healthcare and technology businesses over multiple decades.
We will seek to capitalize on the operational and investment experience of our founder and CEO, Kevin Nazemi. Mr. Nazemi has worked in the healthcare and technology sectors for over 15 years and has focused his career on leveraging technology to improve the delivery and quality of healthcare. In 2012, Mr. Nazemi co-founded Oscar Health, a technology-driven health insurance company, where he served as the Co-Chief Executive Officer from 2012 to 2015. Mr. Nazemi remains very active in the healthcare space, having advised, founded, and invested in numerous companies and he also currently serves on the Board of Directors of Premera Blue Cross, the largest health plan in the Pacific Northwest. Through these efforts, Mr. Nazemi has built a deep network of founders and investors that we intend to leverage to pursue our initial business combination.
Our Management Team and Board of Directors
Our management team and Board of Directors includes Kevin Nazemi, Kyle Francis, Bradley Fluegel, Jim Moffatt, and Heather Zynczak. We believe that our team collectively has deep healthcare and technology industry experience as entrepreneurs, operators, executives, board members and investors. Through our collective access to contacts and relationships, ranging from owners of private and public companies, private equity and venture capital funds, investment bankers, attorneys, accountants and business brokers, DTOC is well positioned to take advantage of the growing set of acquisition opportunities focused on the healthcare industry to consummate an attractive transaction for our shareholders and to execute upon various value creation initiatives after successful completion of our business combination.
Mr. Kevin Nazemi serves as our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Nazemi has worked in the healthcare and technology sectors for over 15 years and has focused his career on leveraging technology to improve the delivery and quality of healthcare. Mr. Nazemi co-founded two different companies in the healthcare technology space—Oscar Health (a technology-driven health insurance company) and Renew Health (a technology-driven health platform focused on retirees). Mr. Nazemi co-founded Renew in January 2016 and served as the Chief Executive Officer from January 2016 to January 2020. Prior to Renew, Mr. Nazemi co-founded Oscar Health in October 2012 and served as the Co Chief Executive Officer from December 2012 to March 2015. Mr. Nazemi started his career at Microsoft Corporation in June 2003, where he served in numerous roles across the organization.
Mr. Nazemi currently serves as a Partner at Lobby 7 Capital, a startup investment and incubation firm, and on the Board of Directors of Premera Blue Cross, the largest health plan in the Pacific Northwest.
Mr. Nazemi completed a joint MBA/MPP program offered by the Harvard Kennedy School, where he was a Zuckerman Fellow, and the Harvard Business School, where he was a Paul & Daisy Soros Fellow. Mr. Nazemi has a BS from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Mr. Kyle Francis serves as our Chief Financial Officer and Secretary. Mr. Francis is a seasoned executive with extensive experience in the healthcare industry and financial operations. Mr. Francis recently served as an executive at Southern California Reproductive Center, a leading chain of fertility clinics, as Chief Executive Officer from September 2015 to June 2020 and Chief Financial Officer from May 2014 to September 2015. Mr. Francis negotiated and oversaw the sale of the business to Women’s Care Enterprises in December 2019. Mr. Francis served as Chief Financial Officer from December 2010 to May 2014 and EVP Business Development from November 2008 to December 2010 of Apollo Medical Holdings, a publicly traded healthcare management company. Mr. Francis also served as an investment banker at CIBC World Markets for 8 years from March 2000 to September 2008 in the middle market and capital markets groups.
Mr. Francis currently serves as a director for Racerocks, Inc., a Canadian technology company focused on VR Training and remote learning for the defense industry. Mr. Francis also acts as an executive advisor to a number of private healthcare companies, assisting founders to develop growth strategies and expand business lines. Mr. Francis has a BCom from McGill University.
Mr. Bradley Fluegel will serve as a director upon consummation of this offering. Mr. Fluegel currently advises a number of technology-enabled healthcare companies including Cricket Health, Galileo, Hims & Hers, Pager, Covera Health and VillageMD. Mr. Fluegel was most recently the Senior Vice President, Chief Healthcare Commercial Market Development Officer and Chief Strategy and Business Development Officer for Walgreens from October 2012 to January 2018. Prior to Walgreens, Mr. Fluegel served as an executive in residence at Health Evolution Partners from April 2011 to September 2012, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy and External Affairs Officer of Anthem from October 2007 to December 2010, Senior Vice President of National Accounts and Vice President of Enterprise Strategy at Aetna from March 2005 to September 2007, and Principal and then Chief Executive Officer for Reden & Anders (Optum Consulting) from October 2002 to February 2005. Mr. Fluegel currently serves on the Board of Directors of Alight Solutions, Metropolitan Jewish Health System in New York City, Performant Financial Corporation, AdhereHealth and Premera Blue Cross and formerly served on the Board of Directors of Fitbit prior to Google’s acquisition of the company. Mr. Fluegel earned a MPP from the Harvard Kennedy School and a BBA from the University of Washington. Mr. Fluegel also serves as a lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business.
Mr. Jim Moffatt will serve as a director upon consummation of this offering. Mr. Moffatt had an extensive career at Deloitte spanning nearly 32 years in which he held numerous leadership roles, including: Vice Chairman of Deloitte Consulting from January 2018 to December 2018, Global CEO of Deloitte Consulting from June 2015 to December 2017, Deputy CEO—Global for Deloitte U.S. from April 2015 to March 2017, Chairman and CEO for Deloitte Consulting U.S. from May 2011 to December 2015, Managing Principal for Deloitte U.S. Consulting Clients & Industries from June 2009 to May 2011, and National Managing Director Consulting Client Excellence and Regions Leader from June 2007 to May 2009. Mr. Moffatt joined Deloitte Consulting in 1987 and was admitted as Principal in June 1994. While at Deloitte, Mr. Moffatt advised a number of leading companies in the healthcare and technology sectors and was recognized as a talent cultivator, for his ability to drive growth at any scale, and for his leadership in a networked economy. Mr. Moffatt currently serves on several advisory boards including Centre for Neuro Skills, SparkCognition, and Icertis and is a strategic advisor to the board of Optiv Security, Inc. Mr. Moffatt is also a strategic advisor to Bridgepoint LLC, TenOneTen, Greycroft, Kyriba, and March Capital. He also serves on academic committees for organizations including UCLA Anderson School and the UCLA Chancellor’s Cabinet Council. Mr. Moffatt holds an MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management and a BA from University of California, San Diego.
Ms. Heather Zynczak will serve as a director upon consummation of this offering. Ms. Zynczak was formerly the Chief Marketing Officer of Pluralsight from August 2016 to October 2020, where she helped lead the company to a successful IPO in May 2018. Prior to Pluralsight, Ms. Zynczak served as Chief Marketing Officer of Domo from March 2012 to August 2016, Global Vice President of Marketing of SAP from February 2006 to March 2012, and Senior Director of Product Strategy of Oracle from September 2001 to February 2006. Prior to serving in these executive roles, Ms. Zynczak served in consulting roles with Booz
Allen and Hamilton from June 1998 to July 1999, The Boston Consulting Group from June 1997 to August 1997, and Accenture from June 1993 to July 1996. Ms. Zynczak currently serves on the Board of Directors of Thryv. Mz. Zynczak has an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a BBA from University of Texas at Austin.
We believe that our collective team broad network of relationships, including investors in private and public equity as well as seasoned operators, uniquely positions us to capitalize on the technology revolution that is changing the healthcare system. Our broad team has been constructed with a diverse set of skills and knowledge that we believe will drive to a successful business combination with a leading healthcare technology company. Our broad team has the following attributes, which we believe are a distinct competitive advantage in our ability to source and consummate a transaction:
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Deep healthcare industry relationships across the entire spectrum of stakeholders, including with payors, provider groups, investment firms, leading companies, and industry thought leaders.
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Differentiated approach to driving long-term value creation, honed through years of operating and investment experience in high growth sectors of healthcare such as value-based healthcare and consumer-driven healthcare.
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Robust pipeline of potential targets that meet our acquisition criteria through our broad network of relationships and meticulous approach to defining and refining our target opportunity set.
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Experience positioning private companies for public markets.
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Connectivity to key decision makers in the healthcare technology executive and investor community through our collective network.
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Ability to drive value creation post-transaction through a strategic playbook that embraces the role of technology to improve the healthcare system.
With respect to the above, past experience or performance of our management team and their respective affiliates is not a guarantee of either (i) our ability to successfully identify and execute a transaction or (ii) success with respect to any business combination that we may consummate. You should not rely on the historical record of our management team or their respective affiliates as indicative of future performance. Our management team and their respective affiliates have been involved with a large number of public and private companies in addition to those identified above, not all of which have achieved similar performance levels. See “Risk Factors—Past performance by our management team or their respective affiliates may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in us.” No member of our management team has any experience in operating special purpose acquisition vehicles.
Market Opportunity
Technology is a powerful tool to improve the way we work, the way we communicate and the way we live. We have seen technology utilized as a tool to dramatically change industries. Even industries that are global, highly fragmented and with millions of participants have seen rapid change and improvement by companies that have successfully utilized technology. Uber has improved consumer access to transportation, Airbnb has improved consumer access to accommodations, and DoorDash has improved consumer access to restaurants. These are just a handful of examples of companies that have a technology-first approach and are driving digital transformation of their respective industries.
Companies that are driving digital transformation are taking significant market share from incumbent companies that have not successfully adapted to the changing world and customer wants and needs. These companies that are driving digital transformation are growing rapidly and are positioned to be market leaders because they drive improvement in both the end-customer experience and in their operational efficiency. We are still in the early innings of the digital transformation of major industries.
One of the largest industries, and one that is in the greatest need of digital transformation, is the healthcare industry. In the U.S. alone, healthcare spending was $3.8 trillion or $11,582 per person in 2019 according to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. As a share of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, health spending accounted for 17.7 percent. Despite the significant amount the U.S. spends on healthcare, there are still major challenges across almost all aspects of the industry and customer experience.
From the end-customer perspective, there are challenges with navigating the healthcare system, understanding what type of care is needed and when, getting access to the right type of care, the quality and consistency of care, understanding what the cost of that care will be, and having the ability to pay for that care. These challenges will not be solved by spending even more on the healthcare system. On the contrary, these challenges will be solved by adopting technology.
We see a tremendous opportunity for companies that are applying digital transformation to disrupt and improve various components of the healthcare system. Companies that have utilized technology to improve healthcare—such as GoodRx (pharmacy), Livongo (disease management), and Teladoc (physician visits)—have seen tremendous growth in revenue and value, but still represent a small fraction of the overall healthcare industry. We believe that significant room remains for continued innovation in the healthcare market.
Business Strategy
Our strategy is to merge with a high growth company that has leveraged technology to make a significant improvement to the healthcare industry and has achieved or is expected to achieve leadership in its target market. We believe that there are numerous target opportunities available to DTOC which exhibit attractive growth characteristics, are meaningful in scale, and are driving digital transformation of various sectors of the healthcare industry. These target opportunities include companies supporting or enabling healthcare providers, healthcare facilities, practice management, billings & collections, health insurance, managed care, drug development, pharmaceuticals including digital therapeutics, healthcare financing solutions, and pharmacies.
We have a thematic and proactive investment strategy to identify and merge with a target company. We will leverage our deep healthcare and technology sector expertise to identify the companies that we think are best positioned in their respective sectors to capture leading market share and long-term growth. We will leverage our relationships with company founders and venture capital and growth equity investment firms to continue to source and build a pipeline of such well-positioned companies. We have cultivated a high priority list of potential targets that fit our investment criteria that we plan to pursue following our offering. We also plan to draw on the broad network and experience of our advisors to support our sourcing, diligence and transaction execution process. We will select a company that fits our acquisition criteria and that we expect to have sustainable long-term equity value appreciation as a public company.
We are particularly focused on targets that are benefiting from long-term, secular tailwinds in healthcare, including the migration to consumer-driven healthcare and value-based healthcare.
Consumer-driven Healthcare
Consumers are increasingly more proactive about their health and their healthcare, driven by multiple factors. More consumers are researching their health and healthcare providers online and are becoming more directive about their healthcare needs and selective of their healthcare providers. High deductible health plans require consumers to pay more out of pocket, so consumers are becoming more sensitive to which services they utilize and the cost of those services. Additionally, more healthcare is accessible in retail settings (e.g., Walmart, Walgreens) and directly from home via telehealth, giving consumers more convenient access to and options for care. The migration to consumer-driven healthcare presents several attractive areas for investment including:
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Marketing technology and lead generation for providers and insurers to support customer acquisition.
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Marketplaces for customers to find healthcare providers, services, and products with transparency on price, quality and customer experience.
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Physician and facility practice management technology to support contracting, revenue cycle management, and patient services including scheduling, communication, payments, and pharmacy services.
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Consumer-facing technology to support telehealth, health data access, education and other patient services.
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Well-being and preventative health solutions accessed directly by employees through employer health benefits technology platforms.
Value-based Healthcare
Healthcare costs are high and growing in the U.S., with consumers bearing these costs either directly or indirectly through taxes, social security, and their employers. U.S. healthcare spending is projected to grow to $6.2 trillion by 2028 and represent 19.7% of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product. U.S. healthcare is not well coordinated due to historical regulations that discouraged or even prevented collaboration between different providers. Additionally, U.S. healthcare is inefficient due to a reimbursement model that incentivizes the quantity of services rendered instead of the quality of care or outcomes. Given the status quo fee-for-service model in healthcare is both expensive and does not lead to the best quality of care, there is a drive from both government payors (Medicare and Medicaid) and employers to move away from the current fee-for-service model to value-based care models including managed care. This migration to value-based care presents several attractive areas for investment including:
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Technology enabling payors and providers to manage care for a patient population to improve quality and lower costs.
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Technology enabling providers to price and take risk for managing a patient population.
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Communications platforms that improve coordination among providers and between providers and their patients.
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Data analytics and management tools that leverage AI to improve transparency, efficiency, and/or quality of care by enabling insurers, self-insured employers, or at-risk providers to analyze utilization, expenses and identify areas for savings.
Healthcare Market Opportunity
National healthcare spending is projected to grow at an average annual rate of 5.4% between 2019 and 2028 to reach $6.2 trillion in 2028 according to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. As a share of our nation’s Gross Domestic Product, health spending is projected to rise from 17.7% in 2019 to 19.7% by the end of 2028 because national health expenditures are projected to grow 1.1% faster than Gross Domestic Product per year. The projected increase in healthcare spending is driven by the projected growth in volume and medical intensity of healthcare services, largely as a result of our aging population and the projected increase in price of healthcare services and prescription drugs.
The U.S. spends nearly twice as much as comparable countries on healthcare according to The Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker, with most of the higher costs attributable to higher payments to hospitals and physicians. Despite the higher spend, the U.S. ranks poorly relative to these comparable countries on most metrics used to assess health outcomes, quality of care, and access to services.
While there are several factors driving the high cost of healthcare in the U.S. and relatively lower quality, there is a large and growing number of digital healthcare companies that are pioneering new ways to deliver care that improve care quality, improve the provider and patient experience, and lower total costs. COVID-19 has highlighted the need for technology to support healthcare providers and has accelerated the adoption of technology in healthcare. Additionally, COVID-19 has created a greater sense of urgency in the industry to leverage technology to drive more improvement, which should further accelerate the growth of digital healthcare companies beyond the pandemic.
According to Rock Health Funding Database, throughout 2020, $14.1 billion of venture funding has gone to U.S. digital healthcare companies (including only investments of greater than $2 million) across approximately 440 companies. The $14.1 billion of venture funding in U.S. digital healthcare companies in 2020 represents an 88% increase on the $7.5 billion estimated to have been funded in 2019.
Even with billions of venture capital investment each year in digital healthcare companies, the total share of the healthcare market that digital healthcare companies capture today is still a small fraction. The healthcare industry is highly fragmented, and the many legacy healthcare companies that have not digitally transformed still retain most of the $3.8 trillion in healthcare spend. We expect digitally transformed
healthcare companies to consistently take share from the legacy healthcare companies over the next few decades. This is the reason we are so excited about the growth opportunity for many of these digital healthcare companies.
Acquisition Criteria
Consistent with our business strategy, we have identified the following general criteria and guidelines that we believe are important in evaluating prospective target businesses. We will use these criteria and guidelines in evaluating acquisition opportunities, but we may decide to enter into our initial business combination with a target business that does not meet these criteria and guidelines:
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Technology-first Business Model—the target business has a strong technology foundation that will enable continued scaling as technology is leveraged to serve customers in a manner that is superior to the status quo.
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Compelling Customer Value Proposition—the target business has a customer-centric focus reflected in a strong NPS and customer loyalty, which creates a sustainable competitive advantage.
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Strong Competitive Position—the target business uses scale, brand, and technology to differentiate its offering vis-à-vis competitors.
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Favorable Industry Tailwinds—the target business is supported by long-term consumer- and industry-specific tailwinds and focused on sectors with resilient or growing demand characteristics.
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Attractive and Repeatable Unit Economics—the target business has unit economics that are attractive and can be scaled without a material decline in return on growth investments.
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Entrepreneurial Management Team—the management team of the target business is entrepreneurial, data-driven, and committed to the long-term growth of the business.
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 from time to time our management may deem relevant.
In evaluating a prospective target business, we expect to conduct a thorough due diligence review which will encompass, among other things, meetings with incumbent management and employees, document reviews, inspection of facilities, as well as a review of financial, operational, legal and other information which will be made available to us.
Initial Business Combination
Nasdaq listing rules require that our initial business combination must be with one or more target businesses that together have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the value of the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting fees and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account) at the time of our signing a definitive agreement in connection with our initial business combination. We refer to this as the 80% of fair market value test. If our board of directors is not able to independently determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses, we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or an independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions with respect to the satisfaction of the 80% of fair market value test. While we consider it unlikely that our board of directors will not 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 a target’s assets or prospects.
We anticipate structuring our initial business combination so that the post-transaction company in which our public stockholders own shares will own or acquire 100% of the outstanding 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 stockholders or for other reasons, but we will only complete such business combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling
interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. Even if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our stockholders prior to our initial business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post-transaction company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the initial 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 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 stockholders immediately prior to our initial business combination could own less than a majority of our 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 fair market value test. If our initial business combination involves more than one target business, the 80% of fair market value test will be based on the aggregate value of all of the target businesses.
We will file 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.
Other Considerations
In evaluating a prospective target business, we expect to conduct a thorough due diligence review, which will encompass, among other things, meetings with incumbent management and employees, document reviews, inspection of facilities, as well as a review of financial, operational, legal and other information which will be made available to us.
We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination or subsequent transaction with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers or directors. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination or, subject to certain exceptions, subsequent material transactions with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers or directors, we, or a committee of independent directors, to the extent required by applicable law or based upon the direction of our board of directors or a committee thereof, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that is a member of FINRA, or from another entity that commonly renders valuation opinions that such initial business combination or transaction is fair to our company from a financial point of view.
Members of our management team will directly or indirectly own our securities following this offering, and accordingly, they may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination. Further, each of our officers and directors may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination if the retention or resignation of any such officers and directors was included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination.
Our officers and directors are not required to commit any specified amount of time to our affairs, and, accordingly, will have conflicts of interest in allocating management time among various business activities, including identifying potential business combinations and monitoring the related due diligence. Certain of our directors presently have, and any of our officers and directors in the future may have, additional fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties to one or more other entities pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity to such entities. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer of our company and such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company and such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue. Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for one or more entities to which he or she has fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties, he or she will honor these obligations and duties to present such business combination opportunity
to such entities first, and only present it to us if such entities reject the opportunity and he or she determines to present the opportunity to us.
While our sponsor and its affiliates will not have any duty to offer acquisition opportunities to us, our sponsor and its affiliates may become aware of a potential transaction that is an attractive opportunity for us, which it may decide to share with us. Conflicts may arise from Digital Transformation Sponsor LLC’s sponsorship of our company, as well as from actions undertaken by Digital Transformation Sponsor LLC or any of its affiliates for their own account. When acting for their own account, Digital Transformation Sponsor LLC or any of its affiliates’ other activities may, individually or in the aggregate, have an adverse effect on us, and the interests of Digital Transformation Sponsor LLC or any of its affiliates may at times be adverse to ours.
We do not believe, however, that the fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties of our officers or directors or our sponsor and its affiliates, will materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.
Corporate Information
Our executive offices are located at 10485 NE 6th Street, Unit 3930, Bellevue, Washington 98004, and our telephone number is (360) 949-1111. We maintain a corporate website at dtocorp.com. The information contained on or accessible through our corporate website or any other website that we may maintain is not part of this prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
Emerging Growth Company and Smaller Reporting Company Status
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act. As such, we are eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the prices of our securities may be more volatile.
In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an emerging growth company can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We intend to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period.
We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the completion of this offering, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion (as adjusted for inflation pursuant to SEC rules from time to time), or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the aggregate worldwide market value of our Class A common stock that is held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $700,000,000 as of the prior June 30, and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period. References herein to emerging growth company will have the meaning associated with it in the JOBS Act.
Additionally, we are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K. Smaller reporting companies may take advantage of certain reduced disclosure obligations, including, among other things, providing only two years of audited financial statements. We will remain a smaller reporting company until the last day of the fiscal year in which (1) the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $250,000,000 as of the prior June 30th, and (2) our annual revenues equal or exceed $100,000,000 during such completed fiscal year or the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $700,000,000 as of the prior June 30th.
Financial Position
With funds available for an initial business combination initially in the amount of $241,250,000 after payment of $8,750,000 of deferred underwriting commissions (or $277,437,500 after payment of $10,062,500 of deferred underwriting commissions if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full), in each case after giving effect to this offering and excluding working capital held outside the trust account and before fees and expenses associated with our initial business combination, 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 or leverage 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 if needed to complete a transaction.
Effecting Our Initial Business Combination
We are not presently engaged in, and we will not engage in, any operations for an indefinite period of time following this offering. We intend to effectuate our initial business combination using cash from the proceeds of this offering and the private placement of the private placement warrants, the proceeds of the sale of our shares in connection with our initial business combination (pursuant to forward purchase agreements or backstop agreements we may enter into following the consummation of this offering or otherwise), shares issued to the owners of the target, debt issued to bank or other lenders or the owners of the target, 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.
If our initial business combination is paid for using equity or debt securities, or not all of the funds released from the trust account are used for payment of the consideration in connection with our initial business combination or used for redemptions of our Class A common stock, we may apply the balance of the cash released to us from the trust account for general corporate purposes, including for maintenance or expansion of operations of the post-transaction company, the payment of principal or interest due on indebtedness incurred in completing our initial business combination, to fund the purchase of other companies or for working capital.
We may seek to raise additional funds through a private offering of debt or equity securities in connection with the completion of our initial business combination, and we may effectuate our initial business combination using the proceeds of such offering rather than using the amounts held in the trust account. In addition, we intend to target businesses larger than we could acquire with the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants, and may as a result be required to seek additional financing to complete such proposed initial business combination. Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, we would expect to complete such financing only concurrently with the completion of our initial business combination. In the case of an initial business combination funded with assets other than the trust account assets, our proxy materials or tender offer documents disclosing the initial business combination would disclose the terms of the financing and, only if required by law, we would seek stockholder approval of such financing. There are no prohibitions on our ability to raise funds privately or through loans in connection with our initial business combination. At this time, we are not a party to any arrangement or understanding with any third party with respect to raising any additional funds through the sale of securities, the incurrence of debt or otherwise.
Sources of Target Businesses
We anticipate that target business candidates will be brought to our attention from various sources, including our global networks, as well as other sources such as investment bankers and investment professionals. 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, since many of these sources will have read this prospectus and know what types of businesses we are targeting. Our sponsor, officers and directors and
their respective affiliates may also bring to our attention target business candidates that they become aware of through their business contacts as a result of formal or informal inquiries or discussions they may have. 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, advisory fee or other compensation to be determined in an arm’s length negotiation based on the terms of the transaction. 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 finder’s fees 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. In no event will our sponsor or any of our existing officers or directors, or any entity with which our sponsor or officers are affiliated, be paid any finder’s fee, reimbursement, consulting fee, monies in respect of any payment of a loan or other compensation by the company prior to, or in connection with, any services rendered in order to effectuate the completion of our initial business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is). Although none of our sponsor, officers or directors, or any of their respective affiliates, will be allowed to receive any compensation, finder’s fees or consulting fees from a prospective business combination target in connection with a contemplated initial business combination, we do not have a policy that prohibits our sponsor, officers or directors, or any of their respective affiliates, from negotiating for the reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses by a target business. Some of our officers and directors may enter into employment or consulting agreements with the post-transaction company following our initial business combination. The presence or absence of any such fees or arrangements will not be used as a criterion in our selection process of an initial business combination candidate.
We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination or subsequent transaction with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers or directors. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination or, subject to certain exceptions, subsequent material transactions with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers or directors, we, or a committee of independent directors, to the extent required by applicable law or based upon the direction of our board of directors or a committee thereof, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another entity that commonly renders valuation opinions that such initial business combination or transaction is fair to our company from a financial point of view.
As more fully discussed in the section of this prospectus entitled “Management-Conflicts of Interest,” if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of an initial business combination opportunity that falls within the line of business of any entity to which he or she has pre-existing fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she may be required to present such business combination opportunity to such entity prior to presenting such business combination opportunity to us. Our officers and directors currently have certain relevant fiduciary duties or contractual obligations that may take priority over their duties to us.
Selection of a Target Business and Structuring of our Initial Business Combination
Nasdaq listing rules require that our initial business combination must be with one or more target businesses that together have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the value of the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting fees and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account) at the time of our signing a definitive agreement in connection with our initial business combination. The fair market value of the target or targets will be determined by our board of directors based upon one or more standards generally accepted by the financial community (such as actual and potential sales, earnings, cash flow and/or book value). Even though our board of directors will rely on generally accepted standards, our board of directors will have discretion to select the standards employed. In addition, the application of the standards generally involves a substantial degree of judgment. Accordingly, investors will be relying on the business judgment of the board of directors in evaluating the fair market value of the target or targets. The proxy solicitation materials or tender offer documents used by us in connection with any proposed transaction will provide public stockholders with our analysis of our satisfaction of the 80% of fair market value test, as well as the basis for our determinations. 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 unlikely that our board of
directors will not 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 a target’s assets or prospects. We do not currently intend to purchase multiple businesses in unrelated industries in conjunction with our initial business combination. Subject to this requirement, our management will have virtually unrestricted flexibility in identifying and selecting one or more prospective target businesses, although we will not be permitted to effectuate our initial business combination with another blank check company or a similar company with nominal operations.
In any case, we will only complete an initial business combination in which we own or acquire 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquire a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. If we own or acquire less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses, the portion of such business or businesses that are owned or acquired by the post-transaction company is what will be taken into account for purposes of the 80% of fair market value test. There is no basis for investors in this offering to evaluate the possible merits or risks of any target business with which we may ultimately complete our initial business combination.
To the extent we effect our initial business combination with a company or business that may be financially unstable or in its early stages of development or growth we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in such company or business. Although our management will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we cannot assure you that we will properly ascertain or assess all significant risk factors.
In evaluating a prospective business target, we expect to conduct a thorough due diligence review, which may encompass, among other things, meetings with incumbent management and key employees, document reviews, interviews of customers and suppliers, inspection of facilities, as well as a review of financial and other information that will be made available to us.
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 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.
In addition, we have agreed not to enter into a definitive agreement regarding an initial business combination without the prior consent of our sponsor.
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 acquire multiple businesses. In addition, we intend to focus our search for an initial business combination in a single industry. 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 limited number of products or services.
Post-Combination 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’ 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 an initial 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.
Stockholders May Not Have the Ability to Approve Our Initial Business Combination
We may conduct redemptions without a stockholder vote pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC. However, we will seek stockholder approval if it is required by law or applicable stock exchange rule, or we may decide to seek stockholder 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 stockholder approval is currently required under Delaware law for each such transaction.
Type of Transaction
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Whether
Stockholder
Approval is
Required
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Purchase of assets
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No |
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Purchase of stock of target not involving a merger with the company
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No |
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Merger of target into a subsidiary of the company
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No |
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Merger of the company with a target
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Yes |
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Under Nasdaq listing rules, stockholder approval would be required for our initial business combination if, for example:
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we issue shares of Class A common stock that will be equal to or in excess of 20% of the number of shares of our Class A common stock then outstanding;
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any of our directors, officers or substantial stockholders (as defined by Nasdaq listing rules) has a 5% or greater interest (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 common stock could result in an increase in outstanding shares of common stock or voting power of 5% or more; or
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the issuance or potential issuance of common stock will result in our undergoing a change of control.
The decision as to whether we will seek stockholder approval of a proposed business combination in those instances in which stockholder approval is not required by law 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:
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the timing of the transaction, including in the event we determine stockholder approval would require additional time and there is either not enough time to seek stockholder approval or doing so would place the company at a disadvantage in the transaction or result in other additional burdens on the company;
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the expected cost of holding a stockholder vote;
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the risk that the stockholders would fail to approve the proposed business combination;
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other time and budget constraints of the company; and
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additional legal complexities of a proposed business combination that would be time-consuming and burdensome to present to stockholders.
Permitted Purchases of Our Securities
If we seek stockholder 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, directors, officers or their respective affiliates may purchase public 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. There is no limit on the number of shares our sponsor, directors, officers or their affiliates may purchase in such transactions, subject to compliance with applicable law and Nasdaq rules. 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. If they engage in such transactions, they will not make any such purchases when they are in possession of any material non-public information not disclosed to the seller or if such purchases are prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act. We do not currently anticipate that such purchases, if any, would constitute a tender offer subject to the tender offer rules under the Exchange Act or a going-private transaction subject to the going-private rules under the Exchange Act; however, if the purchasers determine at the time of any such purchases that the purchases are subject to such rules, the purchasers will comply with such rules. 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. None of the funds held in the trust account will be used to purchase public shares or public warrants in such transactions prior to completion of our initial business combination.
The purpose of any such purchases of shares could be to vote such shares in favor of the initial business combination and thereby increase the likelihood of obtaining stockholder approval of the initial business combination or 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. The purpose of any such purchases of public warrants could be to reduce the number of public warrants outstanding or to vote such warrants on any matters submitted to the warrant holders for approval in connection with our initial business combination. Any such purchases of our securities may result in the completion of our initial business combination that may not otherwise have been possible. In addition, if such purchases are made, the public “float” of our shares of Class A common stock or 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, officers, directors and/or their affiliates anticipate that they may identify the stockholders with whom our sponsor, officers, directors or their affiliates may pursue privately negotiated purchases by either the stockholders contacting us directly or by our receipt of redemption requests submitted by stockholders following our mailing of proxy materials in connection with our initial business combination. To the extent that our sponsor, officers, directors or their affiliates enter into a private purchase, they would identify and contact only potential selling stockholders 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 stockholder has already submitted a proxy with respect to our initial business combination. Our sponsor, officers, directors or their affiliates will only purchase public shares if such purchases comply with Regulation M under the Exchange Act and the other federal securities laws.
Any purchases by our sponsor, officers, directors and/or their affiliates who are affiliated purchasers under Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act will only be made to the extent such purchases are able to be made in compliance with Rule 10b-18, which is a safe harbor from liability for manipulation under Section 9(a)(2) and Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act. Rule 10b-18 has certain technical requirements that must be complied with in order for the safe harbor to be available to the purchaser. Our sponsor, officers, directors and/or their affiliates will not make purchases of common stock 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 purchases are subject to such reporting requirements.
Redemption Rights for Public Stockholders upon Completion of our Initial Business Combination or Certain Stockholder Votes to Amend our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their shares of Class A common stock upon (i) the completion of our initial business combination or (ii) a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity. Such redemptions, if any, will be made at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior to the event triggering the right to redeem, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations described herein. The amount in the trust account is initially anticipated to be approximately $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 underwriter. The redemption rights will include the requirement that a beneficial holder must identify itself in order to validly redeem its public shares. There will be no redemption rights upon the completion of our initial business combination with respect to our warrants. Our sponsor and each of our 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 any public shares held by them in connection with the completion of our initial business combination or a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as described above.
Manner of Conducting Redemptions in Conjunction with a Stockholder Vote on our Initial Business Combination
We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their shares of Class A common stock upon the completion of our initial business combination either (i) in connection with a stockholder meeting called to approve the initial business combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether we will seek stockholder 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 stockholder approval under the law or stock exchange listing requirement. Under Nasdaq rules, asset acquisitions and stock purchases would not typically require stockholder approval while direct mergers with our company where we do not survive and any transactions where we issue more than 20% of our outstanding common stock or seek to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation would require stockholder approval. If we structure an initial business combination with a target company in a manner that requires stockholder approval, we will not have discretion as to whether to seek a stockholder vote to approve the proposed initial business combination. We may conduct redemptions without a stockholder vote pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC unless stockholder approval is required by law or stock exchange listing requirements or we choose to seek stockholder approval for business or other reasons. So long as we obtain and maintain a listing for our securities on Nasdaq, we will be required to comply with such rules.
If a stockholder vote is not required and we do not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other reasons, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation:
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conduct the redemptions pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act, which regulate issuer tender offers, and
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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.
Upon the public announcement of our initial business combination, we or our sponsor will terminate any plan established in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 to purchase shares of our Class A common stock in the open market if we elect to redeem our public shares through a tender offer, to comply with Rule 14e-5 under the Exchange Act.
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. In addition, the tender offer will be conditioned on public stockholders not tendering more than a specified number of public shares which are not purchased by our sponsor, which number will be based on the requirement that we may not redeem public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 upon consummation of our initial business combination and after payment of deferred underwriting commissions (so that we are not subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules) or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement which may be contained in the agreement relating to our initial business combination. If public stockholders tender more shares than we have offered to purchase, we will withdraw the tender offer and not complete the initial business combination.
If, however, stockholder approval of the transaction is required by law or stock exchange listing requirements, or we decide to obtain stockholder approval for business or other reasons, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation:
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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
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file proxy materials with the SEC.
In the event that we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, we will distribute proxy materials and, in connection therewith, provide our public stockholders with the redemption rights described above upon completion of the initial business combination.
If we seek stockholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock voted are voted in favor of the initial business combination. A quorum for such meeting will consist of the holders present in person or by proxy of shares of outstanding capital stock of the company representing a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the company entitled to vote at such meeting. Our initial stockholders will count toward this quorum and pursuant to the letter agreement, our sponsor, each of our officers and directors have agreed to vote their founder shares and any public shares purchased during or after this offering (including in open market and privately negotiated transactions) in favor of our initial business combination. For purposes of seeking approval of the majority of our outstanding shares of common stock voted, non-votes will have no effect on the approval of our initial business combination once a quorum is obtained. As a result, in addition to our founder shares, which are entitled to 20% of the combined voting power of the founders shares and public shares voting together as a single class, we would need only 9,375,001, or 37.5% (assuming all issued and outstanding shares are voted and the over-allotment option is not exercised), or 1,562,501, or 6.25% (assuming only the minimum number of shares representing a quorum are voted and the over-allotment option is not exercised), of the 25,000,000 public shares sold in this offering to be voted in favor of an initial business combination in order to have our initial business combination approved. We intend to give approximately 30 days (but not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days) prior written notice of any such meeting, if required, at which a vote shall be taken to approve our initial business combination. These quorum and voting thresholds, and the voting agreements of our initial stockholders, may make it more likely that we will consummate our initial business combination. Each public stockholder may elect to redeem its public shares irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that in no event will we redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 upon consummation of our initial business combination and after payment of deferred underwriting commissions (so that we are not subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules) or any greater net tangible asset or cash requirement which may be contained in the agreement relating to our initial business combination. For example, the proposed initial business combination may require: (i) cash consideration to be paid to the target or its owners, (ii) cash to be transferred to the target for working capital or other general corporate purposes or (iii) the retention of cash to satisfy other conditions in accordance with the terms of the proposed initial business combination. In the event the aggregate cash consideration we would be required to pay for all shares of Class A common stock 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 shares of Class A common stock submitted for redemption will be returned to the holders thereof.
Limitation on Redemption upon Completion of our Initial Business Combination if We Seek Stockholder Approval
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if we seek stockholder 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 certificate of incorporation will provide that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder 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 more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in this offering, which we refer to as the “Excess Shares.” Such restriction shall also be applicable to our affiliates. We believe this restriction will discourage stockholders from accumulating large blocks of shares, and subsequent attempts by such holders to use their ability to exercise their redemption rights against a proposed initial business combination as a means to force us or our management team to purchase their shares at a significant premium to the then-current market price or on other undesirable terms. Absent this provision, a public stockholder holding more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in this offering could threaten to exercise its redemption rights if such holder’s shares are not purchased by us or our management at a premium to the then-current market price or on other undesirable terms. By limiting our stockholders’ ability to redeem no more than 15% of the shares sold in this offering without our prior consent, we believe we will limit the ability of a small group of stockholders to unreasonably attempt to block our ability to complete our initial business combination, particularly in connection with an initial business combination with a target that requires as a closing condition that we have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. However, we will not restrict our stockholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including Excess Shares) for or against our initial business combination.
Tendering Stock Certificates in Connection with a Tender Offer or Redemption Rights
We may require our public stockholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” to either tender their certificates to our transfer agent prior to the date set forth in the tender offer documents or proxy materials mailed to such holders, or up to two business days prior to the initial vote on the proposal to approve the initial business combination in the event we distribute proxy materials, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using The Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System, at the holder’s option. The tender offer or proxy materials, 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 stockholders to satisfy such delivery requirements, which may include the requirement that a beneficial holder must identify itself in order to validly redeem its public shares. Accordingly, a public stockholder would have from the time we send out our tender offer materials until the close of the tender offer period, or up to two days prior to the vote on the initial business combination if we distribute proxy materials, as applicable, to tender its shares if it wishes to seek to exercise its redemption rights. Given the relatively short exercise period, it is advisable for stockholders to use electronic delivery of their public shares.
There is a nominal cost associated with the above-referenced tendering process and the act of certificating the shares or delivering them through the DWAC System. The transfer agent will typically charge the tendering broker $80.00 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 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.
In order to perfect redemption rights in connection with their business combinations, many blank check companies would distribute proxy materials for the stockholders’ vote on an initial business combination, and a holder could simply vote against a proposed initial business combination and check a box on the proxy card indicating such holder was seeking to exercise his or her redemption rights. After the
initial business combination was approved, the company would contact such stockholder to arrange for him or her to deliver his or her certificate to verify ownership. As a result, the stockholder then had an “option window” after the completion of the initial business combination during which he or she could monitor the price of the company’s stock in the market. If the price rose above the redemption price, he or she could sell his or her shares in the open market before actually delivering his or her shares to the company for cancellation. As a result, the redemption rights, to which stockholders were aware they needed to commit before the stockholder meeting, would become “option” rights surviving past the completion of the initial business combination until the redeeming holder delivered its certificate. The requirement for physical or electronic delivery prior to the meeting ensures that a redeeming holder’s election to redeem is irrevocable once the initial business combination is approved.
Any request to redeem such shares, once made, may be withdrawn at any time up to the date set forth in the tender offer materials or the date of the stockholder meeting set forth in our proxy materials, 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 stockholders 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 a proposed initial business combination is not completed, we may continue to try to complete an initial business combination with a different target until 24 months from the closing of this offering or during any Extension Period.
Redemption of Public Shares and Liquidation if No Initial Business Combination
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that we will have only 24 months from the closing of this offering to complete our initial business combination. If we do not complete our initial business combination within such 24-month period or any Extension Period, we will: (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire without value to the holder if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the 24-month time period, as may be extended by any Extension Period.
Our sponsor and each of our 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 held by them if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or during any Extension Period. However, if our sponsor or any of our officers or directors acquire public shares in or after this offering, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to such public shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the allotted 24-month time period.
In addition, our sponsor and each of our officers and directors have agreed, pursuant to the letter agreement with us, that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (i) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with
our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (ii) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, unless we provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their shares of Class A common stock 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 and not previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. However, we may not redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 upon consummation of our initial business combination and after payment of deferred underwriting commissions (so that we are not subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules). If this optional redemption right is exercised with respect to an excessive number of public shares such that we cannot satisfy the net tangible asset requirement described above, we would not proceed with the amendment or the related redemption of our public shares at such time.
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 $1,300,000 of proceeds held outside the trust account, although we cannot assure you that there will be sufficient funds for such purpose. We will depend on sufficient interest being earned on the proceeds held in the trust account to pay any tax obligations we may owe. 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 on interest income earned on the trust account balance, 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 this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants, other than the proceeds deposited in the trust account, and without taking into account interest, if any, earned on the trust account, the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders 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 stockholders. We cannot assure you that the actual per-share redemption amount received by stockholders will not be substantially less than $10.00. Under Section 281(b) of the DGCL, our plan of dissolution must provide for all claims against us to be paid in full or make provision for payments to be made in full, as applicable, if there are sufficient assets. These claims must be paid or provided for before we make any distribution of our remaining assets to our stockholders. 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, 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 any monies held in the trust account for the benefit of our public stockholders, 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 perform an analysis of the alternatives available to it and will only enter into an agreement with a third party that has not executed a waiver if management believes that such third party’s engagement would be significantly more beneficial to us than any alternative. 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. Marcum LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm, and the underwriter of this offering 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. Our sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to
the extent any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold to us, or a prospective target business with which we have entered into a written letter of intent, confidentiality or similar agreement or business combination agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the trust account to below the lesser of (i) $10.00 per public share and (ii) the actual amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account, if less than $10.00 per share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, less taxes payable, provided that such liability will not apply to any claims by a third party or prospective target business who executed a waiver of any and all rights to the monies held in the trust account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable) nor will it apply to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriter of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. However, we have not asked our sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations, nor have we independently verified whether our sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and believe that our sponsor’s only assets are securities of our company. Therefore, we cannot assure you that our sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. None of our officers, directors or members of our sponsor 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 (i) $10.00 per public share or (ii) such lesser amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account, due to reductions in value of the trust assets, in each case net of the amount of interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes, 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 if, for example, the cost of such legal action is deemed by the independent directors to be too high relative to the amount recoverable or if the independent directors determine that a favorable outcome is not likely. We have not asked our sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations and we cannot assure you that our sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. 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 $10.00 per public share.
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 (other than our independent registered public accounting firm), 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 underwriter of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. We will have access to up to approximately $1,300,000 from the proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants 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, stockholders who received funds from our trust account could be liable for claims made by creditors; however, such liability would not be greater than the amount of funds from our trust account received by any such stockholder. In the event that our offering expenses exceed our estimate of $1,200,000, we may fund such excess with the funds not to be held in the trust account. In such case, the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would decrease by a corresponding amount. Conversely, in the event that the offering expenses are less than our estimate of $1,200,000, the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the trust account would increase by a corresponding amount.
Under the DGCL, stockholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against a corporation to the extent of distributions received by them in a dissolution. The pro rata portion of our trust account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of our public shares in the event we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or during any Extension Period may be considered a liquidating distribution under Delaware law. If the corporation complies with certain procedures set forth in Section 280 of the DGCL intended to ensure that it makes reasonable provision for all claims against it, including a 60-day notice period during which any third-party claims can be brought against the corporation, a 90-day period during which the corporation may reject any claims
brought, and an additional 150-day waiting period before any liquidating distributions are made to stockholders, any liability of stockholders with respect to a liquidating distribution is limited to the lesser of such stockholder’s pro rata share of the claim or the amount distributed to the stockholder, and any liability of the stockholder would be barred after the third anniversary of the dissolution.
If we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or during any Extension Period, we will: (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the public shares at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. Accordingly, it is our intention to redeem our public shares as soon as reasonably possible following our 24th month and, therefore, we do not intend to comply with those procedures. As such, our stockholders could potentially be liable for any claims to the extent of distributions received by them (but no more) and any liability of our stockholders may extend well beyond the third anniversary of such date.
Because we will not be complying with Section 280, Section 281(b) of the DGCL requires us to adopt a plan, based on facts known to us at such time that will provide for our payment of all existing and pending claims or claims that may be potentially brought against us within the subsequent ten years. However, because we are a blank check company, rather than an operating company, and our operations will be limited to searching for prospective target businesses to acquire, the only likely claims to arise would be from our vendors (such as lawyers, investment bankers, etc.) or prospective target businesses. As described above, pursuant to the obligation contained in our underwriting agreement, we will seek to have all vendors, service providers (other than the company’s independent registered public accounting firm), 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 any monies held in the trust account. As a result of this obligation, the claims that could be made against us are significantly limited and the likelihood that any claim that would result in any liability extending to the trust account is remote. Further, our sponsor may be liable only to the extent necessary to ensure that the amounts in the trust account are not reduced below (i) $10.00 per public share or (ii) such lesser amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account, due to reductions in value of the trust assets, in each case net of the amount of interest withdrawn to pay taxes and will not be liable as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriter of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. In the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, our sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims.
If the pro rata portion of our trust account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of our public shares in the event we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or during any Extension Period is not considered a liquidating distribution under Delaware law and such redemption distribution is deemed to be unlawful (potentially due to the imposition of legal proceedings that a party may bring or due to other circumstances that are currently unknown), then, pursuant to Section 174 of the DGCL, the statute of limitations for claims of creditors could be six years after the unlawful redemption distribution instead of three years in the case of a liquidating distribution.
If we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, the proceeds held in the trust account could be subject to applicable bankruptcy law, and may be included in our bankruptcy estate and subject to the claims of third parties with priority over the claims of our stockholders. To the extent any bankruptcy claims deplete the trust account, we cannot assure you we will be able to return $10.00 per share to our public stockholders. Additionally, if we file a bankruptcy petition or an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed against us that is not dismissed, any distributions received by stockholders could be viewed under applicable debtor/creditor and/or bankruptcy laws as
either a “preferential transfer” or a “fraudulent conveyance.” As a result, a bankruptcy court could seek to recover some or all amounts received by our stockholders. 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, thereby exposing itself and our company to claims of punitive damages by paying public stockholders 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 stockholders will be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only upon the earlier to occur of: (i) the completion of our initial business combination, (ii) the redemption of any public shares properly tendered in connection with a stockholder vote to amend any provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, and (iii) the redemption of all of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or during any Extension Period, subject to applicable law. In no other circumstances will a stockholder have any right or interest of any kind to or in the trust account. In the event we seek stockholder approval in connection with our initial business combination, a stockholder’s voting in connection with the initial business combination alone will not result in a stockholder’s redeeming its shares to us for an applicable pro rata share of the trust account. Such stockholder must have also exercised its redemption rights as described above. These provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, like all provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, may be amended with a stockholder vote.
Comparison of Redemption or Purchase Prices in Connection with Our Initial Business Combination, or Certain Stockholder Votes to Amend our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, 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 do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or during any Extension Period.
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Redemptions in Connection with Our
Initial Business Combination or Certain
Stockholder Votes to Amend our
Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation
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Other Permitted
Purchases of
Public Shares by
Us or Our Affiliates
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Redemptions if
We fail to Complete
an Initial Business
Combination
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Calculation of redemption price
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|
Redemptions at the time of our initial business combination may be made pursuant to a tender offer or in connection with a stockholder vote. The redemption price will be the same whether we conduct redemptions pursuant to a tender offer or in connection with a stockholder vote. In either case, or in the case of redemptions in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (i) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares
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If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination, our sponsor, directors, officers or their affiliates may purchase public shares in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market prior to or following completion of our initial business combination. There is no limit to the prices that our sponsor, directors, officers or their affiliates may pay in these transactions.
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If we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or during any Extension Period, 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 $10.00 per public share including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not
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Redemptions in Connection with Our
Initial Business Combination or Certain
Stockholder Votes to Amend our
Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation
|
|
|
Other Permitted
Purchases of
Public Shares by
Us or Our Affiliates
|
|
|
Redemptions if
We fail to Complete
an Initial Business
Combination
|
|
|
|
|
|
if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (ii) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, our public stockholders may redeem their public shares for cash equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial business combination (which is initially anticipated to be $10.00 per public share), including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to the limitation that no redemptions will take place, if all of the redemptions would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 upon consummation of our initial business combination and any limitations (including but not limited to cash requirements) agreed to in connection with the negotiation of terms of a proposed initial business combination.
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previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares.
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Impact to remaining stockholders
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|
The redemptions in connection with our initial business combination or certain stockholder votes to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will reduce the book value per share for our remaining stockholders, who will bear the burden of the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable.
|
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If the permitted purchases described above are made, there would be no impact to our remaining stockholders because the purchase price would not be paid by us.
|
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|
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 stockholders, who will be our only remaining stockholders after such redemptions.
|
|
Comparison of This Offering to Those of Blank Check Companies Subject to Rule 419
The following table compares the terms of this offering to the terms of an offering by a blank check company subject to the provisions of Rule 419. This comparison assumes that the gross proceeds, underwriting commissions and underwriting expenses of our offering would be identical to those of an offering undertaken by a company subject to Rule 419, and that the underwriter will not exercise its over-allotment option. None of the provisions of Rule 419 apply to our offering.
|
|
|
|
Terms of Our Offering
|
|
|
Terms Under a
Rule 419 Offering
|
|
|
Escrow of offering proceeds
|
|
|
Nasdaq rules provide that at least 90% of the gross proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants be deposited in a trust account. $250,000,000 of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants will be deposited into a trust account in the United States with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee.
|
|
|
Approximately $212,625,000 of the offering proceeds would be deposited into either an escrow account with an insured depositary institution or in a separate bank account established by a broker-dealer in which the broker-dealer acts as trustee for persons having the beneficial interests in the account.
|
|
|
Investment of net proceeds
|
|
|
$250,000,000 of the net offering proceeds and the sale of the private placement warrants held in trust will be invested only in U.S. government treasury bills 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.
|
|
|
Proceeds could be invested only in specified securities such as a money market fund meeting conditions of the Investment Company Act or in securities that are direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed as to principal or interest by, the United States.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Terms of Our Offering
|
|
|
Terms Under a
Rule 419 Offering
|
|
|
Receipt of interest on escrowed funds
|
|
|
Interest on proceeds from the trust account to be paid to stockholders is reduced by (i) any taxes paid or payable, and (ii) in the event of our liquidation for failure to complete our initial business combination within the allotted time, up to $100,000 of net interest that may be released to us should we have no or insufficient working capital to fund the costs and expenses of our dissolution and liquidation.
|
|
|
Interest on funds in escrow account would be held for the sole benefit of investors, unless and only after the funds held in escrow were released to us in connection with our completion of a business combination.
|
|
|
Limitation on fair value or net assets of target business
|
|
|
Nasdaq listing rules require that our initial business combination must be with one or more target businesses that together have an aggregate fair market value equal to at least 80% of the value of the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting fees and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account) at the time of our signing a definitive agreement in connection with our initial business combination.
|
|
|
The fair value or net assets of a target business must represent at least 80% of the maximum offering proceeds.
|
|
|
Trading of securities issued
|
|
|
We expect the units will begin trading on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. The Class A common stock and warrants comprising the units will begin separate trading on the 52nd day following the date of this prospectus (or, if such date is not a business day, the following business day) unless the underwriter informs us of its decision to allow earlier separate trading, subject to our having filed a Current Report on Form 8-K containing an audited balance sheet reflecting our receipt of the gross proceeds at the closing of this offering and having issued a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. We will file the Current Report on Form 8-K promptly after the closing of this offering. If the over-allotment option is exercised following the initial filing of such Current Report on Form 8-K, an additional Current Report on Form 8-K will be filed to provide updated financial
|
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|
No trading of the units or the underlying Class A common stock and warrants would be permitted until the completion of a business combination. During this period, the securities would be held in the escrow or trust account.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Terms of Our Offering
|
|
|
Terms Under a
Rule 419 Offering
|
|
|
|
|
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information to reflect the exercise of the over-allotment option.
The units will automatically separate into their component parts and will not be traded after completion of our initial business combination.
|
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Exercise of the warrants
|
|
|
The warrants cannot be exercised until the 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination.
|
|
|
The warrants could be exercised prior to the completion of a business combination, but securities received and cash paid in connection with the exercise would be deposited in the escrow or trust account.
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Election to remain an investor
|
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We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares for cash equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes, upon the completion of our initial business combination, subject to the limitations described herein. We may not be required by law to hold a stockholder vote. We intend to give approximately 30 days (but not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days) prior written notice of any such meeting, if required, at which a vote shall be taken to approve our initial business combination. If we are not required by law and do not otherwise decide to hold a stockholder vote, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, conduct the redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC and file tender offer documents with the SEC which will contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination and the redemption rights as is required under the SEC’s proxy rules. In the event we conduct redemptions
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A prospectus containing information pertaining to the business combination required by the SEC would be sent to each investor. Each investor would be given the opportunity to notify the company in writing, within a period of no less than 20 business days and no more than 45 business days from the effective date of a post-effective amendment to the company’s registration statement, to decide if it elects to remain a stockholder of the company or require the return of its investment. If the company has not received the notification by the end of the 45th business day, funds and interest or dividends, if any, held in the trust or escrow account are automatically returned to the stockholder. Unless a sufficient number of investors elect to remain investors, all funds on deposit in the escrow account must be returned to all of the investors and none of the securities are issued.
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|
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|
|
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Terms of Our Offering
|
|
|
Terms Under a
Rule 419 Offering
|
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|
|
|
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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. If, however, we hold a stockholder vote, we will, like many blank check companies, offer to redeem shares in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the proxy rules. If we seek stockholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock voted are voted in favor of the initial business combination. Additionally, each public stockholder may elect to redeem their public shares irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction. A quorum for such meeting will consist of the holders present in person or by proxy of shares of outstanding capital stock of the company representing a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the company entitled to vote at such meeting.
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Business combination deadline
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|
If we do not complete an initial business combination within 24 months or during any Extension Period from the closing of this offering, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the public shares at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public
|
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|
If a business combination has not been completed within 18 months after the effective date of the company’s registration statement, funds held in the trust or escrow account are returned to investors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Terms of Our Offering
|
|
|
Terms Under a
Rule 419 Offering
|
|
|
|
|
|
shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.
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Limitation on redemption rights of stockholders holding more than 15% of the shares sold in this offering if we hold a stockholder vote
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|
|
If we seek stockholder 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 certificate of incorporation will provide that a public stockholder (including our affiliates), together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder 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 Excess Shares (more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in this offering). Our public stockholders’ inability to redeem Excess Shares will reduce their influence over our ability to complete our initial business combination and they could suffer a material loss on their investment in us if they sell any Excess Shares in open market transactions.
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Many blank check companies provide no restrictions on the ability of stockholders to redeem shares based on the number of shares held by such stockholders in connection with an initial business combination.
|
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Tendering stock certificates in connection with a tender offer or redemption rights
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|
We may require our public stockholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” to either tender their certificates to our transfer agent prior to the date set forth in the tender offer documents mailed to such holders or up to two
|
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|
In order to perfect redemption rights in connection with their business combinations, holders could vote against a proposed initial business combination and check a box on the proxy card indicating such holders were seeking to exercise their redemption rights. After the business combination was approved, the
|
|
|
|
|
|
Terms of Our Offering
|
|
|
Terms Under a
Rule 419 Offering
|
|
|
|
|
|
business days prior to the initial vote on the proposal to approve the initial business combination in the event we distribute proxy materials, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using The Depository Trust Company’s DWAC System, at the holder’s option. The tender offer or proxy materials, 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 stockholders to satisfy such delivery requirements, which may include the requirement that a beneficial holder must identify itself in order to validly redeem its public shares. Accordingly, a public stockholder would have from the time we send out our tender offer materials until the close of the tender offer period, or up to two days prior to the vote on the initial business combination if we distribute proxy materials, as applicable, to tender its shares if it wishes to seek to exercise its redemption rights.
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company would contact such stockholders to arrange for them to deliver their certificate to verify ownership.
|
|
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Release of funds
|
|
|
Except with respect to interest earned on the funds held in the trust account that may be released to us to pay our franchise and income tax obligations, the proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private placement warrants held in the trust account will not be released from the trust account until the earliest to occur of: (i) the completion of our initial business combination, (ii) the redemption of any public shares properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from
|
|
|
The proceeds held in the escrow account are not released until the earlier of the completion of a business combination or the failure to effect a business combination within the allotted time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Terms of Our Offering
|
|
|
Terms Under a
Rule 419 Offering
|
|
|
|
|
|
the closing of this offering or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity and (iii) the redemption of 100% of our public shares if we do not complete an initial business combination within the required timeframe (subject to the requirements of applicable law). On the completion of our initial business combination, all amounts held in the trust account will be released to us, less amounts released to a separate account controlled by the trustee for disbursal to redeeming stockholders. We will use these funds to pay amounts due to any public stockholders who exercise their redemption rights as described above under “Redemption rights for public stockholders upon completion of our initial business combination,” to pay the underwriter its deferred underwriting commissions, to pay all or a portion of the consideration payable to the target or owners of the target of our initial business combination and to pay other expenses associated with our initial business combination.
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Competition
In identifying, evaluating and selecting a target business for our initial business combination, we may encounter competition from other entities having a business objective similar to ours, including other blank check companies, private equity groups and leveraged buyout funds, and operating businesses seeking strategic business combinations. 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 greater financial, technical, human and other resources than we do. Our ability to acquire larger target businesses will be limited by our available financial resources. This inherent limitation may give others with greater resources an advantage in pursuing the initial business combination of a target business. Furthermore, our obligation to pay cash in connection with our public stockholders who exercise their redemption rights may reduce the resources available to us for our initial business combination and our outstanding warrants, and the future dilution they potentially represent, may not be viewed favorably by certain target businesses. Either of these factors may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating an initial business combination.
Facilities
Our executive offices are located at 10485 NE 6th Street, Unit 3930, Bellevue, Washington 98004 and our telephone number is (360) 949-1111.
Employees
We currently have two executive officers, our chief executive officer and our chief financial officer. 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 initial 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.
Periodic Reporting and Financial Information
We will register our units, Class A common stock and warrants under the Exchange Act and have reporting obligations, including the requirement that we file annual, quarterly and current reports with the SEC. In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, our annual reports will contain financial statements audited and reported on by our independent registered public accountants.
We will provide stockholders with audited financial statements of the prospective target business as part of the tender offer materials or proxy solicitation materials sent to stockholders to assist them in assessing the target business. In all likelihood, these financial statements will need to be prepared in accordance with, or reconciled to, GAAP or IFRS, depending on the circumstances, and the historical financial statements may be required to be audited in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. These financial statement requirements may limit the pool of potential targets we may conduct an initial business combination with because some targets may be unable to provide such statements in time for us to disclose such statements in accordance with federal proxy rules and complete our initial business combination within the prescribed timeframe. We cannot assure you that any particular target business identified by us as a potential business combination candidate will have financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP or that the potential target business will be able to prepare its financial statements in accordance with the requirements outlined above. To the extent that these requirements cannot be met, we may not be able to acquire the proposed target business. While this may limit the pool of potential business combination candidates, we do not believe that this limitation will be material.
We will be required to evaluate our internal control procedures for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021 as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Only in the event we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer or an accelerated filer, and no longer qualify as an emerging growth company, will we be required to have our internal control procedures audited. A target company may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding adequacy of their internal controls. The development of the internal controls of any such entity to achieve compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may increase the time and costs necessary to complete any such business combination. We will file 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.
We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the completion of this offering, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion (as adjusted for inflation pursuant to SEC rules from time to time), or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the aggregate worldwide market value of our Class A common stock that is held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $700,000,000 as of the prior June 30th, and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period.
Additionally, we are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K. Smaller reporting companies may take advantage of certain reduced disclosure obligations, including, among other things, providing only two years of audited financial statements. We will remain a smaller reporting company until the last day of the fiscal year in which (1) the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $250,000,000 as of the prior June 30th, and (2) our annual revenues
equal or exceed $100,000,000 during such completed fiscal year or the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $700,000,000 as of the prior June 30th.
Legal Proceedings
There is no material litigation, arbitration or governmental proceeding currently pending against us or any members of our management team in their capacity as such.
MANAGEMENT
Executive Officers, Directors and Director Nominees
Name
|
|
|
Age
|
|
|
Position
|
|
Kevin Nazemi
|
|
|
39
|
|
|
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
|
|
Kyle Francis
|
|
|
47
|
|
|
Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
|
|
Bradley Fluegel
|
|
|
59
|
|
|
Director Nominee
|
|
Jim Moffatt
|
|
|
62
|
|
|
Director Nominee
|
|
Heather Zynczak
|
|
|
49
|
|
|
Director Nominee
|
|
Our executive officers, directors and director nominees are as follows:
Mr. Kevin Nazemi serves as our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Nazemi currently serves as a Partner at Lobby 7 Capital Inc., a startup investment and incubation firm. From November 2012 to April 2015, Mr. Nazemi served as the Co-Chief Executive Officer of Oscar Health Insurance, a technology-driven health insurance company. Mr. Nazemi co-founded Oscar Health in November 2012. In January 2016, Mr. Nazemi founded Renew Health Limited, a technology-driven health platform focused on retirees, and served as its Chief Executive Officer from January 2016 to January 2020. From 2003 to 2008, Mr. Nazemi held several positions at Microsoft Corporation. Mr. Nazemi currently serves on the board of directors of Premera Blue Cross, the largest health plan in the Pacific Northwest. Mr. Nazemi completed a joint MBA/MPP program offered by the Kennedy School of Government, where he was a Zuckerman Fellow, and the Harvard Business School, where he was a Paul & Daisy Soros Fellow. Mr. Nazemi holds a Bachelor of Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
We believe Mr. Nazemi is well qualified to serve on our board of directors based on his extensive experience in the healthcare and technology sectors, as well as his significant leadership and operational experience.
Mr. Kyle Francis serves as our Chief Financial Officer and Secretary. Mr. Francis recently served as the Chief Executive Officer of Southern California Reproductive Center, a leading chain of fertility clinics, from September 2015 to June 2020, and as its Chief Financial Officer from May 2014 to September 2015. Prior to that, Mr. Francis served as Chief Financial Officer from December 2010 to May 2014 and as EVP, Business Development from November 2008 to December 2010 of Apollo Medical Holdings, Inc., a publicly traded healthcare management company. Prior to Apollo, Mr. Francis was an investment banker at CIBC World Markets Inc. from March 2000 to September 2008, in the middle market healthcare and capital markets groups focused on healthcare, technology and industrials. Mr. Francis currently serves on the board of directors of RaceRocks, a Canadian technology company focused on virtual reality training and remote learning for the defense industry. Mr. Francis also acts as an executive advisor to a number of private healthcare companies. Mr. Francis graduated from McGill University with a Bachelor of Commerce.
Mr. Bradley Fluegel will serve as a director upon consummation of this offering. Mr. Fluegel currently advises a number of technology-enabled healthcare companies including Cricket Health Inc., Galileo Inc., Hims Inc., Pager Inc., and VillageMD Chicago, LLC. From October 2012 to January 2018, Mr. Fluegel was the Senior Vice President, Chief Healthcare Commercial Market Development Officer and Chief Strategy and Business Development Officer for Walgreens Company. Prior to Walgreens, Mr. Fluegel served as an executive in residence at Health Evolution Partners from April 2011 to September 2012, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy and External Affairs Officer of Anthem Inc. from October 2007 to December 2010, Senior Vice President of National Accounts and Vice President of Enterprise Strategy at Aetna Inc. from March 2005 to September 2007, and Chief Executive Officer for Reden & Anders (Optum Consulting) from October 2002 to February 2005. Mr. Fluegel currently serves on the board of directors of Alight Solutions, Metropolitan Jewish Health System in New York City, Performant Financial Corporation, AdhereHealth LLC and Premera Blue Cross. Mr. Fluegel earned a MPP from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and a BBA from the University of Washington. Mr. Fluegel also serves as a lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business.
We believe Mr. Fluegel is well qualified to serve on our board of directors based on his extensive experience in the healthcare industry and his significant leadership and operational experience.
Mr. Jim Moffatt will serve as a director upon consummation of this offering. Mr. Moffatt held various leadership positions at Deloitte LLP from 1986 to 2018, including: Vice Chairman of Deloitte Consulting from January 2018 to December 2018, Global Chief Executive Officer of Deloitte Consulting from June 2015 to December 2017, Deputy Chief Executive Officer—Global for Deloitte U.S. from April 2015 to March 2017, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for Deloitte Consulting U.S. from May 2011 to December 2015, Managing Principal for Deloitte U.S. Consulting Clients & Industries from June 2009 to May 2011, National Managing Director Consulting Client Excellence and Regions Leader from June 2007 to May 2009, Principal from June 1994 to May 2007, and Senior Manager from June 1986 to May 1994. Mr. Moffatt currently serves on several advisory boards including Centre for Neuro Skills, SparkCognition, and Icertis and is a strategic advisor to the board of Optiv Security Inc. Mr. Moffatt is also a strategic advisor to Bridgepoint LLC, Greycroft, Kyriba Corp., and March Capital and serves on academic committees for organizations including UCLA Anderson School and the UCLA Chancellor’s Cabinet Council. Mr. Moffatt holds an MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management and a Bachelor of Arts from University of California, San Diego.
We believe Mr. Moffatt is well qualified to serve on our board of directors based on his strong business and organizational leadership skills and his deep understanding of the healthcare industry.
Ms. Heather Zynczak will serve as a director upon consummation of this offering. From August 2016 to October 2020, Ms. Zynczak served as the Chief Marketing Officer of Pluralsight Inc. Prior to Pluralsight, from March 2012 to August 2016, Ms. Zynczak served as the Chief Marketing Officer of Domo Inc. Prior to Domo, Ms. Zynczak served as the Global Vice President of Marketing of SAPSE from February 2006 to March 2012, and as Senior Director of Product Strategy of Oracle Corporation from September 2001 to February 2006. Prior to Oracle, Ms. Zynczak served in consulting roles with Booz Allen Hamilton Inc., Boston Consulting Group, and Accenture plc. Ms. Zynczak currently serves on the board of directors of Thryv Holdings, Inc. and as an Operating Advisor to Elsewhere Partners, a growth-stage venture capital firm. Ms. Zynczak has an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Business Administration from University of Texas at Austin.
We believe that Ms. Zynczak is well qualified to serve on our board of directors based on her business expertise and business industry contacts.
Number and Terms of Office of Officers and Directors
We will have four directors upon the completion of this offering. Our board of directors will be divided into two classes with only one class of directors being elected in each year and each class (except for those directors appointed prior to our first annual meeting of stockholders) serving a two-year term. The term of office of the first class of directors, consisting of Jim Moffatt and Heather Zynczak will expire at our first annual meeting of stockholders. The term of office of the second class of directors, consisting of Mr. Nazemi and Bradley Fluegel, will expire at the second annual meeting of stockholders.
Prior to the completion of our initial business combination, any vacancy on the board of directors may be filled by a nominee chosen by holders of a majority of our shares of Class B common stock. In addition, prior to the completion of our initial business combination, holders of a majority of our shares of Class B common stock may remove a member of the board of directors for any reason.
Pursuant to an agreement to be entered into concurrently with the issuance and sale of the securities in this offering, our sponsor, upon consummation of an initial business combination, will be entitled to nominate three individuals for election to our board of directors.
Our officers are appointed by the board of directors and serve at the discretion of the board of directors. Our board of directors is authorized to appoint persons to the offices set forth in our bylaws as it deems appropriate. Our bylaws provide that our officers may consist of a Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President, Vice Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Secretaries and such other offices as may be determined by the board of directors.
Director Independence
Nasdaq listing rules require that a majority of our board of directors be independent. An “independent director” is defined generally as a person other than an officer or employee of the company or its subsidiaries or any other individual having a relationship, which, in the opinion of the company’s board of directors, would interfere with the director’s exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. We will have three “independent directors” as defined in Nasdaq listing rules and applicable SEC rules. Our board has determined that each of Bradley Fluegel, Jim Moffatt and Heather Zynczak are independent directors under applicable SEC and Nasdaq listing rules. Our independent directors will have regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present.
Officer and Director Compensation
In no event will our existing officers or directors be paid any finder’s fee, reimbursement, consulting fee, monies in respect of any payment of a loan or other compensation by the company prior to, or in connection with any services rendered for any services they render in order to effectuate, the completion of our initial business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is). However, these individuals will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations. We do not have a policy that prohibits our sponsor, officers or directors, or any of their respective affiliates, from negotiating for the reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses by a target business. Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to our sponsor, officers or directors, or our or their affiliates. Any such payments prior to an initial business combination will be made using funds held outside the trust account. Other than quarterly audit committee review of such payments, we do not expect to have any additional controls in place governing our reimbursement payments to our directors and officers for their out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with identifying and consummating an initial business combination.
After the completion of our initial business combination, directors or members of our management team who remain with us may be paid consulting or management fees from the combined company. These fees will be disclosed to stockholders in accordance with applicable rules and regulations, to the extent then known, in the tender offer materials or proxy solicitation materials furnished to our stockholders in connection with a proposed initial business combination. We have not established any limit on the amount of such fees that may be paid by the combined company to our directors or members of management. It is unlikely the amount of such compensation will be known at the time of the proposed initial business combination, because the directors of the post-combination business will be responsible for determining officer and director compensation. Any compensation to be paid to our officers will be determined, or recommended to the board of directors for determination, either by a compensation committee constituted solely by independent directors or by a majority of the independent directors on our board of directors.
We do not intend to take any action to ensure that members of our management team maintain their positions with us after the consummation of our initial business combination, although it is possible that some or all of our officers and directors may negotiate employment or consulting arrangements to remain with us after our initial business combination. The existence or terms of any such employment or consulting arrangements to retain their positions with us may influence our management team’s motivation in identifying or selecting a target business but we do not believe that the ability of our management to remain with us after the consummation of our initial business combination will be a determining factor in our decision to proceed with any potential business combination. We are not party to any agreements with our officers and directors that provide for benefits upon termination of employment.
Committees of the Board of Directors
Upon the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, our board of directors will have two standing committees: an audit committee and a compensation committee. Both our audit committee and our compensation committee will be composed solely of independent directors.
Audit Committee
Upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we will establish an audit committee of the board of directors. The members of our audit committee will be Bradley Fluegel, Jim Moffatt and Heather Zynczak. Bradley Fluegel will serve as chairperson of the audit committee.
Each member of the audit committee is financially literate and our board of directors has determined that Bradley Fluegel qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in applicable SEC rules.
We will adopt an audit committee charter, which will detail the principal functions of the audit committee, including:
•
assisting board oversight of (1) the integrity of our financial statements, (2) our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, (3) the independent registered public accounting firm’s qualifications and independence and (4) the performance of our internal audit function and the independent registered public accounting firm;
•
the appointment, compensation, retention, replacement, and oversight of the work of the independent registered public accounting firm engaged by us;
•
pre-approving all audit and permitted non-audit services to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm engaged by us, and establishing pre-approval policies and procedures;
•
setting clear hiring policies for employees or former employees of the independent registered public accounting firm, including but not limited to, as required by applicable laws and regulations;
•
setting clear policies for audit partner rotation in compliance with applicable laws and regulations;
•
obtaining and reviewing a report, at least annually, from the independent registered public accounting firm describing (i) the independent registered public accounting firm’s internal quality-control procedures, (ii) any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review, or peer review, of the audit firm, or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities within the preceding five years respecting one or more independent audits carried out by the firm and any steps taken to deal with such issues and (iii) all relationships between the independent registered public accounting firm and us to assess the independent registered public accounting firm’s independence;
•
meeting to review and discuss our annual audited financial statements and quarterly financial statements with management and the independent registered public accounting firm, including reviewing our specific disclosures under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”;
•
reviewing and approving any related party transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC prior to us entering into such transaction; and
•
reviewing with management, the independent registered public accounting firm, and our legal advisors, as appropriate, any legal, regulatory or compliance matters, including any correspondence with regulators or government agencies and any employee complaints or published reports that raise material issues regarding our financial statements or accounting policies and any significant changes in accounting standards or rules promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the SEC or other regulatory authorities.
Compensation Committee
Upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we will establish a compensation committee of the board of directors. The members of our compensation committee are Jim Moffatt and Heather Zynczak. Heather Zynczak will serve as chairperson of the compensation committee.
We will adopt a compensation committee charter, which will detail the principal functions of the compensation committee, including:
•
reviewing and approving on an annual basis the corporate goals and objectives relevant to our Chief Executive Officer’s compensation, if any is paid by us, evaluating our Chief Executive Officer’s performance in light of such goals and objectives and determining and approving the remuneration (if any) of our Chief Executive Officer based on such evaluation;
•
reviewing and making recommendations on an annual basis to our board of directors with respect to (or approving, if such authority is so delegated by our board of directors) the compensation, if any is paid by us, and any incentive-compensation and equity-based plans that are subject to board approval of our other officers;
•
reviewing on an annual basis our executive compensation policies and plans;
•
implementing and administering our incentive compensation equity-based remuneration plans;
•
assisting management in complying with our proxy statement and annual report disclosure requirements;
•
approving all special perquisites, special cash payments and other special compensation and benefit arrangements for our officers and employees;
•
if required, producing a report on executive compensation to be included in our annual proxy statement; and
•
reviewing, evaluating and recommending changes, if appropriate, to the remuneration for directors.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, as indicated above, until the earlier of the consummation of our initial business combination or our liquidation and in connection with potentially providing financing or other investments in connection with our initial business combination, no compensation of any kind, including finders, consulting or other similar fees, will be paid to any of our existing stockholders, officers, directors or any of their respective affiliates, prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate the consummation of an initial business combination. Accordingly, it is likely that prior to the consummation of an initial business combination, the compensation committee will only be responsible for the review and recommendation of any compensation arrangements to be entered into in connection with such initial business combination.
The charter will also provide that the compensation committee may, in its sole discretion, retain or obtain the advice of a compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser and will be directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the work of any such adviser. However, before engaging or receiving advice from a compensation consultant, external legal counsel or any other adviser, the compensation committee will consider the independence of each such adviser, including the factors required by Nasdaq and the SEC.
Director Nominations
We do not have a standing nominating committee, though we intend to form a corporate governance and nominating committee as and when required to do so by applicable law or stock exchange rules. In accordance with Rule 5605(e)(2) of Nasdaq listing rules, a majority of the independent directors may recommend a director nominee for selection by the board of directors. The board of directors believes that the independent directors can satisfactorily carry out the responsibility of properly selecting or approving director nominees without the formation of a standing nominating committee. In accordance with Rule 5605(e)(1)(A) of Nasdaq listing rules, all such directors are independent. As there is no standing nominating committee, we do not have a nominating committee charter in place.
We have not formally established any specific, minimum qualifications that must be met or skills that are necessary for directors to possess. In general, in identifying and evaluating nominees for director, the board of directors considers educational background, diversity of professional experience, knowledge of our business, integrity, professional reputation, independence, wisdom, and the ability to represent the best interests of our stockholders.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
None of our officers currently serves, or in the past year has served, as a member of the compensation committee of any entity that has one or more officers serving on our board of directors.
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
Prior to the consummation of this offering, we will adopt a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applicable to our directors, officers and employees, a copy of which will be available on our website following the closing of this offering. In addition, a copy of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics will be provided without charge upon request from us. We intend to disclose any amendments to or waivers of certain provisions of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics in a Current Report on Form 8-K. See “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”
Conflicts of Interest
Our officers, directors and any of their respective affiliates may sponsor or form, and, in the case of individuals, serve as a director or officer of, other blank check companies similar to Digital Transformation Opportunities Corp. during the period in which we are seeking an initial business combination. Any such companies may present additional conflicts of interest in pursuing an acquisition target. However, we do not believe that any such potential conflicts would materially affect our ability to identify and pursue business combination opportunities or to complete our initial business combination.
Potential investors should also be aware of the following other potential conflicts of interest:
•
None of our officers or directors is required to commit his or her full time to our affairs and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in allocating his or her time among various business activities.
•
In the course of their other business activities, our officers and directors may become aware of investment and business opportunities which may be appropriate for presentation to us as well as the other entities with which they are affiliated. Our management may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented.
•
Our sponsor and each of our officers and directors have agreed to (i) waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares and public shares in connection with the completion of our initial business combination, (ii) waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares and public shares in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity and (iii) waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to their founder shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or during any Extension Period, although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed timeframe. If we do not complete our initial business combination within such applicable time period, the proceeds of the sale of the private placement warrants held in the trust account will be used to fund the redemption of our public shares, and the private placement warrants will expire without value to the holder. With certain limited exceptions, the founder shares will not be transferable or assignable by until the earlier of: (A) one year after the completion of our initial business combination or (B) subsequent to our initial business combination, (x) if the last reported sale price of our Class A common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after our initial business combination, or (y) the date on which we complete a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of our stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Class A common stock for cash, securities or other property. With certain limited exceptions, the private placement warrants and the common stock underlying such warrants will not be transferable, assignable or saleable by our sponsor or its permitted transferees until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination. Because our sponsor and officers and directors will directly or indirectly own common stock and warrants following this offering, our officers and directors 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.
•
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 were to be included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination.
•
Our sponsor, officers or directors may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a business combination and financing arrangements as we may obtain loans from our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of our officers or directors to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination. Up to $2,000,000 of such loans may be convertible into warrants at a price of $1.50 per warrant at the option of the lender. Such warrants would be identical to the private placement warrants, including as to exercise price, exercisability and exercise period.
The conflicts described above may not be resolved in our favor.
In general, officers and directors of a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware are required to present business opportunities to a corporation if:
•
the corporation could financially undertake the opportunity;
•
the opportunity is within the corporation’s line of business; and
•
it would not be fair to the corporation and its stockholders for the opportunity not to be brought to the attention of the corporation.
As a result of multiple business affiliations, our officers and directors may have similar legal obligations relating to presenting business opportunities meeting the above-listed criteria to multiple entities. Furthermore, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company and such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue, and to the extent the director or officer is permitted to refer that opportunity to us without violating another legal obligation.
Below is a table summarizing the entities to which our officers and directors currently have fiduciary duties or contractual obligations:
Individual
|
|
|
Entity
|
|
|
Entity’s Business
|
|
|
Affiliation
|
|
Kevin Nazemi
|
|
|
Lobby 7 Partners LLC
Lobby 7 Capital
Premera Blue Cross
|
|
|
Investment Firm
Investment Firm
Health Insurance
|
|
|
Partner
Chief Executive Officer
Director
|
|
Kyle Francis
|
|
|
RaceRocks
|
|
|
Remote Training
|
|
|
Director
|
|
|
|
|
Performant Financial Corporation
|
|
|
Audit Services
|
|
|
Director
|
|
Bradley Fluegel
|
|
|
MJHS Health System
AdhereHealth
Premera Blue Cross
Alight Solutions
|
|
|
Health Services
Healthcare Technology
Health Insurance
Software
|
|
|
Director
Director
Director
Director
|
|
Heather Zynczak
|
|
|
Thryv Holdings
|
|
|
Software
|
|
|
Director
|
|
The individuals listed in the table above may also be affiliated with and/or owe fiduciary duties to or have contractual obligations to affiliates of the listed entities, including subsidiaries, portfolio companies and other investments and ventures of the listed entities.
We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination or subsequent transaction with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers or directors. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination or, subject to certain exceptions, subsequent material transactions with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers or directors, we, or a committee of independent directors, to the
extent required by applicable law or based upon the direction of our board of directors or a committee thereof, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another entity that commonly renders valuation opinions that such initial business combination or transaction is fair to our company from a financial point of view.
We have agreed not to enter into a definitive agreement regarding an initial business combination without the prior consent of our sponsor. In the event that we submit our initial business combination to our public stockholders for a vote, pursuant to the letter agreement, our sponsor, each of our officers and directors have agreed to vote any founder shares held by them and any public shares purchased during or after the offering (including in open market and privately negotiated transactions) in favor of our initial business combination.
Limitation on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that our officers and directors will be indemnified by us to the fullest extent authorized by Delaware law, as it now exists or may in the future be amended. In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that our directors will not be personally liable for monetary damages to us or our stockholders for breaches of their fiduciary duty as directors, unless they violated their duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders, acted in bad faith, knowingly or intentionally violated the law, authorized unlawful payments of dividends, unlawful stock purchases or unlawful redemptions, or derived an improper personal benefit from their actions as directors.
We will enter into agreements with our officers and directors to provide contractual indemnification in addition to the indemnification provided for in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Our bylaws also will permit us to secure insurance on behalf of any officer, director or employee for any liability arising out of his or her actions, regardless of whether Delaware law would permit such indemnification. We will purchase a policy of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance that insures our officers and directors against the cost of defense, settlement or payment of a judgment in some circumstances and insures us against our obligations to indemnify our officers and directors. Except with respect to any public shares they may acquire in this offering or thereafter (in the event we do not consummate an initial business combination), our officers and directors have agreed to waive (and any other persons who may become an officer or director prior to the initial business combination will also be required to waive) any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the trust account, and not to seek recourse against the trust account for any reason whatsoever, including with respect to such indemnification (except to the extent they are entitled to funds from the trust account due to their ownership of public shares).
These provisions may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions also may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against officers and directors, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders. Furthermore, a stockholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against officers and directors pursuant to these indemnification provisions.
We believe that these provisions, the directors’ and officers’ liability insurance and the indemnity agreements are necessary to attract and retain talented and experienced officers and directors.
PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS
The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of the date of this prospectus, and as adjusted to reflect the sale of our common stock included in the units offered by this prospectus, and assuming no purchase of units in this offering, by:
•
each person known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding shares of common stock;
•
each of our officers, directors and director nominees that beneficially owns shares of our common stock; and
•
all our officers, directors and direct nominees as a group.
Unless otherwise indicated, we believe that all persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock beneficially owned by them. The following table does not reflect record or beneficial ownership of the private placement warrants as these warrants are not exercisable within 60 days of the date of this prospectus.
The following table presents the number of shares and percentage of our common stock owned by our initial stockholders before and after this offering. The post-offering percentages assume that the underwriter does not exercise its over-allotment option, that our sponsor forfeits 937,500 shares of Class B common stock, and that there are 31,250,000 shares of our common stock, consisting of (i) 25,000,000 shares of our Class A common stock and (ii) 6,250,000 shares of our Class B common stock issued and outstanding after this offering. Our sponsor has agreed to transfer 25,000 founder shares to each of our independent director nominees, and 150,000 founder shares to Kyle Francis, our Chief Financial Officer. These founder shares are not subject to forfeiture in the event the underwriter’s over-allotment option is not exercised.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Approximate Percentage of
Outstanding Common Stock
|
|
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner1
|
|
|
Number of Shares Beneficially
Owned2
|
|
|
Before
Offering
|
|
|
After
Offering2
|
|
Digital Transformation Sponsor LLC3
|
|
|
|
|
6,025,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
100.0% |
|
|
|
|
|
19.3% |
|
|
Kevin Nazemi3
|
|
|
|
|
6,025,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
100.0% |
|
|
|
|
|
19.3% |
|
|
Kyle Francis
|
|
|
|
|
150,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
|
|
* |
|
|
Bradley Fluegel
|
|
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
|
|
* |
|
|
Jim Moffatt
|
|
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
|
|
* |
|
|
Heather Zynczak
|
|
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
* |
|
|
|
|
|
* |
|
|
All officers, directors and director nominees as a group
(5 individuals)
|
|
|
|
|
6,250,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
100.0% |
|
|
|
|
|
20.0% |
|
|
*
Less than one percent.
1
Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each of the following entities or individuals is c/o Digital Transformation Opportunities Corp., 10485 NE 6th Street, Unit 3930, Bellevue, Washington 98004.
2
Interests shown consist solely of founder shares, classified as shares of Class B common stock. Such shares are convertible into shares of Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment, as described in the section of this prospectus entitled “Description of Securities.”
3
The shares reported above are held in the name of our sponsor. Our sponsor is managed by Kevin Nazemi, and Mr. Nazemi has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares held of record by our sponsor.
Immediately after this offering, our initial stockholders will beneficially own 20% of the then-issued and outstanding shares of our common stock (assuming (x) they do not purchase any units in this offering and (y) no exercise of the underwriter’s over-allotment option). Neither our sponsor nor any of our officers or directors have expressed an intention to purchase any units in this offering. Because of this ownership block, our initial stockholders may be able to effectively influence the outcome of all matters requiring
approval by our stockholders, including amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and approval of significant corporate transactions, including approval of our initial business combination.
Our sponsor and each of our officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with us pursuant to which they have agreed to vote any shares owned by them in favor of any proposed initial business combination and to waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares and public shares in connection with (i) the completion of our initial business combination or (ii) a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity.
Our sponsor and our officers and directors are deemed to be our “promoters” as such term is defined under the federal securities laws.
Restrictions on Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Warrants
The Class B common stock, private placement warrants and any shares of Class A common stock issued upon conversion or exercise thereof, are each subject to transfer restrictions pursuant to lock-up provisions in the letter agreement with us to be entered into by our sponsor and each of our officers and directors. Those lock-up provisions provide that such securities are not transferable or salable (i) in the case of the founder shares, until the earlier of (A) one year after the completion of our initial business combination or (B) subsequent to our initial business combination, (x) if the last reported sale price of our Class A common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after our initial business combination, or (y) the date on which we complete a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of our stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property, and (ii) in the case of the private placement warrants and the Class A common stock underlying such warrants, until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination, except in each case (a) to our officers or directors, any affiliates or family members of any of our officers or directors, our sponsor, any members of our sponsor, or any affiliates of our sponsor, as well as affiliates of such members and funds and accounts advised by such members or any limited partners of any such funds that are invested in our sponsor, (b) in the case of an individual, by gift to such individual’s immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member of such individual’s immediate family, an affiliate of such person or to a charitable organization; (c) in the case of an individual, by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon death of the individual; (d) in the case of an individual, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order; (e) by private sales or transfers made in connection with the consummation of an initial business combination at prices no greater than the price at which the shares or warrants were originally purchased; (f) to an entity that is an affiliate of the holder; (g) in the event of our liquidation prior to the completion of our initial business combination; (h) by virtue of the laws of the State of Delaware or our sponsor’s limited liability company agreement upon dissolution of our sponsor; (i) in the event of our liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction which results in all of our stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property subsequent to our completion of our initial business combination; or (j) to us for no value for cancellation in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination; provided, however, that in the case of clauses (a) through (f) or (h) these permitted transferees must enter into a written agreement agreeing to be bound by these transfer restrictions and the other restrictions contained in the letter agreement and by the same agreements entered into by our sponsor with respect to such securities (including provisions relating to voting, the trust account and liquidation distributions described elsewhere in this prospectus).
Registration and Stockholder Rights
Our sponsor will have rights to require us to register any of our securities held by them for resale under the Securities Act pursuant to a registration and stockholder rights agreement to be signed prior to or on
the effective date of this offering. These holders will be entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form registration demands, that we register such securities for sale under the Securities Act. In addition, the holders of the founder shares, private placement warrants and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans (and any shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of the private placement warrants and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans and upon conversion of the founder shares) will have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to our completion of our initial business combination and rights to require us to register for resale such securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
In addition, pursuant to the registration and stockholder rights agreement, our sponsor, upon consummation of an initial business combination, will be entitled to nominate three individuals for election to our board of directors.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
On January 8, 2021, we issued an aggregate of 7,187,500 shares of Class B common stock to our sponsor for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000 in cash, or approximately $0.003 per share. The number of shares of Class B common stock issued was determined based on the expectation that such shares would represent 20% of the outstanding shares of common stock upon completion of this offering. Up to 937,500 shares of Class B common stock are subject to forfeiture by our sponsor depending on the extent to which the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised. Our sponsor has agreed to transfer 25,000 founder shares to each of our independent director nominees, and 150,000 founder shares to Kyle Francis, our Chief Financial Officer. These founder shares are not subject to forfeiture in the event the underwriter’s over-allotment option is not exercised.
Our sponsor has committed to purchase an aggregate of 5,000,000 warrants (or 5,500,000 warrants if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $1.50 per warrant ($7,500,000 in the aggregate, or $8,250,000 if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) in a private placement that will occur concurrently with the closing of this offering. As such, our sponsor’s interest in this transaction is valued at between $7,500,000 and $8,250,000, depending on the number of private placement warrants purchased. Each private placement warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of our Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share. The private placement warrants (including the Class A common stock issuable upon exercise thereof) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by the holder.
As more fully discussed in the section of this prospectus entitled “Management—Conflicts of Interest,” if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of an initial business combination opportunity that falls within the line of business of any 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. Our officers and directors currently have certain relevant fiduciary duties or contractual obligations that may take priority over their duties to us.
No compensation of any kind, including any finder’s fee, reimbursement, consulting fee or monies in respect of any payment of a loan, will be paid by us to officers or directors prior to, or in connection with any services rendered in order to effectuate, the consummation of an initial business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is). We do not have a policy that prohibits our sponsor, officers or directors, or any of their respective affiliates, from negotiating for the reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses by a target business. Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to our sponsor, officers, directors or our or their affiliates and will determine which expenses and the amount of expenses that will be reimbursed. There is no cap or ceiling on the reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by such persons in connection with activities on our behalf.
Our sponsor has agreed to loan us up to $300,000 to be used for a portion of the expenses of this offering. As of January 8, 2021, we had $0 outstanding under the promissory note with our sponsor. This loan is non-interest bearing, unsecured and is due at the earlier of December 31, 2021 or the closing of this offering. The loan will be repaid upon the closing of this offering out of the estimated $1,200,000 of offering proceeds that has been allocated to the payment of offering expenses (other than underwriting commissions). The value of our sponsor’s interest in this transaction corresponds to the principal amount outstanding under any such loan.
In addition, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of our officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. If we complete an initial business combination, we would repay such loaned amounts. In the event that the initial business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts but no proceeds from our trust account will be used for such repayment. Up to $2,000,000 of such loans may be convertible into warrants at a price of $1.50 per warrant at the option of the lender. The warrants would be identical to the private placement warrants, including as to exercise price, exercisability and exercise period. Except for the foregoing, the terms of such loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. We do not expect to seek loans from parties other than our
sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of our officers or directors as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our trust account.
After our initial business combination, members of our management team who remain with us may be paid consulting, management or other fees from the combined company with any and all amounts being fully disclosed to our stockholders, to the extent then known, in the tender offer or proxy solicitation materials, as applicable, furnished to our stockholders. It is unlikely the amount of such compensation will be known at the time of distribution of such tender offer materials or at the time of a stockholder meeting held to consider our initial business combination, as applicable, as it will be up to the directors of the post-combination business to determine executive and director compensation.
We will enter into a registration and stockholder rights agreement with respect to the registration for resale under the Securities Act of the private placement warrants, the warrants issuable upon conversion of working capital loans (if any) and the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the foregoing, and upon conversion of the founder shares, and, with respect to the right of our sponsor to nominate three individuals for election to our board of directors upon consummation of our initial business combination. The registration and stockholder rights agreement is described under the section of this prospectus entitled “Description of Securities—Registration and Stockholder Rights.”
Related Party Transactions Policy
We have not yet adopted a formal policy for the review, approval or ratification of related party transactions. Accordingly, the transactions discussed above were not reviewed, approved or ratified in accordance with any such policy.
Prior to the consummation of this offering, we will adopt a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics requiring us to avoid, wherever possible, all conflicts of interests, except under guidelines or resolutions approved by our board of directors (or the appropriate committee of our board) or as disclosed in our public filings with the SEC. Under our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, conflict of interest situations will include any financial transaction, arrangement or relationship (including any indebtedness or guarantee of indebtedness) involving the company.
In addition, our audit committee, pursuant to a written charter that we will adopt prior to the consummation of this offering, will be responsible for reviewing and approving related party transactions to the extent that we enter into such transactions. An affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the audit committee present at a meeting at which a quorum is present will be required in order to approve a related party transaction. A majority of the members of the entire audit committee will constitute a quorum. Without a meeting, the unanimous written consent of all of the members of the audit committee will be required to approve a related party transaction. We also require each of our directors and officers to complete a directors’ and officers’ questionnaire that elicits information about related party transactions.
These procedures are intended to determine whether any such related party transaction impairs the independence of a director or presents a conflict of interest on the part of a director, employee or officer.
To further minimize conflicts of interest, we have agreed not to consummate an initial business combination with an entity that is affiliated with any of our sponsor, officers or directors unless we, or a committee of independent directors, to the extent required by applicable law or based upon the direction of our board of directors or a committee thereof, have obtained an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another entity that commonly renders valuation opinions that such an our initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view. No finder’s fees, reimbursements, consulting fee, monies in respect of any payment of a loan or other compensation will be paid by us to our sponsor, officers or directors, or any affiliate of our sponsor, officers or directors, for services rendered to us prior to, or in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is). However, the following payments will be made to our sponsor, officers or directors, or our or their affiliates, none of which will be made from the proceeds of this offering held in the trust account prior to the completion of our initial business combination:
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Repayment of a loan of up to an aggregate of $300,000 made to us by our sponsor to cover offering related and organizational expenses;
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Reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination; and
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Repayment of loans which may be made by our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of our officers and directors to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination. Up to $2,000,000 of such loans may be convertible into warrants at a price of $1.50 per warrant at the option of the lender. Except for the foregoing, the terms of such loans have not been determined nor have any written agreements been executed with respect thereto.
Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to our sponsor, officers or directors, or our or their affiliates.
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES
Pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our authorized capital stock will consist of 200,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, 20,000,000 shares of Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, and 1,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share. The following description summarizes the material terms of our capital stock. Because it is only a summary, it may not contain all the information that is important to you.
Units
Each unit has an offering price of $10.00 and consists of one share of Class A common stock and one-fourth of one redeemable warrant. Each whole warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of our Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as described in this prospectus. Pursuant to the warrant agreement, a warrant holder may exercise its warrants only for a whole number of shares of Class A common stock. This means that only a whole warrant may be exercised at any given time by a warrant holder. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade. Accordingly, unless you purchase at least four units, you will not be able to receive or trade a whole warrant.
We expect the Class A common stock and warrants comprising the units will begin separate trading on the 52nd day following the date of this prospectus (or, if such date is not a business day, the following business day) unless the underwriter informs us of its decision to allow earlier separate trading, subject to our having filed the Current Report on Form 8-K described below and having issued a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. Once the shares of Class A common stock and warrants commence separate trading, holders will have the option to continue to hold units or separate their units into the component securities. Holders will need to have their brokers contact our transfer agent in order to separate the units into shares of Class A common stock and warrants.
In no event will the Class A common stock and warrants be traded separately until we have filed with the SEC a Current Report on Form 8-K which includes an audited balance sheet reflecting our receipt of the gross proceeds at the closing of this offering. We will file a Current Report on Form 8-K which includes this audited balance sheet upon the completion of this offering, which is anticipated to take place three business days after the date of this prospectus. If the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised following the initial filing of such Current Report on Form 8-K, a second or amended Current Report on Form 8-K will be filed to provide updated financial information to reflect the exercise of the underwriter’s over-allotment option.
Additionally, the units will automatically separate into their component parts and will not be traded after completion of our initial business combination.
Common Stock
Upon the closing of this offering, 31,250,000 shares of our common stock will be outstanding (assuming no exercise of the underwriter’s over-allotment option and the corresponding forfeiture of 937,500 shares of Class B common stock by our sponsor), consisting of:
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25,000,000 shares of Class A common stock underlying the units being offered in this offering; and
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6,250,000 shares of Class B common stock held by our initial stockholders.
Prior to our initial business combination, only holders of our Class B common stock will have the right to vote on the election of directors. Holders of our public shares will not be entitled to vote on the election of directors during such time. In addition, prior to the completion of an initial business combination, holders of a majority of our Class B common stock may remove a member of the board of directors for any reason. These provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may only be amended by a resolution passed by holders of a majority of our Class B common stock. Our board of directors will be divided into two classes, each of which will generally serve for a term of two years with only one class of directors being elected in each year. With respect to any other matter submitted to a vote of our stockholders, including any vote in connection with our initial business combination, except as required by
law or the applicable rules of Nasdaq then in effect, holders of our founder shares and holders of our Class A common stock will vote together as a single class, with each share of Class A common stock entitling the holder to one vote per share and each founder share entitling the holder to a number of votes per founder share such that all of the founder shares in the aggregate would be entitled to cast a number of votes equal to 20% of the combined voting power of the founder shares and holders of our public shares voting together as a single class.
Unless specified in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or bylaws, or as required by applicable provisions of the DGCL or applicable stock exchange rules, the affirmative vote of a majority of our shares of common stock that are voted is required to approve any such matter voted on by our stockholders. There is no cumulative voting with respect to the election of directors, with the result that the holders of more than 50% of the shares voted for the election of directors can elect all of the directors. Our stockholders are entitled to receive ratable dividends when, as and if declared by the board of directors out of funds legally available therefor.
Because our amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes the issuance of up to only 200,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, if we were to enter into an initial business combination, we may (depending on the terms of such an initial business combination) be required to increase the number of shares of Class A common stock which we are authorized to issue at the same time as our stockholder vote on the initial business combination to the extent we seek stockholder approval in connection with our initial business combination.
In accordance with Nasdaq corporate governance requirements, we are not required to hold an annual meeting until one year after our first fiscal year end following our listing on Nasdaq. Under Section 211(b) of the DGCL, we are, however, required to hold an annual meeting of stockholders for the purposes of electing directors in accordance with our bylaws, unless such election is made by written consent in lieu of such a meeting. We may not hold an annual meeting of stockholders to elect new directors prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, and thus we may not be in compliance with Section 211(b) of the DGCL, which requires an annual meeting. Therefore, if our stockholders want us to hold an annual meeting prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, they may attempt to force us to hold one by submitting an application to the Delaware Court of Chancery in accordance with Section 211(c) of the DGCL.
We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares upon (i) the completion of our initial business combination or (ii) a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity. Such redemptions, if any, will be made at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior to the event triggering the right to redeem, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations described herein. The amount in the trust account is initially anticipated to be approximately $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 commission we will pay to the underwriter. Our sponsor and each of our 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 any public shares held by them in connection with the completion of our initial business combination, or a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as described above. Unlike many blank check companies that hold stockholder votes and conduct proxy solicitations in conjunction with their initial business combinations and provide for related redemptions of public shares for cash upon completion of such initial business combinations even when a vote is not required by law, if a stockholder vote is not required by law and we do not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other reasons, we will, pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, conduct the redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC, and file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing our initial business combination. Our amended and restated
certificate of incorporation will requires these tender offer documents to contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination and the redemption rights as is required under the SEC’s proxy rules. If, however, a stockholder approval of the transaction is required by law, or we decide to obtain stockholder approval for business or other reasons, we will, like many blank check companies, offer to redeem shares in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the proxy rules and not pursuant to the tender offer rules. If we seek stockholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock voted are voted in favor of the initial business combination. A quorum for such meeting will consist of the holders present in person or by proxy of shares of outstanding capital stock of the company representing a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the company entitled to vote at such meeting.
However, the participation of our sponsor, officers, directors or their affiliates in privately-negotiated transactions (as described in this prospectus), if any, could result in the approval of our initial business combination even if a majority of our public stockholders vote, or indicate their intention to vote, against such business combination. For purposes of seeking approval of the majority of our outstanding shares of common stock voted, non-votes will have no effect on the approval of our initial business combination once a quorum is obtained. We intend to give approximately 30 days (but not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days) prior written notice of any such meeting, if required, at which a vote shall be taken to approve our initial business combination. These quorum and voting thresholds, and the voting agreements of our initial stockholders, may make it more likely that we will consummate our initial business combination.
If we seek stockholder 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 certificate of incorporation will provide that a public stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from redeeming its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares of common stock sold in this offering, which we refer to as the Excess Shares. However, we will not restrict our stockholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including Excess Shares) for or against our initial business combination. Our stockholders’ inability to redeem the Excess Shares will reduce their influence over our ability to complete our initial business combination, and such stockholders could suffer a material loss in their investment if they sell such Excess Shares on the open market. Additionally, such stockholders will not receive redemption distributions with respect to the Excess Shares if we complete the initial business combination. As a result, such stockholders will continue to hold that number of shares exceeding 15% and, in order to dispose such shares would be required to sell their stock in open market transactions, potentially at a loss.
If we seek stockholder approval in connection with our initial business combination, pursuant to the letter agreement, our sponsor and each of our officers and directors have agreed to vote their founder shares and any public shares purchased during or after this offering (including in open market and privately negotiated transactions) in favor of our initial business combination. As a result, in addition to our founder shares, which are entitled to 20% of the combined voting power of the founders shares and public shares voting together as a single class, we would need only 9,375,001, or 37.5% (assuming all issued and outstanding shares are voted and the over-allotment option is not exercised), or 1,562,501, or 6.25% (assuming only the minimum number of shares representing a quorum are voted and the over-allotment option is not exercised), of the 25,000,000 public shares sold in this offering to be voted in favor of an initial business combination in order to have our initial business combination approved. Additionally, each public stockholder may elect to redeem its public shares irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction (subject to the limitation described in the preceding paragraph).
Pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or during any Extension Period, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but no more than ten business days thereafter subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem the public shares at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public
stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.
Our sponsor and each of our officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares held by them if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or during any Extension Period. However, if our sponsor or any of our officers or directors acquire public shares in or after this offering, they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to such public shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time period.
In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the company after an initial business combination, our stockholders are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining available for distribution to them after payment of liabilities and after provision is made for each class of stock, if any, having preference over the common stock. Our stockholders have no preemptive or other subscription rights. There are no sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock, except that we will provide our stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares for cash equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, upon the completion of our initial business combination, subject to the limitations described herein.
Founder Shares
The shares of Class B common stock are identical to the shares of Class A common stock included in the units being sold in this offering, and holders of founder shares have the same stockholder rights as public stockholders, except that (i) the founder shares are subject to certain transfer restrictions, as described in more detail below, (ii) our sponsor and each of our officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed (A) to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares and any public shares held by them in connection with the completion of our initial business combination, (B) to waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares and public shares in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (x) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or during any Extension Period or (y) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity and (C) to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any founder shares held by them if we fail to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or during any Extension Period, although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to any public shares they hold if we fail to complete our initial business combination within such time period, (iii) the Class B common stock will automatically convert into shares of our Class A common stock at the time of our initial business combination, or at any time prior thereto at the option of the holder, on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment as described herein, and (iv) are entitled to registration rights. If we submit our initial business combination to our public stockholders for a vote, our sponsor and each of our officers and directors have agreed pursuant to the letter agreement to vote any founder shares and held by them and any public shares purchased during or after this offering (including in open market and privately negotiated transactions) in favor of our initial business combination.
The shares of Class B common stock will automatically convert into shares of Class A common stock at the time of our initial business combination on a one-for-one basis (subject to adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like), and subject to further adjustment as provided herein. In the case that additional shares of Class A common stock, or equity-linked securities, are issued or deemed issued in excess of the amounts offered in this prospectus and related to the closing of the initial business combination, the ratio at which shares of Class B common stock shall convert into shares of Class A common stock will be adjusted (unless the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of
Class B common stock agree to waive such adjustment with respect to any such issuance or deemed issuance) so that the number of shares of Class A common stock issuable upon conversion of all shares of Class B common stock will equal, in the aggregate, on an as-converted basis, 20% of the sum of (i) the total number of all shares of common stock outstanding upon the completion of this offering, plus (ii) all shares of Class A common stock and equity-linked securities issued or deemed issued in connection with the initial business combination (excluding any shares of Class A common stock or equity-linked securities issued, or to be issued, to any seller in the initial business combination and any private placement equivalent warrants issued to our sponsor or its affiliates upon conversion of loans made to us). We cannot determine at this time whether a majority of the holders of our Class B common stock at the time of any future issuance would agree to waive such adjustment to the conversion ratio. They may waive such adjustment due to (but not limited to) the following: (i) closing conditions which are part of the agreement for our initial business combination; (ii) negotiation with Class A stockholders on structuring an initial business combination; or (iii) negotiation with parties providing financing which would trigger the anti-dilution provisions of the Class B common stock. If such adjustment is not waived, the issuance would not reduce the percentage ownership of holders of our Class B common stock, but would reduce the percentage ownership of holders of our Class A common stock. If such adjustment is waived, the issuance would reduce the percentage ownership of holders of both classes of our common stock. Holders of founder shares may also elect to convert their shares of Class B common stock into an equal number of shares of Class A common stock, subject to adjustment as provided above, at any time. Securities could be “deemed issued” for purposes of the conversion rate adjustment if such shares are issuable upon the conversion or exercise of convertible securities, warrants or similar securities.
With certain limited exceptions, the founder shares are not transferable, assignable or salable (except to our officers and directors and other persons or entities affiliated with our sponsor, including their respective limited partners) each of whom will be subject to the same transfer restrictions) until the earlier of (A) one year after the completion of our initial business combination or (B) subsequent to our initial business combination, (x) if the last reported sale price of our Class A common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after our initial business combination, or (y) the date on which we complete a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of our stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property.
Prior to our initial business combination, only holders of our Class B common stock will have the right to vote on the election of directors. Holders of our public shares will not be entitled to vote on the election of directors during such time. In addition, prior to the completion of an initial business combination, holders of a majority of our Class B common stock may remove a member of the board of directors for any reason. These provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may only be amended by a resolution passed by a majority of our Class B common stock. With respect to any other matter submitted to a vote of our stockholders, including any vote in connection with our initial business combination, except as required by law, holders of our Class B common stock and holders of our Class A common stock will vote together as a single class, with each share entitling the holder to one vote.
Preferred Stock
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that shares of preferred stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series. Our board of directors will be authorized to fix the voting rights, if any, designations, powers, preferences, the relative, participating, optional or other special rights and any qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, applicable to the shares of each series. Our board of directors will be able to, without stockholder approval, issue preferred stock with voting and other rights that could adversely affect the voting power and other rights of the holders of the common stock and could have anti-takeover effects. The ability of our board of directors to issue preferred stock without stockholder approval could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control of us or the removal of existing management. We have no preferred stock outstanding at the date hereof. Although we do not currently intend to issue any shares of preferred stock, we cannot assure you that we will not do so in the future. No shares of preferred stock are being issued or registered in this offering.
Redeemable Warrants
Public Stockholders’ Warrants
Each whole warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase one share of our Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as discussed below, at any time commencing 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination. Pursuant to the warrant agreement, a warrant holder may exercise its warrants only for a whole number of shares of Class A common stock. This means that only a whole warrant may be exercised at any given time by a warrant holder. No fractional warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade. Accordingly, unless you purchase at least four units, you will not be able to receive or trade a whole warrant. The warrants will expire five years after the completion of our initial business combination, at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.
We will not be obligated to deliver any shares of Class A common stock pursuant to the exercise of a warrant and will have no obligation to settle such warrant exercise unless a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the shares of Class A common stock underlying the warrants is then effective and a prospectus relating thereto is current, subject to our satisfying our obligations described below with respect to registration. No warrant will be exercisable and we will not be obligated to issue shares of Class A common stock upon exercise of a warrant unless Class A common stock issuable upon such warrant exercise has been registered, qualified or deemed to be exempt under the securities laws of the state of residence of the registered holder of the warrants. In the event that the conditions in the two immediately preceding sentences are not satisfied with respect to a warrant, the holder of such warrant will not be entitled to exercise such warrant and such warrant may have no value and expire without value to the holder. In no event will we be required to net cash settle any warrant. In the event that a registration statement is not effective for the exercised warrants, the purchaser of a unit containing such warrant will have paid the full purchase price for the unit solely for the share of Class A common stock underlying such unit.
We have agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 15 business days after the closing of our initial business combination, we will use our commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part or a new registration statement covering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants. We will use our commercially reasonable efforts to cause such post-effective amendment or registration statement to become effective within 60 business days after the closing of our initial business combination and to maintain a current prospectus relating to those shares of Class A common stock until the warrants expire or are redeemed, as specified in the warrant agreement; provided that if shares of our Class A common stock are at the time of any exercise of a public warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that they satisfy the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, we may, at our option, require holders of public warrants who exercise their warrants to do so on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act and, in the event we so elect, we will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement, but we will use our commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available. If a registration statement covering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants is not effective by the 60th business day after the closing of our initial business combination, warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when we will have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise warrants on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act or another exemption. In such event, each holder would pay the exercise price by surrendering the warrants for that number of shares of Class A common stock equal to the lesser of (A) the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Class A common stock underlying the warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “fair market value” of our Class A common stock over the exercise price of the warrants by (y) the fair market value and (B) 0.361 per whole warrant. The “fair market value” as used in this paragraph shall mean the average last reported sale price of the Class A common stock for the ten trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of exercise is received by the warrant agent. If that exemption, or another exemption, is not available, holders will not be able to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis.
Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00. Once the warrants become exercisable, we may redeem the outstanding warrants (except as described herein with respect to the private placement warrants):
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in whole and not in part;
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at a price of $0.01 per warrant;
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upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption to each warrant holder; and
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if, and only if, the last reported sale price of the Class A common stock for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending three trading days before we send the notice of redemption to the warrant holders (which we refer to as the “Reference Value”) equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for adjustments to the number of shares issuable upon exercise or the exercise price of a warrant as described under the heading “—Redeemable Warrants—Public Stockholders’ Warrants—Anti-dilution adjustments”).
We will not redeem the warrants as described above unless a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the issuance of the Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants is then effective and a current prospectus relating to those Class A common stock is available throughout the 30-day redemption period. If and when the warrants become redeemable by us, we may exercise our redemption right even if we are unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws.
We have established the last of the redemption criterion discussed above to prevent a redemption call unless there is at the time of the call a significant premium to the warrant exercise price. If the foregoing conditions are satisfied and we issue a notice of redemption of the warrants, each warrant holder will be entitled to exercise his, her or its warrant prior to the scheduled redemption date. Any such exercise would not be done on a “cashless” basis and would require the exercising warrant holder to pay the exercise price for each warrant being exercised. However, the price of the Class A common stock may fall below the $18.00 redemption trigger price (as adjusted for adjustments to the number of shares issuable upon exercise or the exercise price of a warrant as described under the heading “—Warrants—Public Stockholders’ Warrants—Anti-dilution adjustments”) as well as the $11.50 (for whole shares) warrant exercise price after the redemption notice is issued.
Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00. Once the warrants become exercisable, we may redeem the outstanding warrants:
•
in whole and not in part;
•
at $0.10 per warrant upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption, provided that holders will be able to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis prior to redemption and receive that number of shares determined by reference to the table below, based on the redemption date and the “fair market value” of our Class A common stock (as defined below in the immediately following paragraph) except as otherwise described below;
•
if, and only if, the Reference Value (as defined above under the heading “—Redeemable Warrants—Public Stockholders’ Warrants—Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00”) equals or exceeds $10.00 per share (as adjusted for adjustments to the number of shares issuable upon exercise or the exercise price of a warrant as described under the heading “—Redeemable Warrants—Public Stockholders’ Warrants—Anti-dilution adjustments”); and
•
if the Reference Value is less than $18.00 per share (as adjusted for adjustments to the number of shares issuable upon exercise or the exercise price of a warrant as described under the heading “—Redeemable Warrants—Public Stockholders’ Warrants—Anti-dilution adjustments”), the private placement warrants are also concurrently called for redemption on the same terms as the outstanding public warrants, as described above.
Beginning on the date the notice of redemption is given until the warrants are redeemed or exercised, holders who elect to exercise their warrants may only do so on a cashless basis. The numbers in the table below represent the number of shares of Class A common stock that a warrant holder will receive upon such cashless exercise in connection with a redemption by us pursuant to this redemption feature, based on the “fair market value” of our Class A common stock on the corresponding redemption date (assuming holders
elect to exercise their warrants and such warrants are not redeemed for $0.10 per warrant), determined for these purposes based on the volume-weighted average price of our Class A common stock as reported during the ten trading days immediately following the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of warrants, and the number of months that the corresponding redemption date precedes the expiration date of the warrants, each as set forth in the table below. We will provide our warrant holders with the final fair market value no later than one business day after the ten-trading day period described above ends.
Pursuant to the warrant agreement, references above to Class A common stock shall include a security other than Class A common stock into which the Class A common stock have been converted or exchanged for in the event we are not the surviving company in our initial business combination. The numbers in the table below will not be adjusted when determining the number of Class A common stock to be issued upon exercise of the warrants if we are not the surviving entity following our initial business combination.
The share prices set forth in the column headings of the table below will be adjusted as of any date on which the number of shares issuable upon exercise of a warrant or the exercise price of a warrant is adjusted as set forth under the heading “—Anti-dilution adjustments” below. If the number of shares issuable upon exercise of a warrant is adjusted, the adjusted share prices in the column headings will equal the share prices immediately prior to such adjustment, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the exercise price of the warrant after such adjustment and the denominator of which is the price of the warrant immediately prior to such adjustment. In such an event, the number of shares in the table below shall be adjusted by multiplying such share amounts by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares deliverable upon exercise of a warrant immediately prior to such adjustment and the denominator of which is the number of shares deliverable upon exercise of a warrant as so adjusted. If the exercise price of a warrant is adjusted, (a) in the case of an adjustment pursuant to the fifth paragraph under the heading “—Anti-dilution adjustments” below, the adjusted share prices in the column headings will equal the unadjusted share price multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price as set forth under the heading “—Anti-dilution adjustments” and the denominator of which is $10.00 and (b) in the case of an adjustment pursuant to the second paragraph under the heading “—Anti-dilution adjustments” below, the adjusted share prices in the column headings will equal the unadjusted share price less the decrease in the exercise price of a warrant pursuant to such exercise price adjustment.
|
|
|
Fair Market Value of Class A Common Stock
|
|
Redemption Date
(period to expiration of warrants)
|
|
|
≤10.00
|
|
|
11.00
|
|
|
12.00
|
|
|
13.00
|
|
|
14.00
|
|
|
15.00
|
|
|
16.00
|
|
|
17.00
|
|
|
≥18.00
|
|
60 months
|
|
|
|
|
0.261 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.281 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.297 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.311 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.324 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.337 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.348 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.358 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.361 |
|
|
57 months
|
|
|
|
|
0.257 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.277 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.294 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.310 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.324 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.337 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.348 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.358 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.361 |
|
|
54 months
|
|
|
|
|
0.252 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.272 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.291 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.307 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.322 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.335 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.347 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.357 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.361 |
|
|
51 months
|
|
|
|
|
0.246 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.268 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.287 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.304 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.320 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.333 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.346 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.357 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.361 |
|
|
48 months
|
|
|
|
|
0.241 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.263 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.283 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.301 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.317 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.332 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.344 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.356 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.361 |
|
|
45 months
|
|
|
|
|
0.235 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.258 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.279 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.298 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.315 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.330 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.343 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.356 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.361 |
|
|
42 months
|
|
|
|
|
0.228 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.252 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.274 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.294 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.312 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.328 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.342 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.355 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.361 |
|
|
39 months
|
|
|
|
|
0.221 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.246 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.269 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.290 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.309 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.325 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.340 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.354 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.361 |
|
|
36 months
|
|
|
|
|
0.213 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.239 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.263 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.285 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.305 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.323 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.339 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.353 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.361 |
|
|
33 months
|
|
|
|
|
0.205 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.232 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.257 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.280 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.301 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.320 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.337 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.352 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.361 |
|
|
30 months
|
|
|
|
|
0.196 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.224 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.250 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.274 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.297 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.316 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.335 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.351 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.361 |
|
|
27 months
|
|
|
|
|
0.185 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.214 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.242 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.268 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.291 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.313 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.332 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.350 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.361 |
|
|
24 months
|
|
|
|
|
0.173 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.204 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.233 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.260 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.285 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.308 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.329 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.348 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.361 |
|
|
21 months
|
|
|
|
|
0.161 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.193 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.223 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.252 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.279 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.304 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.326 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.347 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.361 |
|
|
18 months
|
|
|
|
|
0.146 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.179 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.211 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.242 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.271 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.298 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.322 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.345 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.361 |
|
|
15 months
|
|
|
|
|
0.130 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.164 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.197 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.230 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.262 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.291 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.317 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.342 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.361 |
|
|
|
|
|
Fair Market Value of Class A Common Stock
|
|
Redemption Date
(period to expiration of warrants)
|
|
|
≤10.00
|
|
|
11.00
|
|
|
12.00
|
|
|
13.00
|
|
|
14.00
|
|
|
15.00
|
|
|
16.00
|
|
|
17.00
|
|
|
≥18.00
|
|
12 months
|
|
|
|
|
0.111 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.146 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.181 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.216 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.250 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.282 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.312 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.339 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.361 |
|
|
9 months
|
|
|
|
|
0.090 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.125 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.162 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.199 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.237 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.272 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.305 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.336 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.361 |
|
|
6 months
|
|
|
|
|
0.065 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.099 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.137 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.178 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.219 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.259 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.296 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.331 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.361 |
|
|
3 months
|
|
|
|
|
0.034 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.065 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.104 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.150 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.197 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.243 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.286 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.326 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.361 |
|
|
0 months
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
0.042 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.115 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.179 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.233 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.281 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.323 |
|
|
|
|
|
0.361 |
|
|
The exact fair market value and redemption date may not be set forth in the table above, in which case, if the fair market value is between two values in the table or the redemption date is between two redemption dates in the table, the number of shares of Class A common stock to be issued for each warrant exercised will be determined by a straight-line interpolation between the number of shares set forth for the higher and lower fair market values and the earlier and later redemption dates, as applicable, based on a 365 or 366-day year, as applicable. For example, if the volume weighted average price of our Class A common stock as reported during the ten trading days immediately following the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of warrants is $11.00 per share, and at such time there are 57 months until the expiration of the warrants, holders may choose to, in connection with this redemption feature, exercise their warrants for 0.277 shares of Class A common stock for each whole warrant. For an example where the exact fair market value and redemption date are not as set forth in the table above, if the volume weighted average price of our Class A common stock as reported during the ten trading days immediately following the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of warrants is $13.50 per share, and at such time there are 38 months until the expiration of the warrants, holders may choose to, in connection with this redemption feature, exercise their warrants for 0.298 shares of Class A common stock for each whole warrant. In no event will the warrants be exercisable on a cashless basis in connection with this redemption feature for more than 0.361 shares of Class A common stock per whole warrant (subject to adjustment). Finally, as reflected in the table above, if the warrants are out of the money and about to expire, they cannot be exercised on a cashless basis in connection with a redemption by us pursuant to this redemption feature, since they will not be exercisable for any Class A common stock.
This redemption feature differs from the typical warrant redemption features used in some other blank check offerings, which typically only provide for a redemption of warrants for cash (other than the private placement warrants) when the trading price for the Class A common stock exceeds $18.00 per share for a specified period of time. This redemption feature is structured to allow for all of the outstanding warrants to be redeemed when the Class A common stock is trading at or above $10.00 per share, which may be at a time when the trading price of our Class A common stock is below the exercise price of the warrants. We have established this redemption feature to provide us with the flexibility to redeem the warrants without the warrants having to reach the $18.00 per share threshold set forth above under “—Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00.” Holders choosing to exercise their warrants in connection with a redemption pursuant to this feature will, in effect, receive a number of shares for their warrants based on an option pricing model with a fixed volatility input as of the date of this prospectus. This redemption right provides us with an additional mechanism by which to redeem all of the outstanding warrants, and therefore have certainty as to our capital structure as the warrants would no longer be outstanding and would have been exercised or redeemed. We will be required to pay the applicable redemption price to warrant holders if we choose to exercise this redemption right and it will allow us to quickly proceed with a redemption of the warrants if we determine it is in our best interest to do so. As such, we would redeem the warrants in this manner when we believe it is in our best interest to update our capital structure to remove the warrants and pay the redemption price to the warrant holders.
As stated above, we can redeem the warrants when the shares of Class A common stock are trading at a price starting at $10.00, which is below the exercise price of $11.50, because it will provide certainty with respect to our capital structure and cash position while providing warrant holders with the opportunity to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis for the applicable number of shares. If we choose to redeem the warrants when the shares of Class A common stock are trading at a price below the exercise price of the warrants, this could result in the warrant holders receiving fewer shares of Class A common stock than they
would have received if they had chosen to wait to exercise their warrants for shares of Class A common stock if and when such shares of Class A common stock were trading at a price higher than the exercise price of $11.50.
No fractional shares of Class A common stock will be issued upon exercise. If, upon exercise, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, we will round down to the nearest whole number of shares of Class A common stock to be issued to the holder. If, at the time of redemption, the warrants are exercisable for a security other than Class A common stock pursuant to the warrant agreement (for instance, if we are not the surviving company in our initial business combination), the warrants may be exercised for such security. At such time as the warrants become exercisable for a security other than Class A common stock, the company (or surviving company) will use its commercially reasonable efforts to register under the Securities Act the security issuable upon the exercise of the warrants.
Redemption procedures. A holder of a warrant may notify us in writing in the event it elects to be subject to a requirement that such holder will not have the right to exercise such warrant, to the extent that after giving effect to such exercise, such person (together with such person’s affiliates or any person subject to aggregation with such person for the purposes of the “beneficial ownership” test under Section 13 of the Exchange Act, or any “group” (within the meaning of Section 13 of the Exchange Act) of which such person is or may be deemed to be a part), to the warrant agent’s actual knowledge, would beneficially own in excess of 4.9% or 9.8% (or such other amount as a holder may specify) of the shares of Class A common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise.
Anti-dilution adjustments. If the number of outstanding shares of Class A common stock is increased by a stock dividend payable in shares of Class A common stock, or by a split-up of shares of Class A common stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such stock dividend, split-up or similar event, the number of shares of Class A common stock issuable on exercise of each warrant will be increased in proportion to such increase in the outstanding shares of Class A common stock. A rights offering to holders of Class A common stock entitling holders to purchase shares of Class A common stock at a price less than the historical fair market value (as defined below) will be deemed a stock dividend of a number of shares of Class A common stock equal to the product of (i) the number of shares of Class A common stock actually sold in such rights offering (or issuable under any other equity securities sold in such rights offering that are convertible into or exercisable for Class A common stock) and (ii) one minus the quotient of (x) the price per share of Class A common stock paid in such rights offering divided by (y) the historical fair market value. For these purposes (i) if the rights offering is for securities convertible into or exercisable for Class A common stock, in determining the price payable for Class A common stock, there will be taken into account any consideration received for such rights, as well as any additional amount payable upon conversion or exercise and (ii) “historical fair market value” means the volume weighted average price of Class A common stock as reported during the ten trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the first date on which the shares of Class A common stock trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive such rights.
In addition, if we, at any time while the warrants are outstanding and unexpired, pay a dividend or make a distribution in cash, securities or other assets to the holders of Class A common stock on account of such shares of Class A common stock (or other shares of our capital stock into which the warrants are convertible), other than (a) as described above, (b) certain ordinary cash dividends (initially defined as up to $0.50 per share in a 365 day period), (c) to satisfy the redemption rights of the holders of Class A common stock in connection with the completion of our initial business combination, (d) to satisfy the redemption rights of the holders of Class A common stock in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, or (e) in connection with the redemption of our public shares upon our failure to complete our initial business combination, then the warrant exercise price will be decreased, effective immediately after the effective date of such event, by the amount of cash and/or the fair market value of any securities or other assets paid on each share of Class A common stock in respect of such event.
If the number of outstanding shares of our Class A common stock is decreased by a consolidation, combination, reverse stock split or reclassification of shares of Class A common stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such consolidation, combination, reverse stock split, reclassification or similar event, the number of shares of Class A common stock issuable on exercise of each warrant will be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding shares of Class A common stock.
Whenever the number of shares of Class A common stock purchasable upon the exercise of the warrants is adjusted, as described above, the warrant exercise price will be adjusted by multiplying the warrant exercise price immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction (x) the numerator of which will be the number of shares of Class A common stock purchasable upon the exercise of the warrants immediately prior to such adjustment, and (y) the denominator of which will be the number of shares of Class A common stock so purchasable immediately thereafter.
In addition, if (x) we issue additional shares of Class A common stock or equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of our initial business combination at a Newly Issued Price of less than $9.20 per share (with such issue price or effective issue price to be determined in good faith by our board of directors and, (i) in the case of any such issuance to our sponsor or any of their respective affiliates, without taking into account any founder shares held by our sponsor or such affiliates, as applicable, prior to such issuance, and (ii) to the extent that such issuance is made to any of their respective affiliates, without taking into account the transfer of founder shares or private placement warrants (including if such transfer is effectuated as a surrender to us and subsequent reissuance by us) by our sponsor in connection with such issuance), (y) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for the funding of our initial business combination on the date of the consummation of our initial business combination (net of redemptions), and (z) the Market Value is below $9.20 per share, the exercise price of the warrants will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 115% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, the $18.00 per share redemption trigger price described above under “—Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00” and “—Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00” will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, and the $10.00 per share redemption trigger price described above under “—Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00” will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price.
In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock (other than those described above or that solely affects the par value of such shares of Class A common stock), or in the case of any merger or consolidation of us with or into another corporation (other than a consolidation or merger in which we are the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of our outstanding shares of Class A common stock), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of the assets or other property of us as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in connection with which we are dissolved, the holders of the warrants will thereafter have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in the warrants and in lieu of the shares of our Class A common stock immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented thereby, the kind and amount of shares of stock or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, that the holder of the warrants would have received if such holder had exercised their warrants immediately prior to such event. If less than 70% of the consideration receivable by the holders of Class A common stock in such a transaction is payable in the form of Class A common stock in the successor entity that is listed for trading on a national securities exchange or is quoted in an established over-the-counter market, or is to be so listed for trading or quoted immediately following such event, and if the registered holder of the warrant properly exercises the warrant within thirty days following public disclosure of such transaction, the warrant exercise price will be reduced as specified in the warrant agreement based on the Black-Scholes value (as defined in the warrant agreement) of the warrant. The purpose of such exercise price reduction is to provide additional value to holders of the warrants when an extraordinary transaction occurs during the exercise period of the warrants pursuant to which the holders of the warrants otherwise do not receive the full potential value of the warrants in order to determine and realize the option value component of the warrant. This formula is to
compensate the warrant holder for the loss of the option value portion of the warrant due to the requirement that the warrant holder exercise the warrant within 30 days of the event. The Black-Scholes model is an accepted pricing model for estimating fair market value where no quoted market price for an instrument is available.
The warrants will be issued in registered form under a warrant agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent, and us. You should review a copy of the warrant agreement, which will be filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, for a complete description of the terms and conditions applicable to the warrants. The warrant agreement provides that the terms of the warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder to cure any ambiguity or correct any defective provision, but requires the approval by the holders of at least 50% of the then outstanding public warrants to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders of public warrants.
The warrant holders do not have the rights or privileges of holders of Class A common stock and any voting rights until they exercise their warrants and receive shares of Class A common stock. After the issuance of shares of Class A common stock upon exercise of the warrants, each holder will be entitled to one (1) vote for each share held of record on all matters to be voted on by holders of Class A common stock.
No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of the warrants. If, upon exercise of the warrants, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, we will, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number of shares of Class A common stock to be issued to the warrant holder.
We have agreed that, subject to applicable law, any action, proceeding or claim against us arising out of or relating in any way to the warrant agreement will be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and we irrevocably submit to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction will be the exclusive forum for any such action, proceeding or claim.
See “Risk Factors—Risk Relating to our Securities—Our warrant agreement will designate the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by holders of our warrants, which could limit the ability of warrant holders to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with our company.” This provision applies to claims under the Securities Act but does not apply to claims under the Exchange Act or any claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are the sole and exclusive forum.
Private Placement Warrants
The private placement warrants (including the Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the private placement warrants) will not be transferable, assignable or salable until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination (except, among limited exceptions as described under the section of this prospectus entitled “Principal Stockholders—Restrictions on Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Warrants” to our officers and directors and other persons or entities affiliated with our sponsor) and they will not be redeemable by us (except as described below under “Description of Securities—Redeemable Warrants—Public Stockholders’ Warrants—Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00”) so long as they are held by our sponsor or its permitted transferees. Our sponsor, or its permitted transferees, has the option to exercise the private placement warrants on a cashless basis. Except as described below, the private placement warrants have terms and provisions that are identical to those of the warrants being sold as part of the units in this offering, including as to exercise price, exercisability and exercise period. If the private placement warrants are held by holders other than the sponsor or its permitted transferees, the private placement warrants will be redeemable by us and exercisable by the holders on the same basis as the warrants included in the units being sold in this offering.
Except as described above under “—Public Stockholders’ Warrants-Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00,” if holders of the private placement warrants elect to exercise them on a cashless basis, they would pay the exercise price by surrendering the
warrants for that number of shares of Class A common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Class A common stock underlying the warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “fair market value” of our Class A common stock over the exercise price of the warrants by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” shall mean the average last reported sale price of the Class A common stock for the ten trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of exercise is received by the warrant agent or on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of warrants, as applicable. The reason that we have agreed that these warrants will be exercisable on a cashless basis so long as they are held by the sponsor or its permitted transferees is because it is not known at this time whether they will be affiliated with us following an initial business combination. If they remain affiliated with us, their ability to sell our securities in the open market will be significantly limited. We expect to have policies in place that prohibit insiders from selling our securities except during specific periods of time. Even during such periods of time when insiders will be permitted to sell our securities, an insider cannot trade in our securities if he or she is in possession of material non-public information. Accordingly, unlike public stockholders who could sell the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants freely in the open market, the insiders could be significantly restricted from doing so. As a result, we believe that allowing the holders to exercise such warrants on a cashless basis is appropriate.
In order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of our officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. Up to $2,000,000 of such loans may be convertible into warrants at a price of $1.50 per warrant at the option of the lender. Such warrants would be identical to the private placement warrants, including as to exercise price, exercisability and exercise period. Except for the foregoing, the terms of such working capital loans, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans.
Our sponsor has agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the private placement warrants (including the Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of any of these warrants) until the date that is 30 days after the date we complete our initial business combination, except that, among other limited exceptions as described under the section of this prospectus entitled “Principal Stockholders—Restrictions on Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Placement Warrants” made to our officers and directors and other persons or entities affiliated with our sponsor.
Dividends
We have not paid any cash dividends on our common stock to date and do not intend to pay cash dividends prior to the completion of an initial business combination. The payment of cash dividends in the future will be dependent upon our revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements and general financial conditions subsequent to completion of an initial business combination. The payment of any cash dividends subsequent to an initial business combination will be within the discretion of our board of directors at such time. If we incur any indebtedness, our ability to declare dividends may be limited by restrictive covenants we may agree to in connection therewith.
Our Transfer Agent and Warrant Agent
The transfer agent for our common stock and warrant agent for our warrants is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company. We have agreed to indemnify Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company in its roles as transfer agent and warrant agent, its agents and each of its stockholders, directors, officers and employees against all claims and losses that may arise out of acts performed or omitted for its activities in that capacity, except for any liability due to any gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of the indemnified person or entity.
Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will contain certain requirements and restrictions relating to this offering that will apply to us until the completion of our initial business combination. These provisions cannot be amended without the approval of the holders of 65% of our common stock. Our initial stockholders, who will collectively beneficially own founder shares on an as-converted basis representing 20% of our Class A common stock upon the closing of this offering, will participate in any vote to amend
our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and will have the discretion to vote in any manner they choose. Specifically, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides, among other things, that:
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If we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or during any Extension Period, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem 100% of the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law;
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Prior to or in connection with our initial business combination, we may not issue additional shares of capital stock that would entitle the holders thereof to (i) receive funds from the trust account or (ii) vote on our initial business combination;
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Although we do not intend to enter into an initial business combination with a target business that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers or directors, we are not prohibited from doing so. In the event we enter into such a transaction, we, or a committee of independent directors, will, to the extent required by applicable law or based upon the direction of our board of directors or a committee thereof, obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another entity that commonly renders valuation opinions that such an initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view;
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If a stockholder vote on our initial business combination is not required by law and we do not decide to hold a stockholder vote for business or other reasons, we will offer to redeem our public shares pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act, and will file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing our initial business combination which contain substantially the same financial and other information about our initial business combination and the redemption rights as is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act; whether or not we maintain our registration under the our Exchange Act or our listing on Nasdaq, we will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares by one of the two methods listed above;
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Our initial business combination will be approved by a majority of our independent directors;
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Our initial business combination must occur with one or more businesses that together have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the net assets held in the trust account (excluding the deferred underwriting fees and taxes payable) at the time of our signing a definitive agreement in connection with our initial business combination;
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If our stockholders approve an amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation (i) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our initial business combination or to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or (ii) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity, we will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their shares of Class A common stock upon such approval at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares; and
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We will not effectuate our initial business combination with another blank check company or a similar company with nominal operations.
In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that under no circumstances will we redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 upon consummation of our initial business combination and after payment of deferred underwriting commissions.
Certain Anti-Takeover Provisions of Delaware Law and our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that we will not be subject to Section 203 of the DGCL. However, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains similar provisions providing that we may not engage in certain “business combinations” with any “interested stockholder” for a three-year period following the time that the stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:
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prior to such time, our board of directors approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder;
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upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of our voting stock outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding certain shares; or
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at or subsequent to that time, the business combination is approved by our board of directors and by the affirmative vote of holders of at least 662∕3% of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder.
Generally, a “business combination” includes a merger, asset or stock sale or certain other transactions resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. Subject to certain exceptions, an “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with that person’s affiliates and associates, owns, or within the previous three years owned, 15% or more of our voting stock.
Under certain circumstances, this provision will make it more difficult for a person who would be an “interested stockholder” to effect various business combinations with a corporation for a three-year period. This provision may encourage companies interested in acquiring our company to negotiate in advance with our board of directors because the stockholder approval requirement would be avoided if our board of directors approves either the business combination or the transaction which results in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder. These provisions also may have the effect of preventing changes in our board of directors and may make it more difficult to accomplish transactions which stockholders may otherwise deem to be in their best interests.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that the sponsor, its members and its other affiliates, any of its direct or indirect transferees who hold at least 15% of our outstanding common stock after such transfer and any group as to which such persons are party to, do not constitute “interested stockholders” for purposes of this provision.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that our board of directors will be classified into two classes of directors. As a result, in most circumstances, a person can gain control of our board only by successfully engaging in a proxy contest at two or more annual meetings.
Our authorized but unissued common stock and preferred stock will be available for future issuances without stockholder approval and could be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future offerings to raise additional capital, acquisitions and employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued and unreserved common stock and preferred stock could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.
Exclusive forum for certain lawsuits
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will requires, to the fullest extent permitted by law, that derivative actions brought in our name, actions against directors, officers and employees for breach of fiduciary duty and other similar actions may be brought only in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware, except any action (A) as to which the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware determines that
there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten days following such determination), (B) which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery, (C) for which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction, or (D) any action created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. If an action is brought outside of Delaware, the stockholder bringing the suit will be deemed to have consented to service of process on such stockholder’s counsel. Unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States shall be the exclusive forum for any action arising under the Securities Act. Although we believe this provision will benefit us by providing increased consistency in the application of Delaware law in the types of lawsuits to which it applies, a court may determine that this provision is unenforceable, and to the extent it is enforceable, the provision may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors and officers, although our stockholders will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.
Special meeting of stockholders
Our bylaws provide that special meetings of our stockholders may be called only by a majority vote of our board of directors or by either our Chief Executive Officer or our Chairman.
Advance notice requirements for stockholder proposals and director nominations
Our bylaws provide for advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals and the nomination of candidates for election as directors, other than nominations made by or at the direction of our board of directors or a committee of our board of directors. In order for any matter to be “properly brought” before a meeting, a stockholder will have to comply with advance notice requirements and provide us with certain information. Generally, to be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be received at our principal executive offices not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders. Our bylaws will also specify requirements as to the form and content of a stockholder’s notice. Our bylaws will allow the chairman of the meeting at a meeting of the stockholders to adopt rules and regulations for the conduct of meetings, which may have the effect of precluding the conduct of certain business at a meeting if the rules and regulations are not followed. These provisions may also defer, delay or discourage a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirer’s own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to influence or obtain control of us.
Action by written consent
Subsequent to the consummation of the offering, any action required or permitted to be taken by our common stockholders must be effected by a duly called annual or special meeting of such stockholders and may not be effected by written consent of the stockholders other than with respect to our Class B common stock.
Classified Board of Directors
Our board of directors will initially be divided into two classes, with members of each class serving staggered two-year terms. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that the authorized number of directors may be changed only by resolution of the board of directors. Subject to the terms of any preferred stock, any or all of the directors may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class. Any vacancy on our board of directors, including a vacancy resulting from an enlargement of our board of directors, may be filled only by vote of a majority of our directors then in office.
Class B common stock consent right
For so long as any shares of Class B common stock remain outstanding, we may not, without the prior vote or written consent of the holders of a majority of the shares of Class B common stock then outstanding, voting separately as a single class, amend, alter or repeal any provision of our amended and restated
certificate of incorporation, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, if such amendment, alteration or repeal would alter or change the powers, preferences or relative, participating, optional or other or special rights of the Class B common stock. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the holders of Class B common stock may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of the outstanding Class B common stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares of Class B common stock were present and voted.
Securities Eligible for Future Sale
Immediately after the consummation of this offering (assuming no exercise of the underwriter’s over-allotment option), we will have 31,250,000 (or 35,937,500 if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) shares of common stock outstanding.
Of these shares, the 25,000,000 shares (or 28,750,000 shares if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) sold in this offering will be freely tradable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act, except for any shares purchased by one of our affiliates within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act.
All of the remaining 6,250,000 shares (or 7,187,500 shares if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) and all 5,000,000 private placement warrants (or 5,500,000 if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) are restricted securities under Rule 144, in that they were issued in private transactions not involving a public offering, and the shares of Class B common stock, Class A common stock issued upon conversion of the Class B common stock and upon exercise of the private placement warrants are subject to transfer restrictions as set forth elsewhere in this prospectus. These restricted securities will be entitled to registration rights as more fully described below under “—Registration and Stockholder Rights.”
Rule 144
Pursuant to Rule 144, a person who has beneficially owned restricted shares of our common stock or warrants for at least six months would be entitled to sell their securities provided that (i) such person is not deemed to have been one of our affiliates at the time of, or at any time during the three months preceding, a sale and (ii) we are subject to the Exchange Act periodic reporting requirements for at least three months before the sale and have filed all required reports under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the 12 months (or such shorter period as we were required to file reports) preceding the sale.
Persons who have beneficially owned restricted shares of our common stock or warrants for at least six months but who are our affiliates at the time of, or at any time during the three months preceding, a sale, would be subject to additional restrictions, by which such person would be entitled to sell within any three-month period only a number of securities that does not exceed the greater of:
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1% of the total number of shares of Class A common stock then outstanding, which will equal 250,000 shares immediately after this offering (or 287,500 if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full); or
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the average weekly reported trading volume of the Class A common stock during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a notice on Form 144 with respect to the sale.
Sales by our affiliates under Rule 144 are also limited by manner of sale provisions and notice requirements and to the availability of current public information about us.
Restrictions on the Use of Rule 144 by Shell Companies or Former Shell Companies
Rule 144 is not available for the resale of securities initially issued by shell companies (other than business combination related shell companies) or issuers that have been at any time previously a shell company. However, Rule 144 also includes an important exception to this prohibition if the following conditions are met:
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the issuer of the securities that was formerly a shell company has ceased to be a shell company;
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the issuer of the securities is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act;
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the issuer of the securities has filed all Exchange Act reports and materials required to be filed, as applicable, during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the issuer was required to file such reports and materials), other than Current Reports on Form 8-K; and
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at least one year has elapsed from the time that the issuer filed current Form 10 type information with the SEC reflecting its status as an entity that is not a shell company.
As a result, our initial stockholders will be able to sell their founder shares and private placement warrants, as applicable, pursuant to Rule 144 without registration one year after we have completed our initial business combination.
Registration and Stockholder Rights
Our sponsor will have rights to require us to register any of our securities held by them for resale under the Securities Act pursuant to a registration and stockholder rights agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of this offering. These holders will be entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form registration demands, that we register such securities for sale under the Securities Act. In addition, the holders of the founder shares, private placement warrants and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans (and any shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of the private placement warrants and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans and upon conversion of the founder shares) will have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to our completion of our initial business combination and rights to require us to register for resale such securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
In addition, pursuant to the registration and stockholder rights agreement, our sponsor, upon consummation of an initial business combination, will be entitled to nominate three individuals for election to our board of directors.
Listing of Securities
We have applied to list our units, Class A common stock and warrants on Nasdaq under the symbols “DTOCU,” “DTOC” and “DTOCW,” respectively. We expect that our units will begin trading on Nasdaq on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. Following the date the shares of our Class A common stock and warrants are eligible to trade separately, we anticipate that the shares of our Class A common stock and warrants will be listed separately and as a unit on Nasdaq. We cannot guarantee that our securities will be approved for listing on Nasdaq.
U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following discussion is a summary of certain material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our units, shares of Class A common stock and warrants, which we refer to collectively as our securities. Because the components of a unit are separable at the option of the holder, the holder of a unit generally should be treated, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as the owner of the underlying Class A common stock and one-fourth of one redeemable warrant components of the unit, as the case may be. As a result, the discussion below with respect to actual holders of Class A common stock and warrants should also apply to holders of units (as the deemed owners of the underlying Class A common stock and warrants that comprise the units). This discussion applies only to securities that are held as capital assets (generally, property held for investment) for U.S. federal income tax purposes and only to holders who purchase units in this offering.
This discussion is a summary only and does not describe all of the tax consequences that may be relevant to you in light of your particular circumstances, including but not limited to the alternative minimum tax, the Medicare tax on certain investment income and the different consequences that may apply if you are subject to special rules that apply to certain types of investors, including but not limited to:
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our sponsor, founders, officers or directors;
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financial institutions or financial services entities;
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broker-dealers;
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governments or agencies or instrumentalities thereof;
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regulated investment companies;
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S corporations;
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real estate investment trusts;
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expatriates or former long-term residents of the United States;
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persons that actually or constructively own five percent or more of our voting shares;
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insurance companies;
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dealers or traders subject to a mark-to-market method of accounting with respect to the securities;
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accrual-method taxpayers who are required under Section 451(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) to recognize income for U.S. federal income tax purposes no later than when such income is taken into account in applicable financial statements;
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persons holding the securities as part of a “straddle,” hedge, integrated transaction or similar transaction;
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U.S. holders (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar;
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partnerships or other pass-through entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes and any beneficial owners of such entities; and
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tax-exempt entities.
If a partnership (including an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) or other pass-through entity holds our units, shares of Class A common stock or warrants, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner in such partnership or equityholder in such pass-through entity generally will depend upon the status of the partner or equityholder, upon the activities of the partnership or other pass-through entity and upon certain determinations made at the partner or equityholder level. Accordingly, we urge partners in partnerships (including entities or arrangements treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes) and equityholders in other pass-through entities considering the purchase of our securities to consult their tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax considerations of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our securities by such partnership or pass-through entity.
This discussion is based on the Code, administrative pronouncements, judicial decisions and final, temporary and proposed Treasury regulations as of the date hereof, all of which are subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis, and changes to any of which subsequent to the date of this prospectus may affect the tax consequences described herein. This discussion does not address any aspect of state, local or non-U.S. taxation, or any U.S. federal taxes other than income taxes (such as gift and estate taxes).
We have not sought, and will not seek, a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) as to any U.S. federal income tax consequence described herein. The IRS may disagree with the discussion herein, and its determination may be upheld by a court. Moreover, there can be no assurance that future legislation, regulations, administrative rulings or court decisions will not adversely affect the accuracy of the statements in this discussion. You are urged to consult your tax advisor with respect to the application of U.S. federal tax laws to your particular situation, as well as any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or foreign jurisdiction.
Personal Holding Company Status
We could be subject to a second level of U.S. federal income tax on a portion of our income if we are determined to be a personal holding company, or PHC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A U.S. corporation generally will be classified as a PHC for U.S. federal income tax purposes in a given taxable year if (i) at any time during the last half of such taxable year, five or fewer individuals (without regard to their citizenship or residency and including as individuals for this purpose certain entities such as certain tax-exempt organizations, pension funds and charitable trusts) own or are deemed to own (pursuant to certain constructive ownership rules) more than fifty percent of the stock of the corporation by value and (ii) at least sixty percent of the corporation’s adjusted ordinary gross income, as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes, for such taxable year consists of PHC income (which includes, among other things, dividends, interest, certain royalties, annuities and, under certain circumstances, rents).
This test applies on a year-by-year basis. Depending on the date and size of our initial business combination, it is possible that at least sixty percent of our adjusted ordinary gross income may consist of PHC income. In addition, depending on the concentration of our stock in the hands of individuals, including the members of our sponsor and certain tax-exempt organizations, pension funds and charitable trusts, it is possible that more than fifty percent of our stock may be owned or deemed owned (pursuant to the constructive ownership rules) by five or fewer such persons during the last half of a taxable year. Thus, no assurance can be given that we will not be a PHC following this offering or in the future. If we are or were to become a PHC in a given taxable year, we would be subject to an additional PHC tax, currently twenty percent, on our undistributed PHC income, if any, for such taxable year, which generally includes our taxable income, subject to certain adjustments.
Allocation of Purchase Price and Characterization of a Unit
No statutory, administrative or judicial authority directly addresses the treatment of a unit or instruments similar to a unit for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, therefore, that treatment is not entirely clear. The acquisition of a unit should be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as the acquisition of one share of our Class A common stock and one-fourth of one redeemable warrant to acquire one share of our Class A common stock. We intend to treat the acquisition of a unit in this manner and, by purchasing a unit, you agree to adopt such treatment for tax purposes. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, each holder of a unit must allocate the purchase price paid by such holder for such unit between the one share of Class A common stock and the one-fourth of one redeemable warrant based on the relative fair market value of each at the time of issuance. Under U.S. federal income tax law, each investor must make his or her own determination of such value based on all the relevant facts and circumstances. Therefore, we strongly urge each investor to consult his or her tax advisor regarding the determination of value for these purposes. The price allocated to each share of Class A common stock and the one-fourth of one redeemable warrant should be the holder’s tax basis in such share or one-fourth of one redeemable warrant, as the case may be. Any disposition of a unit should be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a disposition of the share of Class A common stock and one-fourth of one redeemable warrant comprising the unit, and the amount realized on the disposition should be allocated between the Class A common stock and the one-fourth of one redeemable warrant based on their respective relative fair market values (as determined
by each such unit holder on all the relevant facts and circumstances) at the time of disposition. The separation of shares of Class A common stock and warrants constituting units should not be a taxable event for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
The foregoing treatment of the units and a holder’s purchase price allocation are not binding on the IRS or the courts. Because there are no authorities that directly address instruments that are similar to the units, no assurance can be given that the IRS or the courts will agree with the characterization described above or the discussion below. Accordingly, each prospective investor is urged to consult its own tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of an investment in a unit (including alternative characterizations of a unit and its components). The balance of this discussion assumes that the characterization of the units described above is respected for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
U.S. Holders
This section applies to you if you are a “U.S. holder.” A U.S. holder is a beneficial owner of our units, shares of Class A common stock or warrants who or that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
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an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;
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a corporation (or other entity taxable as a corporation) organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;
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an estate the income of which is includible in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes regardless of its source; or
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a trust, if (i) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more United States persons (as defined in the Code) have authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (ii) it has a valid election in effect under Treasury regulations to be treated as a United States person.
Taxation of Distributions. If we pay distributions in cash or other property (other than certain distributions of our stock or rights to acquire our stock) to U.S. holders of shares of our Class A common stock, such distributions generally will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits will constitute a return of capital that will be applied against and reduce (but not below zero) the U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in our Class A common stock. Any remaining excess will be treated as gain realized on the sale or other disposition of the Class A common stock and will be treated as described under “U.S. Holders—Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Common Stock and Warrants” below.
Dividends we pay to a U.S. holder that is a taxable corporation generally will qualify for the dividends received deduction if the requisite holding period is satisfied. With certain exceptions (including dividends treated as investment income for purposes of investment interest deduction limitations), and provided certain holding period requirements are met, dividends we pay to a non-corporate U.S. holder generally will constitute ‘‘qualified dividends’’ that will be subject to tax at the preferential tax rate accorded to long-term capital gains. It is unclear whether the redemption rights with respect to the Class A common stock described in this prospectus may prevent a U.S. holder from satisfying the applicable holding period requirements with respect to the dividends received deduction or the preferential tax rate on qualified dividend income, as the case may be.
Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Common Stock and Warrants. Upon a sale, taxable exchange or other taxable disposition of our Class A common stock or warrants which, in general, would include a redemption of Class A common stock or warrants that is treated as a sale of such securities as described below, and including as a result of a dissolution and liquidation in the event we do not consummate an initial business combination within the required time period, a U.S. holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized and the U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in the Class A common stock or warrants. Any such capital gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. holder’s holding period for the Class A common stock or warrants so disposed of exceeds one year. It is unclear, however, whether the
redemption rights with respect to the Class A common stock described in this prospectus may suspend the running of the applicable holding period for this purpose. If the running of the holding period for the Class A common stock is suspended, then non-corporate U.S. holders may not be able to satisfy the one-year holding period requirement for long-term capital gain treatment, in which case any gain on a sale or taxable disposition of the shares or warrants would be subject to short-term capital gain treatment and would be taxed at regular ordinary income tax rates. Long-term capital gains recognized by non-corporate U.S. holders will be eligible to be taxed at reduced rates. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.
Generally, the amount of gain or loss recognized by a U.S. holder is an amount equal to the difference between (i) the sum of the amount of cash and the fair market value of any property received in such disposition (or, if the Class A common stock or warrants are held as part of units at the time of the disposition, the portion of the amount realized on such disposition that is allocated to the Class A common stock or the warrants based upon the then fair market values of the Class A common stock and the warrants included in the units) and (ii) the U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in its Class A common stock or warrants transferred in such disposition. A U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in its Class A common stock or warrants generally will equal the U.S. holder’s acquisition cost (that is, as discussed above, the portion of the purchase price of a unit allocated to a share of Class A common stock or one-fourth of one warrant or, as discussed below, the U.S. holder’s initial basis for Class A common stock received upon exercise of warrants) less, in the case of a share of Class A common stock, any prior distributions treated as a return of capital.
Redemption of Class A Common Stock. In the event that a U.S. holder’s Class A common stock is redeemed pursuant to the redemption provisions described in this prospectus under the section of this prospectus entitled “Description of Securities—Common Stock” or if we purchase a U.S. holder’s Class A common stock in an open market transaction (each of which we refer to as a “redemption”), the treatment of the transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes will depend on whether the redemption qualifies as a sale of the Class A common stock under Section 302 of the Code. If the redemption qualifies as a sale of common stock under the tests described below, the U.S. holder will be treated as described under “U.S. Holders—Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Common Stock and Warrants” above. If the redemption does not qualify as a sale of common stock, the U.S. holder will be treated as receiving a corporate distribution with the tax consequences described above under “U.S. Holders—Taxation of Distributions.” Whether a redemption qualifies for sale treatment will depend largely on the total number of shares of our stock treated as held by the U.S. holder (including any stock constructively owned by the U.S. holder as a result of owning warrants) relative to all of our shares outstanding both before and after the redemption. The redemption of Class A common stock generally will be treated as a sale of the Class A common stock (rather than as a corporate distribution) if the redemption (i) is “substantially disproportionate” with respect to the U.S. holder, (ii) results in a “complete termination” of the U.S. holder’s interest in us or (iii) is “not essentially equivalent to a dividend” with respect to the U.S. holder. These tests are explained more fully below.
In determining whether any of the foregoing tests are satisfied, a U.S. holder takes into account not only stock actually owned by the U.S. holder, but also shares of our stock that are constructively owned by it. A U.S. holder may constructively own, in addition to stock owned directly, stock owned by certain related individuals and entities in which the U.S. holder has an interest or that have an interest in such U.S. holder, as well as any stock the U.S. holder has a right to acquire by exercise of an option, which would generally include Class A common stock which could be acquired pursuant to the exercise of the warrants. In order to meet the substantially disproportionate test, the percentage of our outstanding voting stock actually and constructively owned by the U.S. holder immediately following the redemption of Class A common stock must, among other requirements, be less than eighty percent of the percentage of our outstanding voting stock actually and constructively owned by the U.S. holder immediately before the redemption. There will be a complete termination of a U.S. holder’s interest if either (i) all of the shares of our stock actually and constructively owned by the U.S. holder are redeemed or (ii) all of the shares of our stock actually owned by the U.S. holder are redeemed and the U.S. holder is eligible to waive, and effectively waives in accordance with specific rules, the attribution of stock owned by certain family members and the U.S. holder does not constructively own any other shares of our stock (including any stock constructively owned by the U.S. holder as a result of owning warrants). The redemption of the Class A common stock will not be essentially equivalent to a dividend if the redemption results in a “meaningful reduction” of the U.S. holder’s
proportionate interest in us. Whether the redemption will result in a meaningful reduction in a U.S. holder’s proportionate interest in us will depend on the particular facts and circumstances. However, the IRS has indicated in a published ruling that even a small reduction in the proportionate interest of a small minority stockholder in a publicly held corporation who exercises no control over corporate affairs may constitute such a “meaningful reduction.” A U.S. holder should consult with its own tax advisors as to the tax consequences of a redemption.
If none of the foregoing tests is satisfied, then the redemption will be treated as a corporate distribution and the tax effects will be as described under “U.S. Holders—Taxation of Distributions,” above. After the application of those rules, any remaining tax basis of the U.S. holder in the redeemed Class A common stock will be added to the U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in its remaining stock, or, if it has none, to the U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in its warrants or possibly in other stock constructively owned by it.
Exercise, Lapse or Redemption of a Warrant. Except as discussed below with respect to the cashless exercise of a warrant, a U.S. holder will not recognize taxable gain or loss as a result of the acquisition of common stock upon exercise of a warrant for cash. The U.S. holder’s tax basis in the share of our Class A common stock received upon exercise of the warrant generally will be an amount equal to the sum of the U.S. holder’s initial investment in the warrant (i.e., the portion of the U.S. holder’s purchase price for a unit that is allocated to the warrant, as described above under “— Allocation of Purchase Price and Characterization of a Unit”) and the exercise price of such warrant. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, it is unclear whether the U.S. holder’s holding period for the Class A common stock received upon exercise of the warrants will begin on the date following the date of exercise or on the date of exercise of the warrants; in either case, the holding period will not include the period during which the U.S. holder held the warrants. If a warrant is allowed to lapse unexercised, a U.S. holder generally will recognize a capital loss equal to such holder’s tax basis in the warrant.
The tax consequences of a cashless exercise of a warrant are not clear under current tax law. A cashless exercise may be tax-free, either because the exercise is not a realization event or because the exercise is treated as a recapitalization for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In either tax-free situation, a U.S. holder’s tax basis in the Class A common stock received would equal the holder’s tax basis in the warrants exercised therefor. If the cashless exercise were treated as not being a realization event, it is unclear whether a U.S. holder’s holding period in the Class A common stock would be treated as commencing on the date following the date of exercise or on the date of exercise of the warrant. If the cashless exercise were treated as a recapitalization, the holding period of the Class A common stock would include the holding period of the warrants exercised therefor.
It is also possible that a cashless exercise could be treated in whole or in part as a taxable exchange in which gain or loss would be recognized. In such event, a portion of the warrants to be exercised on a cashless basis could, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, be deemed to have been surrendered in consideration for the exercise price of the remaining warrants, which would be deemed to be exercised at the exercise price. For this purpose, a U.S. holder would be deemed to have surrendered a number of warrants having an aggregate value (as measured by the excess of the fair market value of our Class A common stock over the exercise price of the warrants) equal to the aggregate exercise price for the number of warrants deemed exercised. The U.S. holder would recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the aggregate value of the warrants deemed surrendered and the U.S. holder’s tax basis in such warrants. In this case, a U.S. holder’s tax basis in the Class A common stock received would equal the sum of the U.S. holder’s initial investment in the warrants deemed exercised (i.e., the portion of the U.S. holder’s purchase price for a unit that is allocated to the warrant, as described above under “— Allocation of Purchase Price and Characterization of a Unit”) and the exercise price of such warrants. It is unclear whether a U.S. holder’s holding period for the Class A common stock would commence on the date following the date of exercise or on the date of exercise of the warrant; in either case, the holding period would not include the period during which the U.S. holder held the warrant.
Due to the absence of authority on the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a cashless exercise, including when a U.S. holder’s holding period would commence with respect to the Class A common stock received, there can be no assurance as to which, if any, of the alternative tax consequences and holding periods described above would be adopted by the IRS or a court of law. Accordingly, U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of a cashless exercise.
If we redeem warrants for cash pursuant to the redemption provisions described in the section of this prospectus entitled “Description of Securities—Redeemable Warrants—Public Stockholders’ Warrants” or if we purchase warrants in an open market transaction, such redemption or purchase generally will be treated as a taxable disposition to the U.S. holder, taxed as described above under “— Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Common Stock and Warrants.”
If we give notice of an intention to redeem warrants for $0.10 as described in the section of this prospectus entitled “Description of Securities—Redeemable Warrants—Public Stockholders’ Warrants—Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $10.00,” and a U.S. holder exercises its warrant on a cashless basis and receives the amount of Class A common stock as determined by reference to the table set forth thereunder, we intend to treat such exercise as a redemption of warrants for Class A common stock for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Such redemption should be treated as a “recapitalization” within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(E) of the Code.
Accordingly, a U.S. holder should not recognize any gain or loss on the redemption of warrants for shares of Class A common stock. A U.S. holder’s aggregate tax basis in the shares of Class A common stock received in the redemption generally should equal the U.S. holder’s aggregate tax basis in the warrants redeemed and the holding period for the shares of Class A common stock received should include the U.S. holder’s holding period for the surrendered warrants. However, there is some uncertainty regarding this tax treatment and it is possible such a redemption could be treated in part as a taxable exchange in which gain or loss would be recognized in a manner similar to that discussed above for a cashless exercise of warrants or otherwise characterized. Accordingly, a U.S. holder is urged to consult its tax advisor regarding the tax consequences of a redemption of warrants for shares of Class A common stock.
Possible Constructive Distributions. The terms of each warrant provide for an adjustment to the number of shares of Class A common stock for which the warrant may be exercised or to the exercise price of the warrant in certain events (including if we issue additional shares of common stock or equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of our initial business combination at a Newly Issued Price of less than $9.20 per share), as discussed in the section of this prospectus entitled “Description of Securities—Redeemable Warrants—Public Stockholders’ Warrants.” An adjustment which has the effect of preventing dilution generally is not taxable. The U.S. holders of the warrants would, however, be treated as receiving a constructive distribution from us if, for example, the adjustment to the number of such shares or to such exercise price increases the warrant holders’ proportionate interest in our assets or earnings and profits (e.g., through an increase in the number of shares of Class A common stock that would be obtained upon exercise or through a decrease in the exercise price of the warrant) as a result of a distribution of cash or other property, such as other securities, to the holders of shares of our Class A common stock, or as a result of the issuance of a stock dividend to holders of shares of our Class A common stock, in each case which is taxable to the U.S. holders of such shares as a distribution. Such constructive distribution would be subject to tax in the same manner as if the U.S. holders of the warrants received a cash distribution from us equal to the fair market value of such increased interest resulting from the adjustment. Generally, a U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in its warrant would be increased to the extent any such constructive distribution is treated as a dividend.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding. In general, information reporting requirements may apply to dividends paid to a U.S. holder and to the proceeds of the sale or other disposition of our units, shares of Class A common stock and warrants, unless the U.S. holder is an exempt recipient. Backup withholding may apply to such payments if the U.S. holder fails to provide a taxpayer identification number or a certification of exempt status or has been notified by the IRS that it is subject to backup withholding (and such notification has not been withdrawn).
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against a U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
All U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of information reporting and backup withholding to them.
Non-U.S. Holders
This section applies to you if you are a “Non-U.S. holder.” As used herein, the term “Non-U.S. holder” means a beneficial owner of our units, Class A common stock or warrants who or that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
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a non-resident alien individual;
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a foreign corporation; or
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an estate or trust that is not a U.S. holder;
but generally does not include an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of disposition. If you are such an individual, you should consult your tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership or sale or other disposition of our securities.
Taxation of Distributions. In general, any distributions (including constructive distributions) we make to a Non-U.S. holder of shares of our Class A common stock, to the extent paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles), will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, provided such dividends are not effectively connected with the Non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States, (or, if any income tax treaty applies, are not attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment or fixed-base maintained by the Non-U.S. holder), we (or another applicable withholding agent) will be required to withhold tax from the gross amount of the dividend at a rate of thirty percent, unless such Non-U.S. holder is eligible for a reduced rate of withholding tax under an applicable income tax treaty and provides proper certification of its eligibility for such reduced rate (usually on an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E). In the case of any constructive dividend, it is possible that this tax would be withheld from any amount owed to a Non-U.S. holder by the applicable withholding agent, including cash distributions on other property or sales proceeds from warrants or other property subsequently paid or credited to such holder. Any distribution not constituting a dividend will be treated first as reducing (but not below zero) the Non-U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in its shares of our Class A common stock and, to the extent such distribution exceeds the Non-U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis, as gain realized from the sale or other disposition of the Class A common stock, which will be treated as described under “Non-U.S. Holders—Gain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Common Stock and Warrants” below. In addition, if we determine that we are classified as a “United States real property holding corporation” (see “Non-U.S. Holders—Gain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Common Stock and Warrants” below), we will withhold fifteen percent of any distribution that exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits.
Dividends we pay to a non-U.S. holder that are effectively connected with such non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if a tax treaty applies, are attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the non-U.S. holder) will generally not be subject to the thirty percent U.S. withholding tax, provided such non-U.S. holder complies with certain certification and disclosure requirements (usually by providing an IRS Form W-8ECI). Instead, such dividends will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax, net of certain deductions, at the same graduated individual or corporate rates applicable to U.S. holders. If the non-U.S. holder is a corporation, dividends that are effectively connected income may also be subject to a “branch profits tax” at a rate of thirty percent (or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty).
Gain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Common Stock and Warrants. A Non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax in respect of gain recognized on a sale, taxable exchange or other taxable disposition of our Class A common stock, which would include a dissolution and liquidation in the event we do not complete an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering or during any Extension Period, or warrants (including an expiration or redemption of our warrants), in each case without regard to whether those securities were held as part of a unit, unless:
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the gain is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business by the Non-U.S. holder within the United States (and, under certain income tax treaties, is attributable to a United States permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the Non-U.S. holder); or
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we are or have been a “United States real property holding corporation” for U.S. federal income tax purposes at any time during the shorter of the five-year period ending on the date of disposition or the period that the Non-U.S. holder held our Class A common stock, and, in the case where shares of our Class A common stock are regularly traded on an established securities market, the Non-U.S. holder has owned, directly or constructively, more than five percent of our Class A common stock at any time within the shorter of the five-year period preceding the disposition or such Non-U.S. holder’s holding period for the shares of our Class A common stock. There can be no assurance that our Class A common stock will be treated as regularly traded on an established securities market for this purpose.
Unless an applicable treaty provides otherwise, gain described in the first bullet point above will be subject to tax at generally applicable U.S. federal income tax rates as if the Non-U.S. holder were a United States resident. Any gains described in the first bullet point above of a Non-U.S. holder that is a foreign corporation may also be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” at a thirty percent rate (or lower treaty rate).
If the second bullet point above applies to a Non-U.S. holder, gain recognized by such holder on the sale, exchange or other disposition of our Class A common stock or warrants will be subject to tax at generally applicable U.S. federal income tax rates. In addition, a buyer of our Class A common stock or warrants from such holder may be required to withhold U.S. federal income tax at a rate of fifteen percent of the amount realized upon such disposition. We cannot determine whether we will be a United States real property holding corporation in the future until we complete an initial business combination. We will be classified as a United States real property holding corporation if the fair market value of our “United States real property interests” equals or exceeds fifty percent of the sum of the fair market value of our worldwide real property interests plus our other assets used or held for use in a trade or business, as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Redemption of Class A Common Stock. The characterization for U.S. federal income tax purposes of the redemption of a Non-U.S. holder’s Class A common stock generally will correspond to the U.S. federal income tax characterization of such a redemption of a U.S. holder’s Class A common stock, as described under “U.S. Holders—Redemption of Class A Common Stock” above, and the consequences of the redemption to the Non-U.S. holder will be as described above under “Non-U.S. Holders—Taxation of Distributions” and “Non-U.S. Holders—Gain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Common Stock and Warrants,” as applicable.
Exercise, Lapse or Redemption of a Warrant. The U.S. federal income tax treatment of a non-U.S. holder’s exercise of a warrant, or the lapse of a warrant held by a non-U.S. holder, or the redemption of a warrant held by a non-U.S. holder described in the section of this prospectus entitled “Description of Securities—Redeemable Warrants—Public Stockholders’ Warrants” (including if we give notice of an intention to redeem warrants for $0.10 as described in such section of this prospectus, and a non-U.S. holder exercises its warrant on a cashless basis and receives the amount of Class A common stock as determined by reference to the table set forth thereunder), generally will correspond to the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the exercise, lapse or redemption of a warrant by a U.S. holder, as described under “U.S. Holders—Exercise, Lapse or Redemption of a Warrant” above, although to the extent a cashless exercise or redemption of a warrant results in a taxable exchange, the consequences would be similar to those described below in “Non-U.S. Holders—Gain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Class A Common Stock and Warrants.”
Possible Constructive Distributions. The terms of each warrant provide for an adjustment to the number of shares of Class A common stock for which the warrant may be exercised or to the exercise price of the warrant in certain events, as discussed in the section of this prospectus entitled “Description of Securities—Redeemable Warrants—Public Stockholders’ Warrants.” An adjustment which has the effect of preventing dilution generally is not taxable. The Non-U.S. holders of the warrants would, however, be treated as receiving a constructive distribution from us if, for example, the adjustment to the number of such shares or to such exercise price increases the warrantholders’ proportionate interest in our assets or earnings and profits (e.g., through an increase in the number of shares of Class A common stock that would be obtained upon exercise or through a decrease in the exercise price of the warrant) as a result of a
distribution of cash or other property, such as other securities, to the holders of shares of our Class A common stock, or as a result of the issuance of a stock dividend to holders of shares of our Class A common stock, in each case which is taxable to the holders of such shares as a distribution. Such constructive distribution would be subject to tax in the same manner as if the Non-U.S. holders of the warrants received a cash distribution from us equal to the fair market value of such increased interest resulting from the adjustment. Generally, a Non-U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in its warrant would be increased to the extent any such constructive distribution is treated as a dividend.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding. Information returns will be filed with the IRS in connection with payments of dividends and the proceeds from a sale or other disposition of our units, shares of Class A common stock and warrants. A Non-U.S. holder may have to comply with certification procedures to establish that it is not a United States person in order to avoid information reporting and backup withholding requirements. The certification procedures required to claim a reduced rate of withholding under a treaty generally will satisfy the certification requirements necessary to avoid the backup withholding as well.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to a Non-U.S. holder will be allowed as a credit against such holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle such holder to a refund, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
All Non-U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of information reporting and backup withholding to them.
FATCA Withholding Taxes. Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code and the Treasury regulations and administrative guidance promulgated thereunder (commonly referred as the “Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act” or “FATCA”) generally impose withholding at a rate of thirty percent in certain circumstances on dividends (including constructive dividends) in respect of our securities which are held by or through certain foreign financial institutions (including investment funds), unless any such institution (1) enters into, and complies with, an agreement with the IRS to report, on an annual basis, information with respect to interests in, and accounts maintained by, the institution that are owned by certain U.S. persons and by certain non-U.S. entities that are wholly or partially owned by U.S. persons and to withhold on certain payments, or (2) if required under an intergovernmental agreement between the United States and an applicable foreign country, reports such information to its local tax authority, which will exchange such information with the U.S. authorities. An intergovernmental agreement between the United States and an applicable foreign country may modify these requirements. Accordingly, the entity through which our securities are held will affect the determination of whether such withholding is required. Similarly, dividends (including constructive dividends) in respect of our securities held by an investor that is a non-financial non-U.S. entity that does not qualify under certain exceptions will generally be subject to withholding at a rate of thirty percent, unless such entity either (1) certifies to us or the applicable withholding agent that such entity does not have any “substantial United States owners” or (2) provides certain information regarding the entity’s “substantial United States owners,” which will in turn be provided to the U.S. Department of Treasury. All prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the possible implications of FATCA on their investment in our securities.
UNDERWRITING
Subject to the terms and conditions of the underwriting agreement, the underwriter named below has agreed to purchase from us the number of units set forth opposite the underwriter’s name at a public offering price less the underwriting discounts and commissions set forth on the cover page of this prospectus.
Underwriter
|
|
|
Number of Units
|
|
Barclays Capital Inc.
|
|
|
|
|
25,000,000 |
|
|
Total units
|
|
|
|
|
25,000,000 |
|
|
Barclays Capital Inc. is the sole book-running manager of the offering. Under the terms and subject to the conditions contained in an underwriting agreement, dated , 2021, we have agreed to sell, and Barclays Capital Inc. has agreed to purchase, 25,000,000 units.
The underwriting agreement provides that the underwriter is obligated to purchase all the units included in this offering if any are purchased, other than those units covered by the over-allotment option described below.
We have granted to the underwriter a 45-day option to purchase on a pro rata basis up to 3,750,000 over-allotment units at the initial public offering price, less the underwriting discounts and commissions.
The underwriter proposes to offer the units initially at the public offering price on the cover page of this prospectus and to selling group members at that price less a selling concession of $ per unit. After the initial public offering, the underwriter may change the public offering price and concession and discount to broker/dealers. The offering of the units by the underwriter is subject to receipt and acceptance and subject to the underwriter’s right to reject any order in whole or in part.
The following table summarizes the compensation and estimated expenses we will pay. $0.35 per unit, or $8,750,000 (or $10,062,500 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full), of deferred underwriting commissions will be paid upon the completion of our initial business combination.
|
|
|
Per Unit1
|
|
|
Total1
|
|
|
|
|
Without
Over-allotment
|
|
|
With
Over-allotment
|
|
|
Without
Over-allotment
|
|
|
With
Over-allotment
|
|
Underwriting Discounts and
Commissions paid by us
|
|
|
|
$ |
0.55 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
0.55 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
13,750,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
15,812,500 |
|
|
1
Includes $0.35 per unit, or $8,750,000 (or $10,062,500 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) in the aggregate payable to the underwriter for deferred underwriting commissions to be placed in a trust account located in the United States as described herein. The deferred commissions will be released to the underwriter only on completion of an initial business combination, in an amount equal to $0.35 multiplied by the number of shares of Class A common stock sold as part of the units in this offering, as described in this prospectus.
We estimate that our non-reimbursed out-of-pocket expenses for this offering will be approximately $1,200,000, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions. We have agreed to pay for the FINRA-related fees and expenses of the underwriter’s legal counsel, not to exceed $25,000.
The underwriter has informed us that it does not intend to make sales to discretionary accounts.
We, our sponsor and our directors and officers have agreed that we will not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of Barclays Capital Inc. for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus, any units, warrants, shares of common stock or any other securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, shares of Class A common stock or enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any units, ordinary shares, warrants or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, ordinary shares owned, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise; provided, however, that we may (1) issue and sell the private
placement warrants; (2) issue and sell the additional units to cover our underwriter’s over-allotment option (if any); (3) register with the SEC pursuant to an agreement to be entered into concurrently with the issuance and sale of the securities in this offering, the resale of the private placement warrants and the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants and the shares of Class B common stock; and (4) issue securities in connection with our initial business combination. However, the foregoing shall not apply to the forfeiture by our sponsor of any shares of Class B common stock pursuant to their terms or any transfer of shares of Class B common stock to any current or future independent director of the company (as long as such current or future independent director transferee is subject to the letter agreement, filed herewith, or executes an agreement substantially identical to the letter agreement, as applicable to directors and officers at the time of such transfer; and as long as, to the extent any Section 16 reporting obligation is triggered as a result of such transfer, any related Section 16 filing includes a practical explanation as to the nature of the transfer). Barclays Capital Inc. in its sole discretion may release any of the securities subject to these lock-up agreements at any time without notice.
Pursuant to a letter agreement with us, our sponsor has agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of their founder shares until the earlier to occur of: (A) one year after the completion of our initial business combination; and (B) subsequent to our initial business combination (x) if the last reported sale price of our Class A common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 -trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after our initial business combination or (y) the date on which we complete a liquidation, merger, stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of our public stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property. Any permitted transferees would be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements of our initial stockholders with respect to any founder shares.
The private placement warrants (including the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the private placement warrants) will not be transferable, assignable or salable until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination (except with respect to permitted transferees as described herein).
We have agreed to indemnify the underwriter against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments the underwriter may be required to make because of any of those liabilities.
We have applied to list our units, Class A common stock and warrants on Nasdaq under the symbols “DTOCU”, “DTOC” and “DTOCW,” respectively. We expect that our units will be listed on Nasdaq on or promptly after the effective date of the registration statement. Additionally, the units will automatically separate into their component parts and will not be traded after completion of our initial business combination.
Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our securities. Consequently, the initial public offering price for the units was determined by negotiations between us and the underwriter.
The determination of our per unit offering price was more arbitrary than would typically be the case if we were an operating company. Among the factors considered in determining initial public offering price were the history and prospects of companies whose principal business is the acquisition of other companies, prior offerings of those companies, our management, our capital structure, and currently prevailing general conditions in equity securities markets, including current market valuations of publicly traded companies considered comparable to our company. We cannot assure you, however, that the price at which the units, Class A common stock or warrants will sell in the public market after this offering will not be lower than the initial public offering price or that an active trading market in our units, Class A common stock or warrants will develop and continue after this offering.
If we do not complete our initial business combination and subsequently liquidate, the trustee and the underwriter has agreed that (i) they will forfeit any rights or claims to their deferred underwriting discounts and commissions, including any accrued interest thereon, then in the trust account upon liquidation, and (ii) that the deferred underwriting discounts and commissions will be distributed on a pro rata basis, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes, including franchise and income taxes, to the public stockholders.
In connection with this offering, the underwriter may engage in stabilizing transactions, over-allotment transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act.
•
Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum.
•
Over-allotment involves sales by the underwriter of units in excess of the number of units the underwriter is obligated to purchase, which creates a syndicate short position. The short position may be either a covered short position or a naked short position. In a covered short position, the number of units over-allotted by the underwriter is not greater than the number of units that they may purchase in the over-allotment option. In a naked short position, the number of units involved is greater than the number of units in the over-allotment option. The underwriter may close out any covered short position by either exercising their over-allotment option and/or purchasing units in the open market.
•
Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the units in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. In determining the source of units to close out the short position, the underwriter will consider, among other things, the price of units available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase units through the over-allotment option. If the underwriter sells more units than could be covered by the over-allotment option (a naked short position), the position can only be closed out by buying units in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriter is concerned that there could be downward pressure on the price of the units in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in this offering.
•
Penalty bids permit the underwriter to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the units originally sold by the syndicate member are purchased in a stabilizing or syndicate covering transaction to cover syndicate short positions.
These stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our units or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the units. As a result, the price of our units may be higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the open market. These transactions may be effected on Nasdaq or otherwise and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.
We have granted the underwriter (i) the right to serve as a mergers and acquisition and capital markets advisor to us in connection with the initial business combination, and (ii) right of first refusal to act as a placement agent to us in connection with a private investment in public equity financing transaction in connection with the initial business combination. Otherwise, we are not under any contractual obligation to engage the underwriter to provide any services for us after this offering, and have no present intent to do so. However, the underwriter may introduce us to potential target businesses or assist us in raising additional capital in the future, including by acting as a placement agent in a private offering or underwriting or arranging debt financing. If the underwriter provides services to us after this offering, we may pay the underwriter fair and reasonable fees that would be determined at that time in an arm’s length negotiation; provided that no agreement will be entered into with the underwriter and no fees for such services will be paid to the underwriter prior to the date that is 60 days from the date of this prospectus, unless such payment would not be deemed underwriting compensation in connection with this offering. We may pay the underwriter of this offering or any entity with which they are affiliated a finder’s fee or other compensation for services rendered to us in connection with the completion of a business combination. Any fees we may pay the underwriter or its affiliates for services rendered to us after this offering may be contingent on the completion of a business combination and may include non-cash compensation. The underwriter or its affiliates that provide these services to us may have a potential conflict of interest given that the underwriter is entitled to the deferred portion of its underwriting compensation for this offering only if an initial business combination is completed within the specified timeframe. Neither we nor the underwriter make any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of our units. The underwriter is not obligated to engage in these activities and, if commenced, any of the activities may be discontinued at any time.
The underwriter may also engage in passive market making transactions in our units on Nasdaq in accordance with Rule 103 of Regulation M during a period before the commencement of offers or sales of our units in this offering and extending through the completion of distribution. A passive market maker must display its bid at a price not in excess of the highest independent bid of that security. However, if all independent bids are lowered below the passive market maker’s bid, that bid must then be lowered when specified purchase limits are exceeded.
The underwriter and its affiliates have engaged in, and may in the future engage in, investment banking and other commercial dealings in the ordinary course of business with us or our affiliates. They have received, or may in the future receive, customary fees and commissions for these transactions.
In addition, in the ordinary course of their business activities, the underwriter and its affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers. Such investments and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of ours or our affiliates. The underwriter and its affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.
A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the websites maintained by the underwriter, or selling group members, if any, participating in this offering and the underwriter participating in this offering may distribute prospectuses electronically. The underwriter may agree to allocate a number of units to underwriter and selling group members for sale to their online brokerage account holders. Internet distributions will be allocated by the underwriter and selling group members that will make internet distributions on the same basis as other allocations.
The units are offered for sale in the United States, Europe, Asia and other jurisdictions where it is lawful to make such offers.
The underwriter has represented and agreed that it has not offered, sold or delivered and will not offer, sell or deliver any of the units directly or indirectly, or distribute this prospectus or any other offering material relating to the units, in or from any jurisdiction except under circumstances that will result in compliance with the applicable laws and regulations thereof and that will not impose any obligations on us except as set forth in the underwriting agreement.
Notice to Prospective Investors in Canada
The units may be sold in Canada only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the units must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.
Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.
Pursuant to section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105), the underwriter is not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.
Notice to Prospective Investors in the European Economic Area
In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area (each a “Relevant State”), no units have been offered or will be offered pursuant to this offering to the public in that Relevant State prior to the
publication of a prospectus in relation to the units which has been approved by the competent authority in that Relevant State or, where appropriate, approved in another Relevant State and notified to the competent authority in that Relevant State, all in accordance with the Prospectus Regulation, except that offers of units may be made to the public in that Relevant State at any time under the following exemptions under the Prospectus Regulation:
•
to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined under the Prospectus Regulation;
•
to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined under the Prospectus Regulation), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the underwriter for any such offer; or
•
in any other circumstances falling within Article 1(4) of the Prospectus Regulation,
provided that no such offer of units shall require the issuer or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Regulation or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the Prospectus Regulation.
For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer to the public” in relation to any units in any Relevant State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any units to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for any units, and the expression “Prospectus Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.
Notice to Residents of Hong Kong
The units may not be offered or sold in Hong Kong by means of any document other than (i) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32, Laws of Hong Kong), or (ii) to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder, or (iii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32, Laws of Hong Kong) and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the units may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to units which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder.
Notice to Residents of Japan
The units have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan (Law No. 25 of 1948, as amended) and, accordingly, will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan, or for the benefit of any Japanese Person or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to any Japanese Person, except in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines promulgated by relevant Japanese governmental or regulatory authorities in effect at the relevant time. For the purposes of this paragraph, “Japanese Person” shall mean any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan.
Notice to Residents of Singapore
This prospectus has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the units may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the units be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the “SFA”), (ii) to a relevant person pursuant to Section 275(1), or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA, in each case subject to compliance with conditions set forth in the SFA.
Where the units are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is (a) a corporation (which is not an accredited investor) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or (b) a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary is an accredited investor, shares, debentures and units of shares and debentures of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferred within six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the shares pursuant to an offer made under Section 275 of the SFA except:
•
to an institutional investor (for corporations, under Section 274 of the SFA) or to a relevant person defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA, or to any person pursuant to an offer that is made on terms that such shares, debentures and units of shares and debentures of that corporation or such rights and interest in that trust are acquired at a consideration of not less than $200,000 (or its equivalent in a foreign currency) for each transaction, whether such amount is to be paid for in cash or by exchange of securities or other assets, and further for corporations, in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA;
•
where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer; or
•
where the transfer is by operation of law.
Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Kingdom
In relation to the United Kingdom, no units have been offered or will be offered pursuant to this offering to the public in the United Kingdom prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the units that either (i) has been approved by the Financial Conduct Authority, or (ii) is to be treated as if it had been approved by the Financial Conduct Authority in accordance with the transitional provision in Regulation 74 of the Prospectus (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, except that offers of units may be made to the public in the United Kingdom at any time under the following exemptions under the UK Prospectus Regulation:
•
to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in Article 2 of the UK Prospectus Regulation;
•
to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in Article 2 of the UK Prospectus Regulation), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the underwriter for any such offer; or
•
in any other circumstances falling within section 86 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended (the “FSMA”),
provided that no such offer of units shall require the issuer or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to section 85 of the FSMA or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the UK Prospectus Regulation.
For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer to the public” in relation to any units in the United Kingdom means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any units to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for any units, and the expression “UK Prospectus Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.
The underwriter has represented and agreed that:
•
it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the FSMA) received by it in connection with the issue or sale of any units in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to the issuer; and
•
it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to any units in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.
Notice to Prospective Investors in France
Neither this prospectus nor any other offering material relating to the units described in this prospectus has been submitted to the clearance procedures of the Autorité des Marchés Financiers or by the competent authority of another member state of the European Economic Area and notified to the Autorité des Marchés Financiers. The units have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, to the public in France. Neither this prospectus nor any other offering material relating to the units has been or will be:
•
released, issued, distributed or caused to be released, issued or distributed to the public in France; or
•
used in connection with any offer for subscription or sale of the units to the public in France. Such offers, sales and distributions will be made in France only:
•
to qualified investors (investisseurs qualifiés) and/or to a restricted circle of investors (cercle restreint d’investisseurs), in each case investing for their own account, all as defined in, and in accordance with, Article L.411-2, D.411-1, D.411-2, D.734-1, D.744-1, D.754-1 and D.764-1 of the French Code monétaire et financier;
•
to investment services providers authorized to engage in portfolio management on behalf of third parties; or
•
in a transaction that, in accordance with article L.411-2-II-1°-or-2°-or 3° of the French Code monétaire et financier and article 211-2 of the General Regulations (Règlement Général) of the Autorité des Marchés Financiers, does not constitute a public offer (appel public à l’épargne).
The units may be resold directly or indirectly, only in compliance with Articles L.411-1, L.411-2, L.412- 1 and L.621-8 through L.621-8-3 of the French Code monétaire et financier.
LEGAL MATTERS
Paul Hastings LLP, Los Angeles, California, has passed upon the validity of the securities offered hereby on behalf of us. Certain legal matters will be passed upon on behalf of the underwriter by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.
EXPERTS
The financial statements of Digital Transformation Opportunities Corp. as of January 8, 2021 and December 31, 2020 and for the periods from November 17, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020 and from January 1, 2021 to January 8, 2021, appearing in this prospectus have been audited by Marcum LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon, appearing elsewhere in this prospectus, and are included in reliance on the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act with respect to the securities we are offering by this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. For further information about us and our securities, you should refer to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed with the registration statement. Whenever we make reference in this prospectus to any of our contracts, agreements or other documents, the references are materially complete but may not include a description of all aspects of such contracts, agreements or other documents, and you should refer to the exhibits attached to the registration statement for copies of the actual contract, agreement or other document.
Upon completion of this offering, we will be subject to the information requirements of the Exchange Act and will file annual, quarterly and current event reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You can read our SEC filings, including the registration statement, at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
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Page
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Audited Financial Statements of Digital Transformation Opportunities Corp.:
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F-2 |
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F-3 |
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F-4 |
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F-5 |
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F-6 |
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F-7
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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Shareholder and Board of Directors of
Digital Transformation Opportunities Corp.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of Digital Transformation Opportunities Corp (the “Company”) as of January 8, 2021 and December 31, 2020, and the related statements of operations, stockholder’s equity and cash flows for the period from January 1, 2021 through January 8, 2021 and the period from November 17, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of January 8, 2021 and December 31, 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for period from January 1, 2021 through January 8, 2021 and the period from November 17, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Explanatory Paragraph — Going Concern
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As more fully described in Note 1, the Company’s business plan is dependent upon its completion of the proposed initial public offering described in Note 3 to the financial statements. The Company lacks the financial resources it needs to sustain operations for a reasonable period of time, which is considered to be one year from the issuance date of the financial statements. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 1 and 3. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might become necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audit provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ Marcum llp
Marcum llp
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2021.
Houston, TX
January 29, 2021
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OPPORTUNITIES CORP.
BALANCE SHEETS
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January 8,
2021
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December 31,
2020
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Assets:
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Cash–current asset
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$ |
25,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
Deferred offering costs
|
|
|
|
|
24,035 |
|
|
|
|
|
9,572 |
|
|
Total Assets
|
|
|
|
$ |
49,035 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
9,572 |
|
|
Liabilities and Stockholder’s Equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accrued offering costs and expenses
|
|
|
|
$ |
24,869 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
10,406 |
|
|
Total current liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
24,869 |
|
|
|
|
|
10,406 |
|
|
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 6)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholder’s Equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value; 20,000,000 shares authorized; 7,187,500(1) and 0 shares issued and outstanding at January 8, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively
|
|
|
|
|
719 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
Additional paid-in capital
|
|
|
|
|
24,281 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
Accumulated deficit
|
|
|
|
|
(834) |
|
|
|
|
|
(834) |
|
|
Total stockholder’s equity (deficit)
|
|
|
|
|
24,166 |
|
|
|
|
|
(834) |
|
|
Total Liabilities and Stockholder’s Equity
|
|
|
|
$ |
49,035 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
9,572 |
|
|
(1)
Includes up to 937,500 shares of Class B common stock subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part by the underwriters (see Note 7).
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OPPORTUNITIES CORP.
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
|
|
|
For the period from
January 1, 2021 to
January 8, 2021
|
|
|
For the period from
November 17, 2020
(inception) to
December 31, 2020
|
|
Formation costs
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
834 |
|
|
Net loss
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
(834) |
|
|
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding(1)
|
|
|
|
|
6,250,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
Basic and diluted net loss per share
|
|
|
|
$ |
(0.00) |
|
|
|
|
$ |
(0.00) |
|
|
(1)
Excludes up to 937,500 shares of Class B common stock subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part by the underwriters (see Note 7).
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OPPORTUNITIES CORP.
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY
|
|
|
Class B
Common Stock
|
|
|
Additional
Paid-In
Capital
|
|
|
Accumulated
Deficit
|
|
|
Stockholder’s
Equity
|
|
|
|
|
Shares(1)
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
Balance as of November 17, 2020 (inception)
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
Net Loss
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
(834) |
|
|
|
|
|
(834) |
|
|
Balance as of December 31, 2020
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
(834) |
|
|
|
|
$ |
(834) |
|
|
Class B common stock issued to Sponsor
|
|
|
|
|
7,187,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
719 |
|
|
|
|
|
24,281 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
Net loss
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
Balance as of January 8, 2021
|
|
|
|
|
7,187,500 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
719 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
24,281 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
(834) |
|
|
|
|
$ |
24,166 |
|
|
(1)
Includes up to 937,500 shares of Class B common stock subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part by the underwriters (see Note 7).
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OPPORTUNITIES CORP.
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE PERIOD FROM NOVEMBER 17, 2020 (INCEPTION) THROUGH JANUARY 8, 2021
|
|
|
For the period from
January 1, 2021 to
January 8, 2021
|
|
|
For the period from
November 17, 2020
(inception) to
December 31, 2020
|
|
Cash flows from operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
$ |
(834) |
|
|
Changes in current assets and liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accrued expenses
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
834 |
|
|
Net cash used in operating activities
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
Cash flows from financing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from sale of Class B common stock to initial stockholders
|
|
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
Net cash provided by financing activities
|
|
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
Net change in cash
|
|
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
Cash, beginning of the period
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
Cash, end of the period
|
|
|
|
$ |
25,000 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accrued deferred offering costs
|
|
|
|
$ |
14,463 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
9,572 |
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OPPORTUNITIES CORP.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1—Organization and Business Operations
Digital Transformation Opportunities Corp. (the “Company”) is a newly organized blank check company incorporated as a Delaware corporation on November 17, 2020. The Company was formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses (“Business Combination”). The Company has not selected any specific Business Combination target and the Company has not, nor has anyone on its behalf, initiated any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any Business Combination target with respect to the Business Combination.
As of January 8, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company had not commenced any operations. All activity for the periods from November 17, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020 and from January 1, 2021 to January 8, 2021 relates to the Company’s formation and the Proposed Public Offering (as defined below). The Company will not generate any operating revenues until after the completion of its initial Business Combination, at the earliest. The Company will generate non-operating income in the form of interest income on cash and cash equivalents from the proceeds derived from the proposed public offering (as defined below). The Company has selected December 31 as its fiscal year end.
The Company’s sponsor is Digital Transformation Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”). The Company’s ability to commence operations is contingent upon obtaining adequate financial resources through a Proposed Public Offering of 25,000,000 units at $10.00 per unit (the “Units”) (or 28,750,000 Units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), which is discussed in Note 3 (the “Proposed Public Offering”), and the sale of 5,000,000 private placement warrants (or 5,550,000 private placement warrants if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) (the “Private Placement Warrants”) to the Sponsor, at a price of $1.50 per Private Placement Warrant in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the Proposed Public Offering. Each Unit consists of one share of the Class A common stock and one-fourth of one redeemable warrant. Each whole warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of the Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share. The Company’s management has broad discretion with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds of the Proposed Public Offering and the Private Placement Warrants, although substantially all of the net proceeds are intended to be generally applied toward consummating a Business Combination (less deferred underwriting commissions).
The Company’s Business Combination must be with one or more target businesses that together have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the net balance in the Trust Account (as defined below) (excluding the amount of deferred underwriting discounts held and taxes payable on the income earned on the Trust Account) at the time of the signing an agreement to enter into a Business Combination. However, the Company will only complete a Business Combination if the post-Business Combination company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”). There is no assurance that the Company will be able to successfully effect a Business Combination.
Upon the closing of the Proposed Public Offering, management has agreed that an aggregate of $10.00 per Unit sold in the Proposed Public Offering will be held in a trust account (“Trust Account”) and may only be invested in U.S. “government securities”, within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act, having a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions of Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act, which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations. Except with respect to interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account that may be released to the Company to pay its franchise and income tax obligations and to pay up to $100,000 in dissolution expenses, the proceeds from the Proposed Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants will not be released from the Trust Account until the earliest to occur of: (a) the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination, (b) the redemption of any shares of the Company’s Class A common stock sold in the Proposed Public Offering (the “public shares”) properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to amend the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation (i) to
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OPPORTUNITIES CORP.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
Note 1—Organization and Business Operations (continued)
modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to allow redemption in connection with the initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Company’s public shares if it does not complete its initial Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Proposed Public Offering or (ii) with respect to any other provisions relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity, and (c) the redemption of the Company’s public shares if the Company is unable to complete the initial Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Proposed Public Offering or during any Extension Period (as defined below), subject to applicable law. The proceeds deposited in the Trust Account could become subject to the claims of the Company’s creditors which would have priority over the claims of the Company’s public stockholders.
The Company will provide its public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their public shares upon the completion of the initial Business Combination either (i) in connection with a stockholder meeting called to approve the initial Business Combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether the Company will seek stockholder approval of a proposed initial Business Combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by the Company, solely in its discretion. The stockholders will be entitled to redeem their shares at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account 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 and not previously released to the Company to pay its franchise and income taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to the limitations.
The shares of common stock subject to redemption will be recorded at a redemption value and classified as temporary equity upon the completion of the Proposed Public Offering, in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.” In such case, the Company will proceed with a Business Combination if the Company has net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 upon such consummation of a Business Combination and, if the Company seeks stockholder approval, a majority of the issued and outstanding shares voted are voted in favor of the Business Combination.
The Sponsor and each of the officers and directors have agreed to (i) waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares (as described in Note 5) and public shares in connection with the completion of the initial Business Combination, (ii) waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares and public shares in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to allow redemption in connection with an initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the public shares if the Company does not complete the initial Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of this the Proposed Public Offering or (B) with respect to any other material provisions relating to stockholder’s rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity, (iii) waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to their founder shares if the Company fails to complete the initial Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of this the Proposed Public Offering or during any extended time that the Company has to consummate a Business Combination beyond 24 months as a result of a stockholder vote to amend the amended and restated certificate of incorporation (an “Extension Period”), and (iv) vote any founder shares held by them and any public shares purchased during or after the Proposed Public Offering (including in open market and privately-negotiated transactions) in favor of the Company’s initial Business Combination.
The Company will have 24 months from the closing of the Proposed Public Offering to complete an initial Business Combination (the “Combination Period”). However, if the Company is unable to complete its initial Business Combination within the Combination Period or during any Extension Period, the Company will: (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, 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
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OPPORTUNITIES CORP.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
Note 1—Organization and Business Operations (continued)
funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay its franchise and income taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining stockholders and board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in each case to the Company’s obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.
The Company’s Sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to the Company if and to the extent any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold to the Company, or a prospective target business with which the Company has entered into a written letter of intent, confidentiality or similar agreement or business combination agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below the lesser of (i) $10.00 per public share and (ii) the actual amount per public share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account, if less than $10.00 per share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, less taxes payable, provided that such liability will not apply to any claims by a third party or prospective target business who executed a waiver of any and all rights to the monies held in the Trust Account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable), nor will it apply to any claims under the Company’s indemnity of the underwriters of the Proposed Public Offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the “Securities Act”). However, the Company has not asked its Sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations, nor has the Company independently verified whether its Sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and believes that the Company’s Sponsor’s only assets are securities of the Company. Therefore, the Company cannot assure that its Sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations.
Going Concern Consideration
As of January 8, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company had cash of $25,000 and $0, respectively, and working capital of $131 and a deficit of ($10,406), respectively. The Company has incurred and expects to continue to incur significant costs in pursuit of its financing and acquisition plans. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern one year from the issuance date of the financial statements. Management plans to address this uncertainty through a Proposed Public Offering as discussed in Note 3 and issuance of an unsecured promissory note with principal up to $300,000 to the Sponsor as discussed in Note 5. Management has determined that the Company has access to funds from the Sponsor that are sufficient to fund the working capital needs of the Company until the earlier of the consummation of the Proposed Public Offering or a minimum of one year from the date of issuance of these financial statements. There is no assurance that the Company’s plans to raise capital or to consummate a Business Combination will be successful within the Combination Period. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Note 2—Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying financial statements are presented in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
Emerging Growth Company Status
The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart our Business Startups Act of 2012, (the “JOBS Act”), and it may take advantage
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OPPORTUNITIES CORP.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
Note 2—Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. The Company has elected not to opt out of such extended transition period which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of the Company’s financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all short-term investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The Company did not have any cash equivalents as of January 8, 2021 and December 31, 2020.
Deferred Offering Costs
Deferred offering costs consist of accounting and legal expenses incurred through the balance sheet date that are directly related to the Proposed Public Offering and that will be charged to stockholders’ equity upon the completion of the Proposed Public Offering. Should the Proposed Public Offering prove to be unsuccessful, these deferred costs, as well as additional expenses to be incurred, will be charged to operations.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities, which qualify as financial instruments under FASB ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements,” approximates the carrying amounts represented in the balance sheet, primarily due to its short-term nature.
Net Loss Per Common Share
Net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period, excluding common stock subject to forfeiture. Weighted average shares were reduced for the effect of an aggregate of 937,500 shares of common stock that are subject
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OPPORTUNITIES CORP.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
Note 2—Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised by the underwriters (see Note 7). At January 8, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company did not have any dilutive securities and other contracts that could, potentially, be exercised or converted into common stock and then share in the earnings of the Company. As a result, diluted loss per share is the same as basic loss per share for the period presented.
Income Taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes under FASB ASC 740, “Income Taxes” (“ASC 740”). ASC 740 requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for both the expected impact of differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities and for the expected future tax benefit to be derived from tax loss and tax credit carry forwards. ASC 740 additionally requires a valuation allowance to be established when it is more likely than not that all or a portion of deferred tax assets will not be realized.
ASC 740 also clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements and prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement process for financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. ASC 740 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim period, disclosure and transition.
The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. There were no unrecognized tax benefits and no amounts accrued for interest and penalties as of January 8, 2021 and December 31, 2020. The Company is currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviation from its position.
The Company has identified the United States as its only “major” tax jurisdiction.
The Company is subject to income tax examinations by major taxing authorities since inception. These examinations may include questioning the timing and amount of deductions, the nexus of income among various tax jurisdictions and compliance with federal and state tax laws. The Company’s management does not expect that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits will materially change over the next twelve months.
The provision for income taxes was deemed to be zero for the periods from November 17, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020 and from January 1, 2021 to January 8, 2021.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not effective, accounting standards, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.
Note 3—Proposed Public Offering
In the Proposed Public Offering, the Company will offer for sale up to 25,000,000 units, (or 28,750,000 Units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a purchase price of $10.00 per Unit. Each unit that the Company is offering has a price of $10.00 and consists of one share of Class A common stock, and one-fourth of one redeemable warrant. Each whole warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one share of Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment. Each warrant will become exercisable on the later of 30 days after the completion of the initial Business Combination or 12 months from the closing of the Proposed Public Offering and will expire five years after the completion of the initial Business Combination, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OPPORTUNITIES CORP.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
Note 4—Private Placement
The Company’s Sponsor has committed to purchase an aggregate of 5,000,000 (or 5,500,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) Private Placement Warrant at a price of $1.50 per Private Placement Warrant ($7,500,000 in the aggregate or $8,250,000 in the aggregate if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) in a private placement that will occur simultaneously with the closing of the Proposed Public Offering. Each Private Placement Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of the Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share. The Private Placement Warrants will be non-redeemable in certain circumstances so long as they are held by the Sponsor or its permitted transferees. The Private Placement Warrants may also be exercised by the Sponsor and its permitted transferees for cash or on a cashless basis. Otherwise, the Private Placement Warrants have terms and provisions that are identical to those of the warrants being sold as part of the Units in the Proposed Public Offering, including as to exercise price, exercisability and exercise period.
The Sponsor and each of the officers and directors have agreed to (i) waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares (as described in Note 5) and public shares in connection with the completion of the initial Business Combination, (ii) waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares and public shares in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation (A) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to allow redemption in connection with an initial Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the public shares if the Company does not complete the initial Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of this the Proposed Public Offering or (B) with respect to any other material provisions relating to stockholder’s rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity, (iii) waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to their founder shares if the Company fails to complete the initial Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of this the Proposed Public Offering or during any extended time that the Company has to consummate a Business Combination beyond 24 months as a result of a stockholder vote to amend the amended and restated certificate of incorporation (an “Extension Period”), and (iv) vote any founder shares held by them and any public shares purchased during or after the Proposed Public Offering (including in open market and privately-negotiated transactions) in favor of the Company’s initial Business Combination.
Note 5—Related Party Transactions
Founder Shares
On January 8, 2021, the Company’s initial stockholders purchased an aggregate of 7,187,500 founder shares for a capital contribution of $25,000. The founder shares include an aggregate of up to 937,500 shares subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised by the underwriters in full.
With certain limited exceptions, the founder shares will not be transferable or assignable by until the earlier of(A) one year after the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination or (B) subsequent to the Company’s initial Business Combination, (x) if the last reported sale price of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the Company’s initial Business Combination or (y) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property.
Promissory Note—Related Party
The Company’s Sponsor has agreed to loan the Company an aggregate of up to $300,000 to be used for a portion of the expenses of the Proposed Public Offering. The loan is non-interest bearing, unsecured and due at the earlier of December 31, 2021 or the closing of the Proposed Public Offering. The Company
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OPPORTUNITIES CORP.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
Note 5—Related Party Transactions (continued)
intends to repay the loan upon the closing of the Proposed Public Offering out of offering proceeds not held in the Trust Account. As of January 8, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company had not borrowed any amount under the promissory note.
Working Capital Loans
In order to finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor or certain of the Company’s officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds as may be required (“Working Capital Loans”). If the Company completes a Business Combination, the Company would repay the Working Capital Loans out of the proceeds of the Trust Account released to the Company. Otherwise, the Working Capital Loans would be repaid only out of funds held outside the Trust Account. In the event that a Business Combination does not close, the Company may use a portion of the working capital held outside the Trust Account to repay the Working Capital Loans but no proceeds from the Trust Account would be used to repay the Working Capital Loans. Up to $2,000,000 of such Working Capital Loans may be convertible into warrants at a price of $1.50 per warrant at the option of the lender. The warrants would be identical to the Private Placement Warrants, including as to exercise price, exercisability and exercise period. At January 8, 2021 and December 31, 2020, no such Working Capital Loans were outstanding.
Note 6—Commitments and Contingencies
Registration Rights
The holders of the founder shares, Private Placement Warrants, and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans (and any shares of Class A common stock issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of Working Capital Loans and upon conversion of the founder shares) will have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the completion of the initial Business Combination and rights to require the Company to register for resale such securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act.
Underwriters Agreement
The underwriters have a 45-day option from the date of the Proposed Public Offering to purchase up to an additional 3,750,000 units to cover over-allotments, if any.
The underwriters will be entitled to a cash underwriting discount of two percent (2%) of the gross proceeds of the Proposed Public Offering, or $5,000,000 (or up to $5,750,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment is exercised in full). Additionally, the underwriters will be entitled to a deferred underwriting discount of 3.5% of the gross proceeds of the Proposed Public Offering held in the Trust Account upon the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement.
Risks and Uncertainties
Management is currently evaluating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the industry and has concluded that while it is reasonably possible that the pandemic could have an effect on the Company’s financial position, results of its operations and/or search for a target company and/or a target company’s financial position and results of its operations, the specific impact is not readily determinable as of the date of these financial statements. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OPPORTUNITIES CORP.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
Note 7—Stockholder’s Equity
Preferred Stock—The Company is authorized to issue a total of 1,000,000 preferred shares at par value of $0.0001 each. At January 8, 2021 and December 31, 2020, there were no shares of preferred stock issued or outstanding.
Class A Common Stock—The Company is authorized to issue a total of 200,000,000 Class A common shares at par value of $0.0001 each. At January 8, 2021 and December 31, 2020, there were no shares of Class A common shares issued or outstanding.
Class B Common Stock—The Company is authorized to issue a total of 20,000,000 Class B common shares at par value of $0.0001 each. As of December 31, 2020, there were no Class B shares issued or outstanding. On January 8, 2021, the Company issued 7,187,500 Class B common shares to its initial stockholders for $25,000, or approximately $0.003 per share. The founder shares include an aggregate of up to 937,500 shares subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised by the underwriters in full.
The shares of Class B common stock will automatically convert into shares of the Company’s Class A common stock at the time of its initial Business Combination on a one-for-one basis (subject to adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like), subject to further adjustment. In the case that additional shares of Class A common stock or equity-linked securities are issued or deemed issued in excess of the amounts offered in the prospectus and related to the closing of the initial Business Combination, the ratio at which shares of Class B common stock shall convert into shares of Class A common stock will be adjusted (unless the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class B common stock agree to waive such adjustment with respect to any such issuance or deemed issuance) so that the number of shares of Class A common stock issuable upon conversion of all shares of Class B common stock will equal, in the aggregate, on an as-converted basis, 20% of the sum of (i) the total number of all shares of common stock outstanding upon the completion of the Proposed Public Offering, plus (ii) all shares of Class A common stock and equity-linked securities issued or deemed issued in connection with the initial Business Combination (excluding any shares of Class A common stock or equity-linked securities issued, or to be issued, to any seller in the initial Business Combination and any private placement equivalent warrants issued to the Sponsor or its affiliates upon conversion of loans made to the Company).
Holders of record of the Class A common stock and holders of record of the Class B common stock will vote together as a single class on all matters submitted to a vote of the Company’s stockholders, with each share of common stock entitling the holder to one vote except as required by law.
Warrants—No warrants are currently outstanding. Each whole warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of the Company’s Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as discussed herein. In addition, if (x) the Company issues additional shares of Class A common stock or equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of the initial Business Combination at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $9.20 per share of Class A common stock (with such issue price or effective issue price to be determined in good faith by the Company’s board of directors and, in the case of any such issuance to the Company’s Sponsor or its affiliates, without taking into account any founder shares held by the Sponsor or its affiliates, prior to such issuance) (the “Newly Issued Price”), (y) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for the funding of the initial Business Combination on the date of the consummation of the initial Business Combination (net of redemptions), and (z) the volume weighted average trading price of the Company’s common stock during the 20 trading day period starting on the trading day prior to the day on which the Company consummates the initial Business Combination (such price, the “Market Value”) is below $9.20 per share, the exercise price of the warrants will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 115% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, and the $18.00 per share redemption trigger price described adjacent to “Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common stock equals or exceeds $18.00” will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, and the $10.00 per share redemption
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OPPORTUNITIES CORP.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
Note 7—Stockholder’s Equity (continued)
trigger price described adjacent to the caption “Redemption of warrants when the price per share of Class A common Stock equals or exceeds $10.00” will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price.
The warrants will become exercisable on the later of 12 months from the closing of the Proposed Public Offering or 30 days after the completion of its initial Business Combination, and will expire five years after the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination, at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.
The Company will not be obligated to deliver any shares of Class A common stock pursuant to the exercise of a warrant and will have no obligation to settle such warrant exercise unless a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the shares of Class A common stock underlying the warrants is then effective and a prospectus relating thereto is current. No warrant will be exercisable and the Company will not be obligated to issue shares of Class A common stock upon exercise of a warrant unless Class A common stock issuable upon such warrant exercise has been registered, qualified or deemed to be exempt under the securities laws of the state of residence of the registered holder of the warrants. In no event will the Company be required to net cash settle any warrant. In the event that a registration statement is not effective for the exercised warrants, the purchaser of a Unit containing such warrant will have paid the full purchase price for the unit solely for the share of Class A common stock underlying such Unit.
Redemption of Warrants When the Price per of Class A Common Stock Equals or Exceeds $18.00
Once the warrants become exercisable, the Company may redeem the outstanding warrants:
•
in whole and not in part;
•
at a price of $0.01 per warrant;
•
upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption to each warrant holder; and
•
if, and only if, the last reported sale price of the Class A common stock for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending three trading days before the Company sends the notice of redemption to the warrant holders (the “Reference Value”) equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like and certain issuances of Class A common stock and equity-linked securities).
Redemption of Warrants When the Price per of Class A Common Stock Equals or Exceeds $10.00
Once the warrants become exercisable, the Company may redeem the outstanding warrants:
•
in whole and not in part;
•
at $0.10 per warrant upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption, provided that holders will be able to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis prior to redemption and receive that number of shares based on the redemption date and the “fair market value” of the Class A common stock (as defined below) except as otherwise described below;
•
if, and only if, the Reference Value equals or exceeds $10.00 per share (as adjusted per stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like and certain issuances of Class A common stock and equity-linked securities); and
•
if the Reference Value is less than $18.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like and certain issuances of Class A common stock and equity-linked securities), the private placement warrants are also concurrently called for redemption on the same terms as the outstanding public warrants, as described above.
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OPPORTUNITIES CORP.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
Note 7—Stockholder’s Equity (continued)
The “fair market value” of the Class A common stock for the above purpose shall mean the volume-weighted average price of our Class A common stock as reported during the ten trading days immediately following the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of warrants.
If a registration statement covering the shares of Class A common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants is not effective by the 60th business day after the closing of the initial Business Combination, warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when the Company will have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise warrants on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act or another exemption. In such event, each holder would pay the exercise price by surrendering the warrants for that number of shares of Class A common stock equal to the lesser of (A) the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Class A common stock underlying the warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “fair market value” of the Class A common stock over the exercise price of the warrants by (y) the fair market value and (B) 0.361 per whole warrant. The “fair market value” as used in this paragraph shall mean the average last reported sale price of the Class A common stock for the ten trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of exercise is received by the warrant agent. If that exemption, or another exemption, is not available, holders will not be able to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis.
Note 8—Subsequent Events
The Company evaluated subsequent events and transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date up to through January 29, 2021, the date that the financial statements were available to be issued. Based upon this review, the Company did not identify any subsequent events that would have required adjustment or disclosure in the financial statements.
$250,000,000
Digital Transformation Opportunities Corp.
25,000,000 Units
Prospectus
, 2021
Barclays
Until , 2021 (25 days after the date of this prospectus), all dealers that buy, sell or trade our securities, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the dealers’ obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 13. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
The estimated expenses payable by us in connection with the offering described in this registration statement (other than the underwriting discount and commissions) will be as follows:
|
Legal fees and expenses
|
|
|
|
$ |
300,000 |
|
|
|
Accounting fees and expenses
|
|
|
|
|
60,000 |
|
|
|
SEC filing fees
|
|
|
|
|
40,384 |
|
|
|
FINRA filing fees
|
|
|
|
|
56,023 |
|
|
|
Nasdaq listing and filing fees
|
|
|
|
|
75,000 |
|
|
|
Director and officer insurance
|
|
|
|
|
600,000 |
|
|
|
Printing and engraving expenses
|
|
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
|
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Miscellaneous1
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|
|
|
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43,593 |
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|
|
Total:
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,200,000 |
|
|
1
This amount represents additional expenses that may be incurred by us in connection with the offering over and above those specifically listed above, including transfer agent and trustee fees.
Item 14.
Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that all of our directors, officers, employees and agents shall be entitled to be indemnified by us to the fullest extent permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”).
Section 145 of the DGCL concerning indemnification of officers, directors, employees and agents is set forth below.
Section 145. Indemnification of officers, directors, employees and agents; insurance.
(a)
A corporation shall have power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that the person’s conduct was unlawful.
(b)
A corporation shall have power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably
incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
(c)
To the extent that a present or former director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections (a) and (b) of this section, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.
(d)
Any indemnification under subsections (a) and (b) of this section (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the present or former director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because the person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of this section. Such determination shall be made, with respect to a person who is a director or officer at the time of such determination, (1) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (2) by a committee of such directors designated by majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or (3) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (4) by the stockholders.
(e)
Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an officer or director in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as authorized in this section. Such expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by former officers and directors or other employees and agents may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the corporation deems appropriate.
(f)
The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, the other subsections of this section shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office. A right to indemnification or to advancement of expenses arising under a provision of the certificate of incorporation or a bylaw shall not be eliminated or impaired by an amendment to such provision after the occurrence of the act or omission that is the subject of the civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding for which indemnification or advancement of expenses is sought, unless the provision in effect at the time of such act or omission explicitly authorizes such elimination or impairment after such action or omission has occurred.
(g)
A corporation shall have power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under this section.
(h)
For purposes of this section, references to “the corporation” shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent)
absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under this section with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as such person would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.
(i)
For purposes of this section, references to “other enterprises” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to any employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the corporation” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the corporation” as referred to in this section.
(j)
The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this section shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
(k)
The Court of Chancery is hereby vested with exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine all actions for advancement of expenses or indemnification brought under this section or under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise. The Court of Chancery may summarily determine a corporation’s obligation to advance expenses (including attorneys’ fees).
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers, and controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been advised that, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person in a successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, we will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to the court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
In accordance with Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that no director shall be personally liable to us or any of our stockholders for monetary damages resulting from breaches of their fiduciary duty as directors, except to the extent such limitation on or exemption from liability is not permitted under the DGCL. The effect of this provision of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation is to eliminate our rights and those of our stockholders (through stockholders’ derivative suits on our behalf) to recover monetary damages against a director for breach of the fiduciary duty of care as a director, including breaches resulting from negligent or grossly negligent behavior, except, as restricted by Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL. However, this provision does not limit or eliminate our rights or the rights of any stockholder to seek non-monetary relief, such as an injunction or rescission, in the event of a breach of a director’s duty of care.
If the DGCL is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the liability of directors, then, in accordance with our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, the liability of our directors to us or our stockholders will be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as so amended. Any repeal or amendment of provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation limiting or eliminating the liability of directors, whether by our stockholders or by changes in law, or the adoption of any other provisions inconsistent therewith, will (unless otherwise required by law)
be prospective only, except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits us to further limit or eliminate the liability of directors on a retroactive basis.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will also provide that we will, to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by applicable law, indemnify our current and former officers and directors, as well as those persons who, while directors or officers of our corporation, are or were serving as directors, officers, employees or agents of another entity, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan, in connection with any threatened, pending or completed proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, against all expense, liability and loss (including, without limitation, attorney’s fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by any such person in connection with any such proceeding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a person eligible for indemnification pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will be indemnified by us in connection with a proceeding initiated by such person only if such proceeding was authorized by our board of directors, except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification.
The right to indemnification conferred by our amended and restated certificate of incorporation is a contract right that includes the right to be paid by us the expenses incurred in defending or otherwise participating in any proceeding referenced above in advance of its final disposition, provided, however, that if the DGCL requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by our officer or director (solely in the capacity as an officer or director of our corporation) will be made only upon delivery to us of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such officer or director, to repay all amounts so advanced if it is ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or otherwise.
The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses will not be deemed exclusive of any other rights which any person covered by our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may have or hereafter acquire under law, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our bylaws, an agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.
Any repeal or amendment of provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation affecting indemnification rights, whether by our stockholders or by changes in law, or the adoption of any other provisions inconsistent therewith, will (unless otherwise required by law) be prospective only, except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits us to provide broader indemnification rights on a retroactive basis, and will not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing at the time of such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision with respect to any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will also permit us, to the extent and in the manner authorized or permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other than those specifically covered by our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.
Our bylaws include provisions relating to advancement of expenses and indemnification rights consistent with those to be set forth in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. In addition, our bylaws provide for a right of indemnity to bring a suit in the event a claim for indemnification or advancement of expenses is not paid in full by us within a specified period of time. Our bylaws also permit us to purchase and maintain insurance, at our expense, to protect us and/or any director, officer, employee or agent of our corporation or another entity, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not we would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.
Any repeal or amendment of provisions of our bylaws affecting indemnification rights, whether by our board of directors, stockholders or by changes in applicable law, or the adoption of any other provisions inconsistent therewith, will (unless otherwise required by law) be prospective only, except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits us to provide broader indemnification rights on a retroactive basis, and will not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing thereunder with respect to any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision.
We will enter into indemnification agreements with each of our officers and directors, a form of which is filed as Exhibit 10.6 to this registration statement. These agreements will require us to indemnify these individuals to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law against liabilities that may arise by reason of their service to us, and to advance expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified.
Pursuant to the form of underwriting agreement filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this registration statement, we have agreed to indemnify the underwriter and the underwriter has agreed to indemnify us against certain civil liabilities that may be incurred in connection with this offering, including certain liabilities under the Securities Act.
Item 15.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.
On January 8, 2021, Digital Transformation Sponsor LLC, our sponsor, purchased from us an aggregate of 7,187,500 shares of Class B common stock, or founder shares, for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or approximately $0.003 per share, in a private placement. Such securities were issued pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act. Our sponsor has agreed to transfer 25,000 founder shares to each of our independent director nominees, and 150,000 founder shares to Kyle Francis, our Chief Financial Officer.
In addition, our sponsor has committed to purchase an aggregate of 5,000,000 warrants (or 5,500,000 warrants if the over-allotment option is exercised in full), at $1.50 per warrant ($7,500,000 in the aggregate, or $8,250,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full). This purchase will take place on a private placement basis concurrently with the completion of our initial public offering. This issuance will be made pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
Our sponsor and each of our officers, directors and director nominees is an accredited investor for purposes of Rule 501 of Regulation D. No underwriting discounts or commissions were paid with respect to such sales.
Item 16.
Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
(a)
Exhibits. The following exhibits are filed as part of this registration statement:
Exhibit
No.
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Description
|
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10.5*
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10.6*
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10.7*
|
|
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23.1*
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|
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23.2*
|
|
|
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|
24**
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|
99.1**
|
|
|
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|
99.2**
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99.3**
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|
*
Filed herewith.
**
Previously filed.
(b)
Financial Statements.See page F-1 for an index to the financial statements included in the registration statement.
Item 17. Undertakings.
(a)
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1)
To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
i.
To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
ii.
To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;
iii.
To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement.
(b)
To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(c)
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriter at the closing specified in the underwriting agreements, certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriter to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.
(d)
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the
payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
(e)
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:
(1)
For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.
(2)
For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on the
26th day of February 2021.
Digital Transformation Opportunities Corp.
By:
/s/ Kevin Nazemi
Name:
Kevin Nazemi
Title:
Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.
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Title
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/s/Kevin Nazemi
Kevin Nazemi
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Chief Executive Officer and Chairman
(Principal Executive Officer)
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February 26, 2021
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Kyle Francis
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Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
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February 26, 2021
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* /s/Kevin Nazemi
Kevin Nazemi
Attorney-in-Fact
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Exhibit 1.1
25,000,000 Units
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OPPORTUNITIES
CORP.
($10.00 per Unit)
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
[●], 2021
Barclays
Capital Inc.
As Representative of the several
Underwriters named in Schedule I attached hereto,
c/o Barclays Capital Inc.
745 Seventh Avenue
New York, New York 10019
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Digital Transformation
Opportunities Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes to sell 25,000,000 units (the “Firm
Units”), each unit consisting of one share of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common
Stock”), of the Company and one-fourth of one redeemable warrant (the “Public Warrants”).
In addition, solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments, the Company proposes to grant to the underwriters named in Schedule I
(the “Underwriters”) attached to this agreement (this “Agreement”) an option
to purchase from the Company up to 3,750,000 units on the terms set forth in Section 2 of this Agreement (the “Additional
Units”). The Firm Units and the Additional Units, if purchased, are hereinafter collectively called the “Units.”
This Agreement is to confirm the agreement concerning the purchase of the Units from the Company by the Underwriters. To the extent
that there are no additional Underwriters listed on Schedule I, the term Underwriters as used herein shall mean Barclays
Capital Inc., as an Underwriter, and the term Underwriter shall mean either the singular or plural as the context requires.
The Common Stock and
Warrants (as defined below) included in the Units will not trade separately until the 52nd day following the date of the Prospectus
(as defined below) (unless Barclays Capital Inc. informs the Company of its decision to allow earlier separate trading), subject
to (a) the Company’s preparation of an audited balance sheet reflecting the receipt by the Company of the proceeds of
its initial public offering (the “Offering”), (b) the filing of such audited balance sheet with
the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on a Current Report on Form 8-K or
similar form by the Company that includes such audited balance sheet and (c) the Company having issued a press release announcing
when such separate trading will begin. Each whole Warrant entitles its holder, upon exercise, to purchase one share of Common Stock
for $11.50 per share during the period commencing 30 days after the completion of an initial Business Combination (as defined below)
and terminating on the five-year anniversary of the date of the completion of such initial Business Combination or earlier upon
redemption or liquidation; provided, however, that pursuant to the Warrant Agreement (as defined below), a fractional warrant
may not be exercised, so that only a whole warrant may be exercised at any given time by a holder thereof. As used herein, the
term “Business Combination” (as described more fully in the Registration Statement (as defined below))
shall mean a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination
with one or more businesses or entities.
The Company has entered
into an Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
(“CST”), as trustee, in substantially the form filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Registration Statement
(the “Trust Agreement”), pursuant to which the proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Warrants
(as defined below) and certain proceeds of the Offering will be deposited and held in a trust account (the “Trust Account”)
for the benefit of the Company, the Underwriters and the holders of the Firm Units and the Additional Units, if and when issued.
The Company has entered
into a Warrant Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, with respect to the Warrants with CST, as warrant agent, in substantially
the form filed as Exhibit 4.4 to the Registration Statement (the “Warrant Agreement”), pursuant
to which CST will act as warrant agent in connection with the issuance, registration, transfer, exchange, redemption and exercise
of the Warrants.
The Company has entered
into a Securities Subscription Agreement, dated as of January 8, 2021, with Digital Transformation Sponsor LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), which is filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Registration Statement
(the “Securities Subscription Agreement”), pursuant to which the Sponsor purchased an aggregate of 7,187,500
shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (the “Founder Shares”)
for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or approximately $0.003 per share. The Founder Shares are substantially similar to
the Public Shares included in the Units except as described in the Prospectus.
The Company has entered
into a Private Placement Warrants Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, with the Sponsor, in substantially the form
filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the Registration Statement (the “Warrant Purchase Agreement”), pursuant
to which the Sponsor agreed to purchase an aggregate of 5,000,000 warrants (or up to 5,500,000 warrants if the Over-Allotment Option
(as defined below) is exercised in full), each entitling the holder to purchase one share of Common Stock at an exercise price
of $11.50 per share (the “Private Placement Warrants” and, together with the Public Warrants, the “Warrants”).
The Private Placement Warrants are substantially similar to the Public Warrants except as described in the Prospectus.
The Company has entered
into a Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, with the Sponsor and the other parties thereto, in substantially
the form filed as Exhibit 10.5 to the Registration Statement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”),
pursuant to which the Company has granted certain registration rights in respect of the Founder Shares, the Private Placement Warrants
and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans, any shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise
of the Private Placement Warrants and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans and upon conversion
of the Founder Shares.
The Company has entered
into a letter agreement, dated as of the date hereof, with the Sponsor and each of the Company’s officers and directors prior
to the Offering, in substantially the form filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Registration Statement (the “Letter Agreement”).
1. Representations,
Warranties and Agreements of the Company. The Company represents, warrants and agrees that:
(a) A
registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-253079) relating to the Units (i) has been prepared by the Company
in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”),
and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder; (ii) has been filed with the Commission under the Securities
Act; and (iii) has become effective under the Securities Act. Copies of such registration statement and any amendment thereto
have been delivered by the Company to you as the representative of the Underwriters (the “Representative”).
As used in this Agreement:
(A) “Applicable
Time” means [●] P.M. (New York City time) on [●], 2021;
(B) “Effective
Date” means the date and time at which such registration statement, or the most recent post-effective amendment thereto,
if any, was declared effective by the Commission in accordance with the rules and regulations under the Securities Act;
(C) “Preliminary
Prospectus” means any preliminary prospectus relating to the Units included in such registration statement before
effectiveness or filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act;
(D) “Pricing
Disclosure Package” means, as of the Applicable Time, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, together with the information
included in Schedule II hereto;
(E) “Prospectus”
means the final prospectus relating to the Units, as filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities
Act;
(F) “Registration
Statement” means such registration statement, as amended as of the Effective Date, including any Preliminary Prospectus
or the Prospectus, all exhibits to such registration statement and including the information deemed by virtue of Rule 430A
under the Securities Act to be part of such registration statement as of the Effective Date;
(G) “Testing-the-Waters
Communication” means any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of
the Securities Act; and
(H) “Written
Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within
the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
Any reference to the “most
recent Preliminary Prospectus” shall be deemed to refer to the latest Preliminary Prospectus included in the Registration
Statement or filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act prior to or on the date hereof. Any reference herein
to the term “Registration Statement” shall be deemed to include any abbreviated registration statement
to register additional Units under Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (the “Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement”). The Commission has not issued any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus
or the Prospectus or suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and no proceeding or examination for such purpose
has been instituted or threatened by the Commission. The Company has complied with each request (if any) from the Commission for
additional information.
(b) From
the time of the initial confidential submission of the Registration Statement to the Commission (or, if earlier, the first date
on which the Company engaged directly or through any person authorized to act on its behalf in any Testing-the-Waters Communication)
through the date hereof, the Company has been and is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of
the Securities Act (an “Emerging Growth Company”).
(c) The
Company (i) has not engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communication, other than Testing-the-Waters Communications with the
consent of Barclays Capital Inc. with entities that are qualified institutional buyers within the meaning of Rule 144A under
the Securities Act or with institutions that are accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities
Act and (ii) has not authorized anyone other than the Representative and its affiliates to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications.
The Company reconfirms that the Representative has been authorized to act on its behalf in undertaking Testing-the-Waters Communications.
The Company has not distributed or approved for distribution any Written Testing-the-Waters Communications other than those listed
on Schedule IV hereto.
(d) (i) At
the time of filing the Registration Statement and (ii) as of the Applicable Time (with such date being used as the determination
date for purposes of this clause (ii)), the Company was and is an “Ineligible Issuer” (as defined in Rule 405
under the Securities Act).
(e) The
Company has prepared and filed, in accordance with Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange
Act”), and the rules and regulations thereunder, a registration statement (the “Exchange Act Registration
Statement”) on Form 8-A (File No. 001-[●]) under the Exchange Act to register, under Section 12(b) of
the Exchange Act, the classes of securities consisting of the Units, the Common Stock and the Warrants. The Exchange Act Registration
Statement has become effective as provided in Section 12 of the Exchange Act.
(f) The
Registration Statement conformed and will conform in all material respects on the Effective Date and on the applicable Delivery
Date (as defined in Section 4 hereof), and any amendment to the Registration Statement filed after the date hereof
will conform in all material respects when filed, to the requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder. The most recent Preliminary Prospectus conformed, and the Prospectus will conform, in all material respects when filed
with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act and on the applicable Delivery Date to the requirements
of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.
(g) The
Registration Statement did not, as of the Effective Date, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided that no representation
or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement in reliance upon and in conformity
with written information furnished to the Company through the Representative by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for
inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 8(e) hereof.
(h) The
Prospectus will not, as of its date or as of the applicable Delivery Date, include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information included in or omitted
from the Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company through the Representative
by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 8(e) hereof.
(i) The
Pricing Disclosure Package did not, as of the Applicable Time, include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information included in or omitted from the Pricing
Disclosure Package in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company through the Representative
by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 8(e) hereof.
(j) The
road show materials listed in Schedule III hereto, when taken together with the Pricing Disclosure Package, did not, as
of the Applicable Time, include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make
the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no representation
or warranty is made as to information included in or omitted from such road show materials listed in Schedule III hereto
made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company through the Representative by or on behalf
of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 8(e) hereof.
(k) No
Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, as of the Applicable Time, when taken together with the Pricing Disclosure Package, included
an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in
the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is
made as to information included in or omitted from such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication listed on Schedule IV hereto
in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company through the Representative by or on behalf
of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 8(e) hereof;
and the Company has filed publicly on EDGAR at least 15 calendar days prior to any “road show” (as defined in Rule 433
under the Securities Act), any confidentially submitted registration statement and registration statement amendments relating to
the offer and sale of the Units. Each Written Testing-the-Waters Communications did not, as of the Applicable Time, and at all
times through the completion of the public offer and sale of the Units will not, include any information that conflicted, conflicts
or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, or included in the Pricing Disclosure Package or
the Prospectus.
(l) The
Company has not, directly or indirectly, prepared, used or referred to any “Free Writing Prospectus” (as defined in
Rule 405 under the Securities Act).
(m) The
Company has been duly organized, is validly existing and in good standing as a corporation under the laws of the State of Delaware,
with full corporate power and authority to own or lease, as the case may be, and to operate its properties and conduct its business
as described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, and to enter into this Agreement, the
Trust Agreement, the Warrant Agreement, the Securities Subscription Agreement, the Warrant Purchase Agreement, the Registration
Rights Agreement, the Letter Agreement, and to carry out the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and is duly qualified
to do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation or other business entity in each jurisdiction in which its ownership
or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or
in good standing could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the condition
(financial or otherwise), results of operations, stockholders’ equity, properties, business or prospects of the Company (a
“Material Adverse Effect”). The Company has all corporate power and authority necessary to own or hold
its properties and to conduct the business in which it is engaged. The Company has no subsidiaries and does not own or control,
directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity.
(n) The
Company has an authorized equity capitalization as set forth under the heading “Capitalization” in each of the most
recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, and all of the issued securities of the Company have been duly authorized and
validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable, conform to the description thereof included in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus
and were issued in compliance with federal and state securities laws and not in violation of any preemptive right, resale right,
right of first refusal or similar right. All of the Company’s options, warrants and other rights to purchase or exchange
any securities for any capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued, conform to the description thereof
included in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and were issued in compliance with federal and state securities laws.
(o) The
Units have been duly and validly authorized and, when issued and delivered against payment therefor as provided herein, will be
duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and free of statutory and contractual preemptive rights, resale rights,
rights of first refusal and similar rights.
(p) The
Public Shares included in the Units have been duly and validly authorized and, when issued and delivered against payment for the
Units as provided herein and the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation , as may be amended from time
to time (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable
and free of statutory and contractual preemptive rights, resale rights, rights of first refusal and similar rights.
(q) The
Public Warrants, when issued and delivered in the manner set forth in the Warrant Agreement against payment for the Units by the
Underwriters as provided herein will be duly issued and delivered, and will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company,
enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and by equitable principles
of general applicability.
(r) The
Private Placement Warrants, when issued and delivered against payment therefor pursuant to the Warrant Purchase Agreement and the
Warrant Agreement, will be duly and issued and delivered, and will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable
against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency
or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and by equitable principles of general
applicability.
(s) The
shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance upon exercise
thereof and, when issued and delivered against payment therefor pursuant to the Warrant Purchase Agreement and the Warrant Agreement
(as applicable) and the Certificate of Incorporation, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; the holders of such
shares of Common Stock are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; the issuance of such
shares of Common Stock is not and will not be subject to any preemptive or other similar contractual rights granted by the Company;
and all corporate action required to be taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of such shares of Common Stock (other than
such execution, countersignature and delivery at the time of issuance) has been duly and validly taken.
(t) The
Founder Shares have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
(u) The
capital stock of the Company that comprises the Units, conforms in all material respects to each description thereof, if any,
contained in the Registration Statement, or included in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and the certificates
for the Units are in due and proper form.
(v) The
Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement, the
Trust Agreement, the Warrant Agreement, the Securities Subscription Agreement, the Warrant Purchase Agreement, the Registration
Rights Agreement and the Letter Agreement.
(w) This
Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, and is a valid and binding agreement of
the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited
by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and by equitable
principles of general applicability.
(x) The
Trust Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company,
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and by equitable principles
of general applicability.
(y) The
Warrant Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company,
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and by equitable principles
of general applicability.
(z) The
Securities Subscription Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Sponsor, and is a valid
and binding agreement of the Company and the Sponsor, enforceable against the Company and the Sponsor in accordance with its terms,
except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights
generally from time to time in effect and by equitable principles of general applicability.
(aa) The
Warrant Purchase Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Sponsor, and is a valid and
binding agreement of the Company and the Sponsor, enforceable against the Company and the Sponsor, in accordance with its terms,
except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights
generally from time to time in effect and by equitable principles of general applicability.
(bb) The
Registration Rights Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, the Sponsor, and, to the Company’s
knowledge, each officer and director of the Company party thereto, respectively, and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company,
the Sponsor, and, to the Company’s knowledge, each such officer and director, respectively, enforceable against the Company,
the Sponsor and, to the Company’s knowledge, each such officer and director, respectively, in accordance with its terms,
except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights
generally from time to time in effect and by equitable principles of general applicability.
(cc) The
Letter Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, the Sponsor and, to the Company’s knowledge,
each such officer, director and director nominee of the Company party thereto, respectively, and is a valid and binding agreement
of the Company, the Sponsor and, to the Company’s knowledge, each such officer, director and director nominee, respectively,
enforceable against the Company, the Sponsor and, to the Company’s knowledge, each such officer, director and director nominee,
respectively, in accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar
laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and by equitable principles of general applicability.
(dd) [RESERVED]
(ee) The
issue and sale of the Units, the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement, the
Trust Agreement, the Warrant Agreement, the Securities Subscription Agreement, the Warrant Purchase Agreement, the Registration
Rights Agreement and the Letter Agreement, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and the application of the
proceeds from the sale of the Units as described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the most recent Preliminary
Prospectus will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, impose any
lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage,
deed of trust, loan agreement, license, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the
Company is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company is subject; (ii) result in any violation of the
provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company; or (iii) result in any violation of any law, statute
or any judgment, order, decree, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the
Company or any of its properties or assets, except, with respect to clauses (i) and (iii), conflicts or violations
that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ff) No
consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing, registration or qualification with, any court or governmental agency or
body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties or assets is required for the issue and sale of the Units, the
execution, delivery and performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement, the Trust Agreement, the Warrant Agreement,
the Securities Subscription Agreement, the Warrant Purchase Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Letter Agreement,
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, and the application of the proceeds from the sale of the Units as described
under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, except for the registration of the Units
under the Securities Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, filings, registrations or qualifications as may
be required under the Exchange Act and applicable state or foreign securities laws and/or the bylaws and rules of the Financial
Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) in connection with the purchase and sale of the Units
by the Underwriters.
(gg) The
historical financial statements (including the related notes and supporting schedules) included in the most recent Preliminary
Prospectus comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act and present
fairly the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the entities purported to be shown thereby at the dates
and for the periods indicated and have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved.
(hh) Marcum
LLP (“Marcum”), who have certified certain financial statements of the Company, whose report appears
in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and who have delivered the initial letter referred to in Section 7(h) hereof,
are independent public accountants as required by the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.
(ii) The
Company maintains internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances regarding the reliability of financial
reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP, including, but not limited
to, internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance
with management’s general or specific authorization, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation
of the Company’s financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for its assets, (iii) access
to the Company’s assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization and (iv) the
recorded accountability for the Company’s assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate
action is taken with respect to any differences.
(jj) (i) The
Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act),
(ii) such disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that the information is accumulated and communicated to
management of the Company, including its principal officers and principal financial officers, as appropriate, and (iii) such
disclosure controls and procedures are effective in all material respects to perform the functions for which they were established.
(kk) [RESERVED]
(ll) Solely
to the extent that the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission
thereunder (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), have been applicable to the Company, there is and has been no
failure on the part of the Company and any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply
with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
(mm) Since
the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, the Company has not (i) sustained
any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance,
or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree (whether foreign or domestic), (ii) issued or granted
any securities, (iii) incurred any material liability or obligation, direct or contingent, other than liabilities and obligations
that were incurred in the ordinary course of business, (iv) entered into any material transaction not in the ordinary course
of business or (v) declared or paid any dividend on its capital stock, and since such date, there has not been any change
in the capital stock, long-term debt, total assets or total current liabilities of the Company or any adverse change, or any development
involving a prospective adverse change, in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, stockholders’
equity, properties, management, business or prospects of the Company, in each case except as could not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(nn) The
Company does not own any property (real or personal, excluding for the purposes of this Section (a)a(mm), the matters
covered by Section (a)a(oo) hereof); the property described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package
and the Prospectus as being available for use by the Company is available for use thereby under a valid and enforceable agreement
in accordance with its terms.
(oo) The
Company has such permits, licenses, franchises, certificates of need and other approvals or authorizations of governmental or regulatory
authorities (“Permits”) as are necessary under applicable law to own its properties and conduct its business
in the manner described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, except for any of the foregoing that could not, individually
or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has fulfilled and performed all of its
obligations with respect to the Permits, and no event has occurred that allows, or after notice or lapse of time would allow, revocation
or termination thereof or results in any other impairment of the rights of the holder or any such Permits, except for any of the
foregoing that could not individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company
has not received notice of any revocation or modification of any such Permits or has any reason to believe that any such Permits
will not be renewed in the ordinary course.
(pp) The
Company does not own or possess any inventions, patent applications, patents, trademarks (whether registered or unregistered),
trade names, service names, copyrights, trade secrets or other proprietary information owned or licensed by it; the Company has
not infringed or is not infringing the intellectual property of a third party, and the Company has not received notice of a claim
by a third party to the contrary.
(qq) There
are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or the Sponsor is a party or of which any property or assets
of the Company or the Sponsor is the subject that could, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect or could, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the performance
of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby; and to the Company’s knowledge, no such proceedings
are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or others.
(rr) There
are no contracts or other documents required to be described in the Registration Statement or the most recent Preliminary Prospectus
or filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not described and filed as required. The statements made in the most
recent Preliminary Prospectus, insofar as they purport to constitute summaries of the terms of the contracts and other documents
described and filed, constitute accurate summaries of the terms of such contracts and documents in all material respects. The Company
does not have knowledge that any other party to any such contract or other document has any intention not to render full performance
as contemplated by the terms thereof.
(ss) Other
than directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, the Company does not maintain any insurance covering its operations,
personnel and businesses; such directors’ and officers’ liability insurance is in full force and effect on the date
hereof and will be in full force and effect at the time of purchase and each additional time of purchase, if any; the Company does
not have reason to believe that it will not be able to (i) renew any such insurance as and when such insurance expires or
(ii) obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions.
(tt) No
relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders,
customers or suppliers of the Company, on the other hand, that is required to be described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus
which is not so described.
(uu) No
labor disturbance by or dispute with the employees of the Company exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent that
could individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(vv) The
Company (i) is not in violation of the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, (ii) is not in default, and no event has
occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any
term, covenant, condition or other obligation contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, license or other
agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it is bound or to which any of its properties or assets is subject,
(iii) is not in violation of any law, statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or
body having jurisdiction over it or its property or assets or its own privacy policies and (iv) has not failed to obtain any
license, permit, certificate, franchise or other governmental authorization or permit necessary to the ownership of its property
or to the conduct of its business, except in the case of clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv), to the extent
any such conflict, breach, violation or default could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.
(ww) [RESERVED]
(xx) Except
as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company has (i) filed
all U.S. federal, state and local and non-U.S. tax returns required to be filed by it through the date hereof, subject to permitted
extensions, and (ii) has paid all taxes due and payable by it except for any such tax
that is currently being contested in good faith.
(yy) The
statistical and market-related data included in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the financial statements of the Company
included in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes to be reliable
in all material respects.
(zz) The
Company is not, and as of the applicable Delivery Date and, after giving effect to the offer and sale of the Units and the application
of the proceeds therefrom as described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus
and the Prospectus, will not be, an “investment company” or a company “controlled” by an “investment
company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”),
and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
(aaa) The
statements set forth in each of the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus under the captions “Description
of Securities,” “U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations,” “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions,”
“Principal Stockholders,” “Proposed Business – Comparison of This Offering to Those of Blank Check Companies
Subject to Rule 419” and “Underwriting,” insofar as they purport to summarize the provisions of the laws
and documents referred to therein, are accurate summaries in all material respects.
(bbb) Except
as described in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company
and any person granting such person the right to require the Company to file a registration statement under the Securities Act
with respect to any securities of the Company owned or to be owned by such person or to require the Company to include such securities
in the securities registered pursuant to the Registration Statement or in any securities being registered pursuant to any other
registration statement filed by the Company under the Securities Act.
(ccc) The
Company has not sold or issued any securities that would be integrated with the Offering pursuant to the Securities Act, the rules and
regulations thereunder or the interpretations thereof by the Commission.
(ddd) Neither
the Company nor the Sponsor nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any of their respective directors or officers, affiliates or
controlling persons has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed, or which has constituted or might reasonably be expected
to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale
of the Units.
(eee) The
Units have been approved for listing, subject to official notice of issuance and evidence of satisfactory distribution, on The
Nasdaq Capital Market (the “Nasdaq”).
(fff) The
Company has not distributed and, prior to the later to occur of any Delivery Date and completion of the distribution of the Units,
will not distribute any offering material in connection with the Offering other than any Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus.
(ggg) None
of the Company, the Sponsor, any of the Company’s directors, director nominees, officers, or, to the knowledge of the Company,
after reasonable inquiry, any agent, employee, affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company has
in the course of its actions for, or on behalf of, the Company: (i) made any unlawful contribution, gift or other unlawful
expense relating to political activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect bribe, kickback, rebate, payoff, influence payment
or otherwise unlawfully provided anything of value, to any “foreign official” (as defined in the U.S. Foreign Corrupt
Practices Act of 1977, as amended (the “FCPA”)) or domestic government official; or (iii) violated
or is in violation of any provision of the FCPA, the Bribery Act 2010 of the United Kingdom, as amended (the “Bribery
Act 2010”), or any other applicable anti-bribery and anti-corruption statute or regulation. The Company, the Sponsor
and, to the knowledge of the Company, their respective, agents, employees and affiliates, have conducted their respective businesses
in compliance with the FCPA, the Bribery Act 2010 and all other applicable anti-bribery and anti-corruption statutes and regulations,
and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to ensure, continued
compliance therewith.
(hhh) The
operations of the Company, the Sponsor and, to the knowledge of the Company, their respective affiliates are and have been conducted
at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions
Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder
and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, that have been issued, administered or enforced by any governmental
agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any
court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator or non-governmental authority involving the Company with respect
to the Money Laundering Laws is pending, or to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.
(iii) None
of the Company, the Sponsor, any of the Company’s directors, director nominees, officers, or, to the knowledge of the Company,
after reasonable inquiry, any agent, employee or affiliate of the Company is: (i) currently subject to or the target of any
sanctions administered or enforced by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department, the U.S. Department
of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury or other relevant sanctions authority
(collectively, “Sanctions”); or (ii) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that
is the subject or target of Sanctions (including, without limitation, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria and Crimea); and the
Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the Offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such
proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any
person, or in any country or territory, that currently is the subject or target of Sanctions or in any other manner that will result
in a violation by any person (including any person participating in the transaction whether as an underwriter, advisor, investor
or otherwise) of Sanctions. The Company has not knowingly engaged in for the past five years, is not now knowingly engaged in,
and will not engage in, any dealings or transactions with any individual or entity, or in any country or territory, that at the
time of the dealing or transaction, is or was the subject or target of Sanctions.
(jjj) The
Company acknowledges that, in accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act, the Underwriters are required to obtain,
verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the
name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Underwriters to properly identify
their respective clients.
(kkk) All
information contained in the questionnaires (the “Questionnaires”) completed by the Sponsor and, to the
knowledge of the Company, the Company’s officers, directors and director nominees and provided to the Underwriters is true
and correct and the Company has not become aware of any information that would cause the information disclosed in the Questionnaires
completed by the Sponsor or the Company’s officers, directors and director nominees to become inaccurate and incorrect.
(lll) Prior
to the date hereof, the Company has not selected any potential Business Combination target and has not, nor, to its knowledge,
has anyone on its behalf, initiated any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any potential Business Combination
target.
(mmm) There
is and has been no failure on the part of the Company to, or to the knowledge of the Company after reasonable inquiry, any of the
Company’s officers or directors, in their capacities as such, to comply with (as and when applicable) and immediately following
the Effective Date the Company and, to the knowledge of the Company after reasonable inquiry, the officers or directors of the
Company, in their capacities as such, will be in compliance with, the phase-in provisions of the rules and regulations of
the Nasdaq and all other provisions of the Nasdaq corporate governance requirements set forth in the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules.
(nnn) The
issuance and sale of the Units as contemplated hereby will not cause any holder of any capital stock, securities convertible into
or exchangeable or exercisable for capital stock or options, warrants or other rights to purchase capital stock or any other securities
of the Company to have any right to acquire any shares of preferred stock of the Company.
(ooo) Except
pursuant to this Agreement, the Company has not incurred any liability for any finder’s or broker’s fee or agent’s
commission in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby or by the Registration Statement.
(ppp) To
the Company’s knowledge after reasonable inquiry, there are no affiliations or associations between (i) any member of
FINRA and (ii) the Company or any of the Company’s officers, directors or 10% or greater security holders or any beneficial
owner of the Company’s unregistered equity securities that were acquired at any time on or after the 180th day immediately
preceding the date the Registration Statement was initially confidentially submitted or filed with the Commission, except as disclosed
in the Registration Statement (excluding the exhibits thereto), the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
(qqq) To
the Company’s knowledge, (i) there has been no security breach or other compromise of or relating to any of the Company’s
information technology and computer systems, networks, hardware, software, data (including the data of its customers, employees,
suppliers, vendors and any third-party data maintained by or on behalf of the Company), equipment or technology (collectively,
“IT Systems and Data”), (ii) the Company has not been notified of, and there has been no event or
condition that would reasonably be expected to result in, any security breach or other compromise to its IT Systems and Data, (iii) the
Company is presently in compliance with all applicable laws or statutes and all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of
any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the
privacy and security of IT Systems and Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation
or modification and (iv) the Company has implemented security, backup and disaster recovery technology consistent with industry
standards and practices.
(rrr) The
Company has no debt securities or shares of preferred stock that are rated by any “nationally recognized statistical rating
organization” (as that term is defined by the Commission in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act).
(sss) There
are no transfer, stamp, issue, registration, documentary or other similar taxes, duties, fees or charges under U.S. federal law
or the laws of any state, or any political subdivision thereof, or under the laws of any non-U.S. jurisdiction, required to be
paid in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the issuance or sale by the Company of the Firm Units and,
if purchased, the Additional Units.
Any certificate signed
by any officer of the Company and delivered to the Representative or counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the Offering
shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Company, as to matters covered thereby, to each Underwriter.
2. Purchase
of the Units by the Underwriters. On the basis of the representations, warranties and covenants contained in, and subject to
the terms and conditions of, this Agreement, the Company agrees to sell 25,000,000 Firm Units to the several Underwriters, and
each of the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase the number of Firm Units set forth opposite that Underwriter’s
name in Schedule I hereto. The respective purchase obligations of the Underwriters with respect to the Firm Units shall
be rounded among the Underwriters to avoid fractional units, as the Representative may determine.
In addition, the Company
grants to the Underwriters the option (the “Over-Allotment Option”) to purchase up to 3,750,000 Additional
Units. Such Over-Allotment Option is exercisable in the event that the Underwriters sell more units than the number of Firm Units
in the Offering and as set forth in Section 4 hereof. Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase
the number of Additional Units (subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional units as the Representative may determine)
that bears the same proportion to the total number of Additional Units to be sold on such Delivery Date as the number of Firm Units
set forth in Schedule I hereto opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm Units.
The purchase price payable
by the Underwriters for both the Firm Units and any Additional Units is $9.80 per Unit (the “Purchase Price”).
The Company is not obligated
to deliver any of the Firm Units or Additional Units to be delivered on the applicable Delivery Date, except upon payment for all
such Units to be purchased on such Delivery Date as provided herein.
In addition to the discount
from the public offering price represented by the Purchase Price set forth above, the Company hereby agrees to pay to the Underwriters
a deferred discount of $0.35 per Unit (including both Firm Units and Additional Units) purchased hereunder (the “Deferred
Discount”), subject to Section 5(mm) hereof. The Underwriters hereby agree that if no Business Combination
is consummated within the time period provided in the Certificate of Incorporation and the funds held under the Trust Agreement
are distributed to the holders of the shares of Common Stock included in the Units sold pursuant to this Agreement (the “Public
Stockholders”), (a) the Underwriters will forfeit any rights or claims to the Deferred Discount and (b) the
trustee under the Trust Agreement is authorized to distribute the Deferred Discount to the Public Stockholders on a pro rata basis.
3. Offering
of Units by the Underwriters. Upon authorization by the Representative of the release of the Firm Units, the several Underwriters
propose to offer the Firm Units for sale upon the terms and conditions to be set forth in the Prospectus.
4. Delivery
of and Payment for the Units. Delivery of and payment for the Firm Units (including the Deferred Discount) shall be made at
10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the third full business day following the date of this Agreement or at such other date
or place as shall be determined by agreement between the Representative and the Company. This date and time are sometimes referred
to as the “Initial Delivery Date.” Delivery of the Firm Units shall be made to the Representative for
the account of each Underwriter against payment by the several Underwriters through the Representative and of the aggregate purchase
price of the Firm Units being sold by the Company to or upon the order of the Company of the purchase price by wire transfer in
immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Company. Time shall be of the essence, and delivery at the time and
place specified pursuant to this Agreement is a further condition of the obligation of each Underwriter hereunder. The Company
shall deliver the Firm Units through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) unless the
Representative shall otherwise instruct.
The Over-Allotment Option
will expire 45 days after the date of this Agreement and may be exercised in whole or from time to time in part by written notice
being given to the Company by the Representative; provided that if such date falls on a day that is not a business day,
the Over-Allotment Option will expire on the next succeeding business day. Such notice shall set forth the aggregate number of
Additional Units as to which the Over-Allotment Option is being exercised, the names in which the Additional Units are to be registered,
the denominations in which the Additional Units are to be issued and the date and time, as determined by the Representative, when
the Additional Units are to be delivered; provided, however, that this date and time shall not be earlier than the Initial
Delivery Date nor earlier than the second business day after the date on which the Over-Allotment Option shall have been exercised
nor later than the fifth business day after the date on which the Over-Allotment Option shall have been exercised. Each date and
time the Additional Units are delivered is sometimes referred to as an “Additional Unit Delivery Date,”
and the Initial Delivery Date and any Over-Allotment Unit Delivery Date are sometimes each referred to as a “Delivery
Date.”
Delivery of the Additional
Units by the Company and payment for the Additional Units (including the Deferred Discount) by the several Underwriters through
the Representative shall be made at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the date specified in the corresponding notice described
in the preceding paragraph or at such other date or place as shall be determined by agreement between the Representative and the
Company. On each Over-Allotment Unit Delivery Date, the Company shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, the Additional Units,
to the Representative for the account of each Underwriter, against payment by the several Underwriters through the Representative
of the respective aggregate purchase prices of the Additional Units being sold by the Company to or upon the order of the Company
of the purchase price by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Company. Time shall be of
the essence, and delivery at the time and place specified pursuant to this Agreement is a further condition of the obligation of
each Underwriter hereunder. The Company shall deliver the Additional Units through the facilities of DTC unless the Representative
shall otherwise instruct.
5. Further
Agreements of the Company and the Underwriters. The Company agrees:
(a) To
prepare the Prospectus in a form approved by the Representative and to file such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under
the Securities Act not later than the Commission’s close of business on the second business day following the execution and
delivery of this Agreement; to make no further amendment or any supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus prior
to the last Delivery Date except as provided herein; to advise the Representative, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of
the time when any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, the Exchange Act Registration Statement or the Prospectus
has been filed and to furnish the Representative with copies thereof; to advise the Representative, promptly after it receives
notice thereof, of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus,
of the suspension of the qualification of the Units for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or threatening
of any proceeding or examination for any such purpose, or any notice from the Commission objecting to the use of the form of Registration
Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, or of any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the
Registration Statement, the Exchange Act Registration Statement or the Prospectus or for additional information; and, in the event
of the issuance of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus or suspending any such qualification,
to use promptly its best efforts to obtain its withdrawal.
(b) To
furnish promptly to the Representative and to counsel for the Underwriters a signed copy of the Registration Statement as originally
filed with the Commission, and each amendment thereto filed with the Commission, including all consents and exhibits filed therewith.
(c) To
deliver promptly to the Representative such number of the following documents as the Representative shall reasonably request: (i) conformed
copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed with the Commission and each amendment thereto (in each case excluding
exhibits) and (ii) each Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and any amended or supplemented Prospectus; and, if the delivery
of a prospectus is required at any time after the date hereof in connection with the Offering or any other securities relating
thereto and if at such time any events shall have occurred as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented
would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made when such Prospectus is delivered, not misleading, or, if
for any other reason it shall be necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to comply with the Securities Act, to
notify the Representative and, upon its request, to file such document and to prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter
and to any dealer in securities as many copies as the Representative may from time to time reasonably request of an amended or
supplemented Prospectus that will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance.
(d) To
file promptly with the Commission any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus that may, in the
judgment of the Company or the Representative, be required by the Securities Act or requested by the Commission.
(e) Prior
to filing with the Commission any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, to furnish a copy thereof
to the Representative and counsel for the Underwriters and obtain the consent of the Representative to the filing.
(f) Not
to make any offer relating to the Units that constitutes or would constitute a Free Writing Prospectus or a portion thereof required
to be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company under Rule 433 of the Securities Act.
(g) As
soon as practicable after the Effective Date (it being understood that the Company shall have until at least 410 days or, if the
fourth quarter following the fiscal quarter that includes the Effective Date is the last fiscal quarter of the Company’s
fiscal year, 455 days after the end of the Company’s current fiscal quarter), to make generally available to the Company’s
security holders and to deliver to the Representative an earnings statement of the Company (which need not be audited) complying
with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder (including, at the option of the
Company, Rule 158).
(h) Promptly
from time to time to take such action as the Representative may reasonably request to qualify the Units for offering and sale under
the securities or Blue Sky laws of Canada and such other jurisdictions as the Representative may reasonably request and to comply
with such laws so as to permit the continuance of sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions for as long as may be necessary
to complete the distribution of the Units; provided, that in connection therewith the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify
as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction in which it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (ii) file a general
consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any jurisdiction in which it
would not otherwise be subject.
(i) Beginning
on the date hereof and ending on, and including, the date that is 180 days after the date of the Prospectus (the “Lock-Up
Period”), without the prior written consent of Barclays Capital Inc., not to (x) (i) issue, sell, offer
to sell, contract or agree to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agree to dispose
of, directly or indirectly, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position
within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder,
with respect to, any Unit, share of Common Stock, or Warrant or any other securities of the Company that are substantially similar
to the foregoing, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, or any warrants or other rights to purchase,
the foregoing, (ii) file, confidentially submit or cause to become effective a registration statement under the Securities
Act relating to the offer and sale of any Unit or any other securities of the Company that are substantially similar to the Units,
or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, or any warrants or other rights to purchase, the foregoing,
(iii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences
of ownership of Units, shares of Common Stock, or Warrants or any other securities of the Company that are substantially similar
to the foregoing, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, or any warrants or other rights to purchase,
the foregoing, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such security or such other securities, in cash or
otherwise or (iv) publicly announce an intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (i), (ii) or
(iii), except, in each case, that the Company may (A) issue and sell the Private Placement Warrants, (B) issue
and sell the Additional Units on exercise of the Over-Allotment Option, (C) register with the Commission pursuant to the Registration
Rights Agreement, in accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, the resale of the Founder Shares and the Private
Placement Warrants and warrants that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans (and any shares of Common Stock issued
or issuable upon the exercise of any such Private Placement Warrants or warrants issued upon conversion of the working capital
loans and upon conversion of the Founder Shares) and (D) issue securities in connection with a Business Combination or (y) release
the Sponsor or any officer, director or director nominee from the 180 day lock-up contained in the Letter Agreement or amend such
lock-up provision.
(j) At
least one business day prior to the Delivery Date, the Company shall cause the purchase price for the Private Placement Warrants
to be deposited into the Trust Account such that the cumulative amount deposited in the Trust Account as of such Delivery Date
shall equal the product of the number of Units issued in the Offering as of such Delivery Date and the public offering price per
Unit as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus.
(k) To
apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Units and the Private Placement Warrants received by it substantially in accordance
with the description as set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds.”
(l) To
file with the Commission such information on a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or Annual Report on Form 10-K as may be
required by Rule 463 under the Securities Act.
(m) If
the Company elects to rely upon Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, the Company shall file a Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement with the Commission in compliance with Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act by 10:00 P.M., Washington, D.C.
time, on the date of this Agreement, and the Company shall at the time of filing pay the Commission the filing fee for the Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement or give irrevocable instructions for the payment of such fee pursuant to Rule 111 of the Securities Act.
(n) The
Company will promptly notify the Representative if the Company ceases to be an Emerging Growth Company at any time prior to the
later of (i) the time when a prospectus relating to the offering or sale of the Units or any other securities relating thereto
is not required by the Securities Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities
Act or any similar rule) and (ii) completion of the Lock-Up Period.
(o) If
at any time following the distribution of any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication there occurred or occurs an event or development
as a result of which such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication included or would include an untrue statement of a material
fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Representative and will
promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication to eliminate or correct such untrue
statement or omission. The Company will promptly notify the Representative of (i) any distribution by the Company of Written
Testing-the-Waters Communications and (ii) any request by the Commission for information concerning the Written Testing-the-Waters
Communications.
(p) The
Company and its affiliates will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that has constituted or that reasonably
would be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company in connection
with the Offering.
(q) The
Company will do and perform all things required or necessary to be done and performed under this Agreement by it prior to each
Delivery Date, and to satisfy all conditions precedent to the Underwriters’ obligations hereunder to purchase the Units.
(r) For
a period commencing on the Effective Date and ending at least five years from the date of the consummation of the Business Combination
or until such earlier time at which the Liquidation (as defined below) occurs, the Company will use its best efforts to maintain
the registration of the Units, shares of Common Stock and Warrants under the provisions of the Exchange Act, except, in the case
of the Units, after the completion of a Business Combination; the Company will not deregister the Units, shares of Common Stock
or Warrants under the Exchange Act (except, in the case of the Units, after the completion of a Business Combination) without the
prior written consent of Barclays Capital Inc.; “Liquidation” means the distributions of the Trust Account
to the Public Stockholders in connection with the redemption of shares of Common Stock held by the Public Stockholders pursuant
to the terms of the Certificate of Incorporation if the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination.
(s) The
Company shall, on the date hereof, retain its independent registered public accounting firm to audit the balance sheet of the Company
as of the Initial Delivery Date (the “Audited Balance Sheet”) reflecting the receipt by the Company of
the proceeds of the Offering on the Initial Delivery Date; as soon as the Audited Balance Sheet becomes available, the Company
shall promptly, but not later than four business days after the Initial Delivery Date, file a Current Report on Form 8-K with
the Commission, which Report shall contain the Company’s Audited Balance Sheet; additionally, upon the Company’s receipt
of the proceeds from the exercise of all or any portion of the Over-Allotment Option, the Company shall promptly, but not later
than four business days after the receipt of such proceeds, file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Commission, which report
shall disclose the Company’s sale of the Additional Units and its receipt of the proceeds therefrom.
(t) For
a period commencing on the Effective Date and ending at least five years from the date of the consummation of the Business Combination
or until such earlier time at which the Liquidation occurs or the shares of Common Stock and Warrants cease to be publicly traded,
the Company, at its expense, shall cause its regularly engaged independent registered public accounting firm to review (but not
audit) the Company’s financial statements for each of the first three fiscal quarters of the year prior to the announcement
of quarterly financial information, the filing of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the mailing, if any,
of quarterly financial information to stockholders.
(u) For
a period commencing on the Effective Date and ending at least five years from the date of the consummation of the Business Combination
or until such earlier time at which the Liquidation occurs, the Company shall, to the extent such information or documents are
not otherwise publicly available, upon written request from any Representative, furnish to the Representative copies of such financial
statements and other periodic and special reports as the Company from time to time furnishes generally to holders of any class
of securities, and promptly furnish to the Representative: (i) a copy of such registration statements, financial statements
and periodic and special reports as the Company shall be required to file with the Commission and from time to time furnishes generally
to holders of any such class of its securities; and (ii) such additional documents and information with respect to the Company
and the affairs of any future subsidiaries of the Company as any Underwriter may from time to time reasonably request, all subject
to the execution of a satisfactory confidentiality agreement.
(v) For
a period commencing on the Effective Date and ending at least five years from the date of the consummation of the Business Combination
or until such earlier time at which the Liquidation occurs or the shares of Common Stock and Warrants cease to be publicly traded,
the Company shall retain a warrant agent.
(w) [RESERVED]
(x) The
Company will not consummate a Business Combination with any entity that is affiliated with the Sponsor or any of the Company’s
officers or directors unless it obtains an opinion from an independent investment banking firm which is a member of FINRA or another
independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions that the initial Business Combination is fair to the Company from a
financial point of view; other than as set forth in this subsection, the Company shall not pay the Sponsor or its affiliates or
any of the Company’s officers, directors or any of their respective affiliates any fees or compensation for services rendered
to the Company prior to, or in connection with, the consummation of a Business Combination; provided, however, that such
officers, directors and affiliates (i) may receive reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them related to identifying,
investigating and consummating a Business Combination to the extent that such expenses do not exceed the amount of available proceeds
not deposited in the Trust Account; and (ii) may be repaid for loans as described in the Registration Statement.
(y) For
a period of 60 days following the Effective Date, in the event any person or entity (regardless of any FINRA affiliation or association)
is engaged to assist the Company in its search for a merger candidate or to provide any other merger and acquisition services,
or has provided or will provide any investment banking, financial, advisory and/or consulting services to the Company, the Company
agrees that it shall promptly provide to the Representative and counsel for the Underwriters a notification prior to entering into
the agreement or transaction relating to a potential Business Combination containing: (i) the identity of the person or entity
providing any such services; (ii) complete details of all such services and copies of all agreements governing such services
prior to entering into the agreement or transaction; and (iii) justification as to why the value received by any person or
entity for such services is not underwriting compensation for the Offering; the Company also agrees that proper disclosure of such
arrangement or potential arrangement will be made in the tender offer materials or proxy statement, as applicable, which the Company
may file in connection with the Business Combination for purposes of offering redemption of shares held by its stockholders or
for soliciting stockholder approval, as applicable.
(z) The
Company shall advise the Representative and counsel for the Underwriters if the Company is aware that any 10% or greater stockholder
of the Company becomes an affiliate or associated person of a member of FINRA participating in the distribution of the Company’s
securities.
(aa) The
Company shall cause the proceeds of the Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants required to be held in the Trust
Account to be invested only in United States government treasury bills 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 as set forth in the Trust Agreement and disclosed
in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus; the Company will otherwise conduct its business in a manner so that it will not
become subject to the Investment Company Act; furthermore, once the Company consummates a Business Combination, it will not be
required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act.
(bb) During
the period prior to the Company’s initial Business Combination or the Liquidation, the Company may instruct the trustee
under the Trust Agreement to release from the Trust Account, solely from interest income earned on the funds held in the Trust
Account, the amounts necessary to pay its taxes; otherwise, all funds held in the Trust Account (including any interest income
earned on the amounts held in the Trust Account (which interest shall be net of taxes payable)) will remain in the Trust Account
until the earlier of the consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination or the Liquidation, or prior to such
time, to the extent required to pay for the redemption of the Public Shares of Public Stockholders who properly redeem their Public
Shares in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation (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 the Public Shares if the Company does not consummate a Business Combination within twenty-four (24) months
from the Initial Delivery Date or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial
Business Combination activity; provided, however, that in the event of the Liquidation, up to $100,000 of interest income
may be released to the Company if the proceeds of the Offering held outside of the Trust Account are not sufficient to cover the
costs and expenses associated with implementing the Company’s plan of dissolution.
(cc) The
Company will reserve and keep available the maximum number of its authorized but unissued securities that are issuable upon the
exercise of any of the Warrants outstanding from time to time.
(dd) Prior
to the consummation of a Business Combination or the Liquidation, the Company shall not issue any shares of Common Stock, Warrants
or any options or other securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock, or any shares of
preferred stock, in each case, that participate in any manner in the Trust Account or that vote as a class with the shares of Common
Stock on a Business Combination.
(ee) The
Company’s audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments made to the Sponsor, to the Company’s officers
or directors, or to the Company’s or any of such other persons’ respective affiliates.
(ff) The
Company agrees that it will use commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the Company from becoming subject to Rule 419 under
the Securities Act prior to the consummation of any Business Combination, including, but not limited to, using its best efforts
to prevent any of the Company’s outstanding securities from being deemed to be a “penny stock” as defined in
Rule 3a-51-1 under the Exchange Act during such period.
(gg) To
the extent required by Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act, the Company will maintain “disclosure controls and
procedures” (as defined under Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) and a system of internal accounting controls
sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general
or specific authorization, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary in order to permit preparation of financial statements
in accordance with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance
with management’s general or specific authorization and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with
existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.
(hh) As
soon as legally required to do so, the Company and its directors and officers, in their capacities as such, shall take all actions
necessary to comply with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302
and 906 related to certifications, and to comply with the rules and regulations of the Nasdaq;
(ii) The
Company shall not take any action or omit to take any action that would cause the Company to be in breach or violation of its Certificate
of Incorporation or its Bylaws.
(jj) The
Company will seek to have all vendors, service providers (other than its independent auditors), prospective target businesses,
lenders or other entities with which it does business enter into agreements waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any
kind in or to any monies held in the Trust Account for the benefit of the Public Stockholders.
(kk) The
Company, subject to any applicable provisions of its Certificate of Incorporation may consummate the initial Business Combination
and conduct redemptions of Public Shares for cash upon consummation of such Business Combination without a stockholder vote pursuant
to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E under the Exchange Act, including the filing of tender offer documents with the Commission;
such tender offer documents will include substantially the same financial and other information about the initial Business Combination
and the redemption rights as is required under the Commission’s proxy rules and will provide each stockholder of the
Company with the opportunity prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination to redeem the Public Shares held by
such stockholder for an amount of cash per share equal to (i) the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account as
of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination, representing (A) the net proceeds held
in the Trust Account from the Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants and (B) any interest income earned on
the funds held in the Trust Account not previously released to the Company to pay its taxes, divided by (ii) the total number
of shares of Common Stock sold as part of the Units in the Offering (the “Public Shares”) then outstanding;
if, however, the Company elects not to file such tender offer documents, a stockholder vote is required by law in connection with
the initial Business Combination, or the Company decides to hold a stockholder vote for business or other legal reasons, the Company
will submit such Business Combination to the Company’s stockholders for their approval (“Business Combination
Vote”); with respect to the Business Combination Vote, if any, the Sponsor and each of the Company’s directors
and officers party to the Letter Agreement has agreed to vote all of their respective Founder Shares and any other Public Shares
purchased during or after the Offering in favor of the Company’s initial Business Combination; if the Company seeks stockholder
approval of the initial Business Combination, the Company will offer to each Public Stockholder holding Public Shares the right
to have its Public Shares redeemed in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the proxy rules of the Commission
at a per share redemption price (the “Redemption Price”) payable in cash equal to (1) the aggregate
amount then on deposit in the Trust Account as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination,
representing (A) the net proceeds held in the Trust Account from the Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants
and (B) any interest income earned on the funds held in the Trust Account not previously released to the Company to pay its
taxes, divided by (2) the total number of Public Shares then outstanding; if the Company seeks stockholder approval of the
initial Business Combination, the Company may proceed with such Business Combination only if a majority of the outstanding shares
voted by the stockholders at a duly-held general meeting are voted to approve such Business Combination; if, after seeking and
receiving such stockholder approval, the Company elects to so proceed, it will redeem Public Shares, at the Redemption Price, from
those Public Stockholders who affirmatively requested such redemption; only Public Stockholders holding Public Shares who properly
exercise their redemption rights, in accordance with the applicable tender offer or proxy materials related to such Business Combination,
shall be entitled to receive distributions from the Trust Account in connection with an initial Business Combination, and the Company
shall pay no distributions with respect to any other holders of securities of the Company in connection therewith; in the event
that the Company does not effect a Business Combination by 24 months from the Initial Delivery Date (or such later date as has
been approved pursuant to an amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation), the Company will (x) cease all operations except
for the purpose of winding up, (y) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem
100% of the Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account
(including interest not previously released to the Company to pay its taxes, and less up to $100,000 of such net interest to pay
dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish the
Public Stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject
to applicable law, and (z) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s
remaining stockholders and the Company’s board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Company’s
obligations under the laws of the State of Delaware to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable
law; only Public Stockholders shall be entitled to receive such redemption amounts and the Company shall pay no such redemption
amounts or any distributions in liquidation with respect to any other securities of the Company; the Company will not propose any
amendment to its Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws (A) in a manner that would affect the substance or timing of the Company’s
obligation to allow redemption in connection with the Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the outstanding Public Shares if
the Company has not consummated a Business Combination within 24 months from the Initial Delivery Date (or such later date as has
been approved pursuant to an amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation) or (B) with respect to any other provision relating
to the rights of holders of Public Shares or pre-initial Business Combination activity, as described in Article IX
of the Certificate of Incorporation unless the Company offers the right to redeem the Public Shares in connection with such amendment.
(ll) In
the event that the Company desires or is required by an applicable law or regulation to cause an announcement (“Business
Combination Announcement”) to be placed in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times or any other news or media
publication or outlet or to be made via a public filing with the Commission announcing the consummation of the Business Combination
that indicates that the Underwriters were the underwriters in the Offering, the Company shall supply the Representative with a
draft of the Business Combination Announcement and provide the Representative with a reasonable advance opportunity to comment
thereon, subject to the agreement of the Underwriters to keep confidential such draft announcement in accordance with each such
Underwriter’s standard policies regarding confidential information.
(mm) Upon
the consummation of the initial Business Combination, the Company will pay to the Underwriters the Deferred Discount pro rata based
on the number of Firm Units set forth opposite the name of each Underwriter on Schedule I attached hereto; payment of the
Deferred Discount will be made out of the proceeds of the Offering held in the Trust Account; the Underwriters shall have no claim
to payment of any interest earned on the portion of the proceeds held in the Trust Account representing the Deferred Discount;
if the Company fails to consummate its initial Business Combination within 24 months from the Initial Delivery Date (or such later
date as has been approved pursuant to an amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation), the Deferred Discount will not be paid
to the Underwriters and will, instead, be included in the Liquidation distribution of the proceeds held in the Trust Account made
to the Public Stockholders; and in connection with any such Liquidation, the Underwriters forfeit any rights or claims to the Deferred
Discount.
(nn) For
so long as the Company is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13(g) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, to
maintain a transfer agent and, if necessary under the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Company, a registrar for the shares
of Common Stock.
(oo) To
use commercially reasonable efforts to effect and, for a period commencing on the Effective Date and ending at least five years
from the date of the consummation of the initial Business Combination or until such earlier time at which the Liquidation occurs
or the shares of Common Stock and Public Warrants cease to be publicly traded, maintain the listing of the Units, shares of Common
Stock and Public Warrants on the Nasdaq.
(pp) Upon
the earlier to occur of the expiration or termination of the Over-Allotment Option, the Company shall cancel or otherwise effect
the forfeiture of Founder Shares from the Sponsor, in an aggregate amount equal to the number of Founder Shares determined by multiplying
(a) 937,500 by (b) a fraction, (i) the numerator of which is 3,750,000 minus the number of Additional Units purchased
by the Underwriters upon the exercise of the Over-Allotment Option, and (ii) the denominator of which is 3,750,000. For the
avoidance of doubt, if the Underwriters exercises the Over-Allotment Option in full, the Company shall not cancel or otherwise
effect the forfeiture of any of the Founder Shares pursuant to this Section 5(pp).
6. Expenses.
The Company agrees, whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated,
to pay all expenses, costs and fees incident to and in connection with (a) the authorization, issuance, sale and delivery
of the Units, including any stamp or transfer taxes payable in connection with the original issuance of the Units, and the preparation
and printing of certificates for the Units; (b) the preparation, printing and filing of the Exchange Act Registration Statement,
the Registration Statement (including any exhibits thereto), any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Written Testing-the-Waters
Communication and any amendment or supplement thereto; (c) the distribution of the Registration Statement (including any exhibits
thereto), any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any “road show” (as defined in Rule 433 of the Securities
Act) presentations, any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication and any amendment or supplement thereto, all as provided in this
Agreement; (d) the production and distribution of this Agreement, any supplemental agreement among the Underwriters and any
other related documents in connection with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Units; (e) any required review
by FINRA of the terms of sale of the Units (including related fees and expenses of counsel to the Underwriters in an amount that
is not greater than $25,000); (f) the listing of the Units on the Nasdaq; (g) the qualification of the Units under the
securities laws of the several jurisdictions as provided in Section 5(h) hereof and the preparation, printing
and distribution of a Blue Sky memorandum (including related fees and expenses of counsel to the Underwriters); (h) the preparation,
printing and distribution of one or more versions of the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus for distribution in Canada,
including in the form of a Canadian “wrapper” (including related fees and expenses of Canadian counsel to the Underwriters);
(i) the preparation and printing of the investor presentations or any “road show” or any Testing-the-Waters Communication,
undertaken in connection with the marketing of the Units, including, without limitation, expenses associated with any electronic
road show, travel and lodging expenses of the representatives and officers of the Company and the cost of any aircraft chartered
in connection with the road show; and (j) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the
Company under this Agreement; provided that, except as provided in this Section 6 and in Section 11
hereof, the Underwriters shall pay their own costs and expenses, including the costs and expenses of their counsel, any transfer
taxes on the Units which they may sell and the expenses of advertising any offering of the Units made by the Underwriters.
7. Conditions
of Underwriters’ Obligations. The respective obligations of the Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy, when
made and on each Delivery Date, of the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein, to the performance by the
Company of its obligations hereunder, and to each of the following additional terms and conditions:
(a) The
Prospectus shall have been timely filed with the Commission in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof. No stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus shall have been
issued and no proceeding or examination for such purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; and any request
of the Commission for inclusion of additional information in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or otherwise shall have
been complied with. If the Company has elected to rely upon Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, the Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement shall have become effective by 10:00 P.M., Washington, D.C. time, on the date of this Agreement. The Exchange Act Registration
Statement shall have been filed and shall have become effective under the Exchange Act.
(b) No
Underwriter shall have discovered and disclosed to the Company on or prior to such Delivery Date that the Registration Statement
or any amendment or supplement thereto, contains an untrue statement of a fact which, based on the opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate,
Meagher & Flom LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, is material or omits to state a fact which, in the opinion of such counsel,
is material and is required to be stated therein or is necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.
(c) All
corporate proceedings and other legal matters incident to the authorization, form and validity of this Agreement, the Units, the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and all other legal matters relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby shall be reasonably satisfactory in all material respects to counsel for the Underwriters, and the Company shall have furnished
to such counsel all documents and information that they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.
(d) Paul
Hastings LLP, United States counsel for the Company, shall have furnished to the Representative its written opinion, as counsel
to the Company, addressed to the Underwriters and dated such Delivery Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative.
(e) The
Representative shall have received from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion
and negative assurance letter, dated such Delivery Date, with respect to the issuance and sale of the Units, the Registration Statement,
the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package and other related matters as the Representative may reasonably require, and the
Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they reasonably request for the purpose of enabling them to pass
upon such matters.
(f) At
the time of execution of this Agreement, the Representative shall have received from Marcum a letter, in form and substance satisfactory
to the Representative, addressed to the Underwriters and dated the date hereof (i) confirming that they are independent public
accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and are in compliance with the applicable requirements relating to the qualification
of accountants under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X of the Commission and (ii) stating, as of the date hereof (or, with
respect to matters involving changes or developments since the respective dates as of which specified financial information is
given in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, as of a date not more than three days prior to the date hereof), the conclusions
and findings of such firm with respect to the financial information and other matters ordinarily covered by accountants’
“comfort letters” to underwriters in connection with registered public offerings.
(g) With
respect to the letter of Marcum referred to in the preceding paragraph and delivered to the Representative concurrently with the
execution of this Agreement (the “initial letter”), the Representative shall have received a letter from
Marcum (the “bring-down letter”) addressed to the Representative and dated such Delivery Date (i) confirming
that they are independent public accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and are in compliance with the applicable
requirements relating to the qualification of accountants under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X of the Commission, (ii) stating,
as of the date of the bring-down letter (or, with respect to matters involving changes or developments since the respective dates
as of which specified financial information is given in the Prospectus, as of a date not more than three days prior to the date
of the bring-down letter), the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial information and other matters
covered by the initial letter and (iii) confirming in all material respects the conclusions and findings set forth in the
initial letter.
(h) The
Company shall have furnished to the Representative a certificate, dated such Delivery Date, of its Chief Executive Officer and
its Chief Financial Officer as to such matters as the Representative may reasonably request, including, without limitation, a statement:
(i) That
the representations, warranties and agreements of the Company in Section 1 hereof are true and correct on and as of
such Delivery Date, and the Company has complied with all its agreements contained herein and satisfied all the conditions on its
part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to such Delivery Date;
(ii) That
no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued; and no proceedings or examination for
that purpose have been instituted or, to the knowledge of such officers, threatened;
(iii) That
they have examined the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package, and, in their opinion, (A) (1) the
Registration Statement, as of the Effective Date, (2) the Prospectus, as of its date and on the applicable Delivery Date and
(3) the Pricing Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time, did not and do not contain any untrue statement of a material
fact and did not and do not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
(except in the case of the Registration Statement, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading,
and (B) since the Effective Date, no event has occurred that should have been set forth in a supplement or amendment to the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus that has not been so set forth; and
(iv) To
the effect of Section 7(j) (provided that no representation with respect to the judgment of the Representative
need be made).
(i) (i) the
Company shall not have sustained, since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the most recent Preliminary
Prospectus, any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by
insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, or (ii) since such date there shall
not have been any change in the capital stock, long-term debt, total assets or total current liabilities of the Company or any
change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations,
stockholders’ equity, properties, management, business or prospects of the Company, the effect of which, in any such case
described in clause (i) or (ii), is, individually or in the aggregate, in the judgment of the Representative,
so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Units
being delivered on such Delivery Date on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.
(j) Subsequent
to the execution and delivery of this Agreement there shall not have occurred any of the following: (i) (A) trading in
securities generally on any securities exchange that has registered with the Commission under Section 6 of the Exchange Act
(including the New York Stock Exchange, The Nasdaq Global Select Market, The Nasdaq Global Market or The Nasdaq Capital Market),
or (B) trading in any securities of the Company on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market, shall have been suspended
or materially limited or the settlement of such trading generally shall have been materially disrupted or minimum prices shall
have been established on any such exchange or such market by the Commission, by such exchange or by any other regulatory body or
governmental authority having jurisdiction, (ii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared
by federal or state authorities, (iii) the United States shall have become engaged in hostilities, there shall have been an
escalation in hostilities involving the United States or there shall have been a declaration of a national emergency or war by
the United States or (iv) there shall have occurred such a material adverse change in general economic, political or financial
conditions, including, without limitation, as a result of terrorist activities after the date hereof (or the effect of international
conditions on the financial markets in the United States shall be such) or any other calamity or crisis either within or outside
the United States, as to make it, in the judgment of the Representative, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public
offering or delivery of the Units being delivered on such Delivery Date on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.
(k) The
Nasdaq shall have approved the Units for listing subject only to official notice of issuance and evidence of satisfactory distribution.
(l) The
Company shall have furnished to the Representative at the time of purchase executed copies of the Trust Agreement, the Warrant
Agreement, the Securities Subscription Agreement, the Warrant Purchase Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Letter
Agreement.
(m) FINRA
shall not have raised any objection with respect to the fairness or reasonableness of the underwriting, or other arrangements of
the transactions, contemplated hereby.
(n) At
least one business day prior to such Delivery Date, the Company shall have caused proceeds from the Private Placement Warrants
sold by the Company to the Sponsor on such Delivery Date to be deposited into the Trust Account such that the cumulative amount
deposited into the Trust Account as of such Delivery Date shall equal the product of (i) the number of Units that have been
sold hereunder (including those sold on such Delivery Date) and (ii) $10.00.
(o) On
or prior to such Delivery Date, the Company shall have furnished to the Underwriters such further certificates and documents as
the Representative may reasonably request.
All opinions, letters,
evidence and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions
hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters.
8. Indemnification
and Contribution.
(a) The
Company hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates, directors, officers and employees and each
person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of
the Exchange Act, from and against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in respect thereof (including,
but not limited to, any loss, claim, damage, liability or action relating to purchases and sales of Units), to which that Underwriter,
affiliate, director, officer, employee or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar
as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact (i) contained in the Registration Statement, or
in any amendment or supplement thereto, required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading
or (ii) included in (A) any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, (B) any
materials or information provided to investors by, or with the approval of, the Company in connection with the marketing of the
Offering, including any “road show” and any Testing-the-Waters Communication (“Marketing Materials”),
or (C) any Blue Sky application or other document prepared or executed by the Company (or based upon any written information
furnished by the Company for use therein) specifically for the purpose of qualifying any or all of the Units under the securities
laws of any state or other jurisdiction (any such application, document or information being hereinafter called a “Blue
Sky Application”) necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading, and shall reimburse each Underwriter and each such affiliate, director, officer, employee or controlling
person promptly upon demand for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by that Underwriter, affiliate, director, officer,
employee or controlling person in connection with investigating or defending or preparing to defend against any such loss, claim,
damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in any
such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, any untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the
Prospectus, any Marketing Materials or any Blue Sky Application, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information concerning
such Underwriter furnished to the Company through the Representative by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion
therein, which information consists solely of the information specified in Section 8(e). The foregoing indemnity agreement
is in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have to any Underwriter or to any affiliate, director, officer,
employee or controlling person of that Underwriter.
(b) Each
Underwriter, severally and not jointly, shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors (including any person who,
with his or her consent, is named in the Registration Statement as about to become a director of the Company), officers and employees,
and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20
of the Exchange Act, from and against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or several, or any action in respect thereof,
to which the Company or any such director, officer, employee or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act
or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact (i) contained in the
Registration Statement, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading or (ii) included in (A) any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement
thereto, (B) any Marketing Materials or (C) any Blue Sky Application necessary in order to make the statements therein,
in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, but in each case only to the extent that the untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information concerning such Underwriter furnished to the Company through the Representative by or on behalf of that Underwriter
specifically for inclusion therein, which information is limited to the information set forth in Section 8(e). The
foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to any liability that any Underwriter may otherwise have to the Company or any such
director, officer, employee or controlling person.
(c) Promptly
after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 of notice of any claim or the commencement of any action,
the indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 8,
notify the indemnifying party in writing of the claim or the commencement of that action; provided, however, that the failure
to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have under this Section 8 except
to the extent it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights and defenses) by such failure and,
provided, further, that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may
have to an indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 8. If any such claim or action shall be brought against
an indemnified party, and it shall notify the indemnifying party thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate
therein and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with any other similarly notified indemnifying party, to assume the defense
thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. After notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified
party of its election to assume the defense of such claim or action, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to the indemnified
party under this Section 8 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection
with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however, that the indemnified party shall
have the right to employ counsel to represent jointly the indemnified party and those other indemnified parties and their respective
directors, officers, employees and controlling persons who may be subject to liability arising out of any claim in respect of which
indemnity may be sought under this Section 8 if (i) the indemnified party and the indemnifying party shall have
so mutually agreed; (ii) the indemnifying party has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory
to the indemnified party; (iii) the indemnified party and its directors, officers, employees and controlling persons shall
have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to them that are different from or in addition to those available
to the indemnifying party; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both
the indemnified parties or their respective directors, officers, employees or controlling persons, on the one hand, and the indemnifying
party, on the other hand, and representation of both sets of parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or
potential differing interests between them, and in any such event the fees and expenses of such separate counsel shall be paid
by the indemnifying party. No indemnifying party shall (x) without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties (which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending
or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether
or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent
includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding
and does not include a statement as to, or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified
party, or (y) be liable for any settlement of any such action effected without its written consent (which consent shall not
be unreasonably withheld), but if settled with the consent of the indemnifying party or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff
in any such action, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any indemnified party from and against any loss
or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party
shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated
by Section 8(a) hereof, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding
effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying
party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance
with such request or disputed in good faith the indemnified party’s entitlement to such reimbursement prior to the date of
such settlement.
(d) If
the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 shall for any reason be unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless
an indemnified party under Section 8(a) or 8(b) in respect of any loss, claim, damage or liability,
or any action in respect thereof, referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified
party, contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability,
or action in respect thereof, (i) in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by
the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, from the Offering, or (ii) if the allocation provided by
clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative
benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters,
on the other, with respect to the statements or omissions that resulted in such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in
respect thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company, on the
one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, with respect to such offering shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the
total net proceeds from the Offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company, as set forth in the table on the cover
page of the Prospectus, on the one hand, and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters
with respect to the Units purchased under this Agreement, as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus, on
the other hand. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or the Underwriters,
the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement
or omission. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 8(d) were
to be determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other
method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid or payable
by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, referred to above in
this Section 8(d) shall be deemed to include, for purposes of this Section 8(d), any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8(d), in no event shall an Underwriter be required to contribute any
amount in excess of the amount by which the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter with respect
to the Offering exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue
or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning
of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations to contribute as provided in this Section 8(d) are
several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint.
(e) The
Underwriters severally confirm and the Company acknowledges and agrees that the statements regarding delivery of Units by the Underwriters
set forth on the cover page of, and the concession and reallowance figures, the first paragraph relating to stabilization
by the Underwriters, the sentence relating to discretionary sales and the last sentence of the first paragraph relating to selling
restrictions appearing under the caption “Underwriting” in, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus
are correct and constitute the only information concerning such Underwriters furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf
of the Underwriters specifically for inclusion in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or in
any Marketing Materials.
9. Defaulting
Underwriters.
(a) If,
on any Delivery Date, any Underwriter defaults in its obligations to purchase the Units that it has agreed to purchase under this
Agreement, the remaining non-defaulting Underwriters may in their discretion arrange for the purchase of such Units by the non-defaulting
Underwriters or other persons satisfactory to the Company on the terms contained in this Agreement. If, within 36 hours after any
such default by any Underwriter, the non-defaulting Underwriters do not arrange for the purchase of such Units, then the Company
shall be entitled to a further period of 36 hours within which to procure other persons satisfactory to the non-defaulting Underwriters
to purchase such Units on such terms. In the event that within the respective prescribed periods, the non-defaulting Underwriters
notify the Company that they have so arranged for the purchase of such Units, or the Company notifies the non-defaulting Underwriters
that it has so arranged for the purchase of such Units, either the non-defaulting Underwriters or the Company may postpone such
Delivery Date for up to seven full business days in order to effect any changes that in the opinion of counsel for the Company
or counsel for the Underwriters may be necessary in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or in any other document or arrangement,
and the Company agrees to promptly prepare any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or in any
such other document or arrangement that effects any such changes. As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter”
includes, for all purposes of this Agreement unless the context requires otherwise, any party not listed in Schedule I hereto
that, pursuant to this Section 9, purchases Units that a defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase.
(b) If,
after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Units of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting
Underwriters and the Company as provided in Section 9(a), the total number of Units that remains unpurchased does not
exceed one-eleventh of the total number of Units, then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter
to purchase the total number of Units that such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder plus such Underwriter’s pro rata
share (based on the total number of Units that such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder) of the Units of such defaulting Underwriter
or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made; provided that each of the non-defaulting Underwriters shall
not be obligated to purchase more than 110% of the total number of Units that it agreed to purchase on such Delivery Date pursuant
to the terms of Section 2 hereof.
(c) If,
after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Units of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting
Underwriters and the Company as provided in Section 9(a), the total number of Units that remains unpurchased exceeds
one-eleventh of the total number of Units, or if the Company shall not exercise the right described in Section 9(b),
then this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of the non-defaulting Underwriters. Any termination of this Agreement
pursuant to this Section 9 shall be without liability on the part of the Company, except that the Company will continue
to be liable for the payment of expenses as set forth in Sections 6 and 11 hereof and except that the provisions
of Section 8 hereof shall not terminate and shall remain in effect.
10. Nothing
contained herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of any liability it may have to the Company or any non-defaulting Underwriter
for damages caused by its default.
11. Termination.
The obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be terminated by the Representative by notice given to and received by the Company
prior to delivery of and payment for the Firm Units if, prior to that time, any of the events described in Sections 7(j) and
7(k) hereof shall have occurred or if the Underwriters shall decline to purchase the Units for any reason permitted
under this Agreement.
12. Reimbursement
of Underwriters’ Expenses. If (a) the Company shall fail to tender the Units for delivery to the Underwriters for
any reason or (b) the Underwriters shall decline to purchase the Units for any reason permitted under this Agreement, the
Company will reimburse the Underwriters for all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable and documented
fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters) incurred by the Underwriters in connection with this Agreement and the
proposed purchase of the Units, and upon demand the Company shall pay the full amount thereof to the Representative. If this Agreement
is terminated pursuant to Section 9 hereof by reason of the default of one or more Underwriters, the Company shall
not be obligated to reimburse any defaulting Underwriter on account of those expenses.
13. Research
Analyst Independence. The Company acknowledges that the Underwriters’ research analysts and research departments are
required to be independent from their respective investment banking divisions and are subject to certain regulations and internal
policies, and that such Underwriters’ research analysts may hold views and make statements or investment recommendations
and/or publish research reports with respect to the Company and/or the Offering that differ from the views of their respective
investment banking divisions. The Company hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the
Company may have against the Underwriters with respect to any conflict of interest that may arise from the fact that the views
expressed by their independent research analysts and research departments may be different from or inconsistent with the views
or advice communicated to the Company by such Underwriters’ investment banking divisions. The Company acknowledges that each
of the Underwriters is a full service securities firm and as such from time to time, subject to applicable securities laws, may
effect transactions for its own account or the account of its customers and hold long or short positions in debt or equity securities
of the companies that may be the subject of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
14. No
Fiduciary Duty. The Company acknowledges and agrees that in connection with the Offering, sale of the Units or any other services
the Underwriters may be deemed to be providing hereunder, notwithstanding any preexisting relationship, advisory or otherwise,
between the parties or any oral representations or assurances previously or subsequently made by the Underwriters: (a) no
fiduciary or agency relationship between the Company and any other person, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other,
exists; (b) the Underwriters are not acting as advisors, expert or otherwise, to the Company, including, without limitation,
with respect to the determination of the public offering price of the Units, and such relationship between the Company, on the
one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, is entirely and solely commercial, based on arms-length negotiations; (c) any
duties and obligations that the Underwriters may have to the Company shall be limited to those duties and obligations specifically
stated herein; and (d) the Underwriters and their respective affiliates may have interests that differ from those of the Company.
The Company hereby waives any claims that the Company may have against the Underwriters with respect to any breach of fiduciary
duty in connection with the Offering.
15. Notices, etc.
All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in writing, and:
(a) if
to the Underwriters, shall be delivered or sent by mail or facsimile transmission to Barclays Capital Inc., 745 Seventh Avenue,
New York, New York 10019, Attention: Syndicate Registration (Fax: (646) 834-8133), with a copy, in the case of any notice pursuant
to Section 8(c) hereof, to the Director of Litigation, Office of the General Counsel, Barclays Capital Inc., 745
Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019; and
(b) if
to the Company, shall be delivered or sent by mail or electronic mail to the address of the Company set forth in the Registration
Statement, Attention: Kevin Nazemi, Chief Executive Officer (e-mail: kevin@dtocorp.com).
Any such statements, requests, notices
or agreements shall take effect at the time of receipt thereof. The Company shall be entitled to act and rely upon any request,
consent, notice or agreement given or made by the Underwriters or counsel for the Underwriters on behalf of the Underwriters. A
party may change its address for the purpose of receiving all statements, requests, notices and agreements by delivery of written
notice of such address change in accordance with the provisions of this Section 15.
16. Persons
Entitled to Benefit of Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Underwriters, the Company
and their respective successors. This Agreement and the terms and provisions hereof are for the sole benefit of only those persons,
except that (a) the representations, warranties, indemnities and agreements of the Company contained in this Agreement shall
also be deemed to be for the benefit of the directors, officers and employees of the Underwriters and each person or persons, if
any, who control any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, and (b) the indemnity agreement
of the Underwriters contained in Section 8(b) of this Agreement shall be deemed to be for the benefit of the directors
(including any person who, with his or her consent, is named in the Registration Statement as about to become a director) of the
Company, the officers of the Company, the employees of the Company and any person controlling the Company within the meaning of
Section 15 of the Securities Act. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, other than
the persons referred to in this Section 16, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this
Agreement or any provision contained herein.
17. Survival.
The respective indemnities, representations, warranties and agreements of the Company and the Underwriters contained in this Agreement
or made by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall survive the delivery of and payment for the Units
and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any of them or any person controlling
any of them.
18. Definition
of the Terms “Business Day” and “Affiliate.” For purposes of this Agreement, (a) “business
day” means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions in
New York are generally authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close, and (b) “affiliate”
has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
19. Governing
Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard
to conflict of laws principles (other than Section 5-1401 of the General Obligations Law).
20. Waiver
of Jury Trial. THE COMPANY AND THE UNDERWRITERS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVE, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW,
ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED
HEREBY.
21. Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts and, if executed in more than one counterpart, the executed counterparts
shall each be deemed to be an original but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. The words
“execution,” signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in this Agreement or in any other certificate,
agreement or document related to this Agreement or the offering and sale of the Units shall include images of manually executed
signatures transmitted by facsimile or other electronic format (including, without limitation, “pdf”, “tif”
or “jpg”) and other electronic signatures (including, without limitation, DocuSign and AdobeSign). The use of electronic
signatures and electronic records (including, without limitation, any contract or other record created, generated, sent, communicated,
received, or stored by electronic means) shall be of the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a manually executed
signature or use of a paper-based record-keeping system to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, including the Federal
Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act and any other
applicable law, including, without limitation, any state law based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.
22. Headings.
The headings herein are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning
or interpretation of, this Agreement.
23. Recognition
of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.
(a) In
the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity (as defined below) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special
Resolution Regime (as defined below), the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in
or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution
Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the
United States.
(b) In
the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate (as defined below) of such Underwriter becomes subject
to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights (as defined below) under this Agreement that may be exercised
against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the
U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.
For purposes of this Section 23,
the following terms shall have the following meaning: (i) “BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned
to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k); (ii) “Covered
Entity” means any of the following: (A) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted
in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (B) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted
in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (C) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted
in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b); (iii) “Default Right” has the meaning assigned to
that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable; and (iv) “U.S.
Special Resolution Regime” means each of (A) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated
thereunder and (B) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated
thereunder.
[Signature Page Follows]
If the foregoing correctly
sets forth the agreement between the Company and the Underwriters, please indicate your acceptance in the space provided for that
purpose below.
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Very
truly yours, |
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DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OPPORTUNITIES
CORP. |
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By: |
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Name: Kevin Nazemi |
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Title: Chief Executive
Officer |
Accepted: |
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Barclays
Capital Inc. |
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For
itself and as Representative |
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of the
several Underwriters named |
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in Schedule
I hereto |
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By: |
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Authorized Representative |
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Signature Page to
Underwriting Agreement
SCHEDULE I
Underwriters | |
Number of Firm Units | |
Barclays Capital Inc. | |
| 25,000,000 | |
Total | |
| 25,000,000 | |
SCHEDULE II
ORALLY CONVEYED PRICING INFORMATION
1. Public offering price per unit: $10.00
2. Number of units offered: 25,000,000
SCHEDULE III
ROAD SHOW MATERIALS
Road Show Presentation dated [●] 2021
SCHEDULE IV
WRITTEN TESTING-THE-WATERS COMMUNICATIONS
Pre-Marketing Presentation dated February 2021
Exhibit 3.2
AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
Digital Transformation Opportunities Corp.
______________, 2021
Digital Transformation Opportunities Corp.,
a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), DOES HEREBY
CERTIFY AS FOLLOWS:
1. The name of the Corporation is “Digital
Transformation Opportunities Corp.” The original certificate of incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the Secretary
of State of the State of Delaware on November 17, 2020 (the “Original Certificate”).
2. This Amended and Restated Certificate
of Incorporation (the “Amended and Restated Certificate”), which both restates and amends the provisions of
the Original Certificate, was duly adopted in accordance with Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State
of Delaware, as amended from time to time (the “DGCL”), and by written consent of the Corporation’s stockholders
in accordance with Section 228 of the DGCL.
3. This Amended and Restated Certificate
shall become effective on the date of filing with the Secretary of State of Delaware.
4. The text of the Original Certificate
is hereby restated and amended in its entirety to read as follows:
Article I
NAME
The name of the corporation is Digital Transformation
Opportunities Corp. (the “Corporation”).
Article II
PURPOSE
The purpose of the Corporation is to engage
in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the DGCL. In addition to the powers and privileges
conferred upon the Corporation by law and those incidental thereto, the Corporation shall possess and may exercise all the powers
and privileges that are necessary or convenient to the conduct, promotion or attainment of the business or purposes of the Corporation,
including, but not limited to, effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or
similar business combination, involving the Corporation and one or more businesses (a “Business Combination”).
Article III
REGISTERED AGENT
The address of the Corporation’s registered
office in the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19801. The name of its registered
agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.
Exhibit 3.2
Article IV
CAPITALIZATION
Section 4.1 Authorized Capital
Stock. The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock, each with a par value of $0.0001 per share, which the
Corporation is authorized to issue is 221,000,000 shares, consisting of (a) 220,000,000 shares of common stock (the “Common
Stock”), including (i) 200,000,000 shares of Class A common stock (the “Class A Common Stock”)
and (ii) 20,000,000 shares of Class B common stock (the “Class B Common Stock”), and (b) 1,000,000
shares of preferred stock (the “Preferred Stock”).
Section 4.2 Preferred Stock.
Subject to Article IX of this Amended and Restated Certificate, the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”)
is hereby expressly authorized to provide out of the unissued shares of the Preferred Stock for one or more series of Preferred
Stock and to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series and to fix the voting rights,
if any, designations, powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional, special and other rights, if any, of each such
series and any qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, as shall be stated in the resolution or resolutions adopted
by the Board providing for the issuance of such series and included in a certificate of designation (a “Preferred Stock
Designation”) filed pursuant to the DGCL, and the Board is hereby expressly vested with the authority to the full extent
provided by law, now or hereafter, to adopt any such resolution or resolutions.
Section 4.3 Common Stock.
(a) Voting.
(i) Except as otherwise required
by law or this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), the holders of the Common Stock shall
exclusively possess all voting power with respect to the Corporation.
(ii) Except as otherwise required
by law or this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), the holders of shares of Common Stock
shall be entitled to one vote for each such share on each matter properly submitted to the stockholders on which the holders of
the Common Stock are entitled to vote.
(iii) Prior to the closing
of the initial Business Combination, the holders of Class B Common Stock shall have the exclusive right to elect, remove and
replace any director, and the holders of Class A Common Stock shall have no right to vote on the election, removal or replacement
of any director. This Section 4.3(a)(iii) may only be amended by a resolution passed by holders of a majority
of the shares of outstanding Class B Common Stock. Following the initial Business Combination, except as otherwise required
by law or this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), at any annual or special meeting of
the stockholders of the Corporation, holders of the Class A Common Stock and holders of the Class B Common Stock, voting
together as a single class, shall have the exclusive right to vote for the election of directors and on all other matters properly
submitted to a vote of the stockholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise required by law or this Amended and
Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), holders of shares of any series of Common Stock shall not be
entitled to vote on any amendment to this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any amendment to any Preferred Stock Designation)
that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock or other series of Common Stock if the holders
of such affected series of Preferred Stock or Common Stock, as applicable, are entitled exclusively, either separately or together
with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate (including
any Preferred Stock Designation) or the DGCL.
Exhibit 3.2
(b) Class B Common Stock.
(i) Shares of Class B
Common Stock shall be convertible into shares of Class A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis (the “Initial Conversion
Ratio”) (A) at any time and from time to time at the option of the holder thereof and (B) automatically upon
the closing of the Business Combination.
(ii) Notwithstanding the Initial
Conversion Ratio, in the case that additional shares of Class A Common Stock, or equity-linked securities (as defined below),
are issued or deemed issued in excess of the amounts sold in the Corporation’s initial public offering of securities (the
“Offering”) and related to the closing of the initial Business Combination, all issued and outstanding shares
of Class B Common Stock shall automatically convert into shares of Class A Common Stock at the time of the closing of
the initial Business Combination at a ratio for which:
| · | the numerator shall be equal to the sum of (A) 25% of all shares of Class A Common Stock issued or issuable (upon
the conversion or exercise of any equity-linked securities or otherwise) by the Corporation, related to or in connection with the
consummation of the initial Business Combination (excluding any shares of Class A Common Stock or equity-linked securities
issued or issuable to any seller in the initial Business Combination and any private placement warrants issued to Digital Transformation
Sponsor LLC (the “Sponsor”) or its affiliates upon conversion of loans to the Corporation) plus (B) the
number of shares of Class B Common Stock issued and outstanding prior to the closing of the initial Business Combination;
and |
| · | the denominator shall be the number of shares of Class B Common Stock issued and outstanding prior to the closing of the
initial Business Combination. |
As used herein, the term “equity-linked securities”
means any securities of the Corporation which are convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained herein, (i) the foregoing adjustment to the Initial Conversion Ratio may be waived as to any particular issuance
or deemed issuance of additional shares of Class A Common Stock or equity-linked securities by the written consent or agreement
of holders of a majority of the shares of Class B Common Stock then outstanding consenting or agreeing separately as a single
class in the manner provided in Section 4.3(b)(iii), and (ii) in no event shall the Class B Common Stock
convert into Class A Common Stock at a ratio that is less than one-for-one.
The foregoing conversion ratio shall also
be adjusted to account for any subdivision (by stock split, subdivision, exchange, stock dividend, reclassification, recapitalization
or otherwise) or combination (by reverse stock split, exchange, reclassification, recapitalization or otherwise) or similar reclassification
or recapitalization of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock into a greater or lesser number of shares occurring
after the original filing of this Amended and Restated Certificate without a proportionate and corresponding subdivision, combination
or similar reclassification or recapitalization of the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock.
Exhibit 3.2
Each share of Class B Common Stock
shall convert into its pro rata number of shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to this Section 4.3(b).
The pro rata share for each holder of Class B Common Stock will be determined as follows: Each share of Class B
Common Stock shall convert into such number of shares of Class A Common Stock as is equal to the product of one (1) multiplied
by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the total number of shares of Class A Common Stock into which all of the issued
and outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock shall be converted pursuant to this Section 4.3(b) and the
denominator of which shall be the total number of issued and outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock at the time of conversion.
(iii) Voting. Except
as otherwise required by law or this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), for so long
as any shares of Class B Common Stock shall remain outstanding, the Corporation shall not, without the prior vote or written
consent of the holders of a majority of the shares of Class B Common Stock then outstanding, voting separately as a single
class, amend, alter or repeal any provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise,
if such amendment, alteration or repeal would alter or change the powers, preferences or relative, participating, optional or other
or special rights of the Class B Common Stock. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the holders
of Class B Common Stock may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents
in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of the outstanding Class B Common Stock having
not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares
of Class B Common Stock were present and voted and shall be delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office
in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book
in which minutes of proceedings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the Corporation’s registered office shall
be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. Prompt written notice of the taking of corporate action
without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent of the holders of Class B Common Stock shall, to the extent required
by law, be given to those holders of Class B Common Stock who have not consented in writing and who, if the action had been
taken at a meeting, would have been entitled to notice of the meeting if the record date for notice of such meeting had been the
date that written consents signed by a sufficient number of holders of Class B Common Stock to take the action were delivered
to the Corporation.
(c) Dividends. Subject
to applicable law, the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of the Preferred Stock and the provisions of Article IX
hereof, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive such dividends and other distributions (payable
in cash, property or capital stock of the Corporation) when, as and if declared thereon by the Board from time to time out of any
assets or funds of the Corporation legally available therefor and shall share equally on a per share basis in such dividends and
distributions.
(d) Liquidation, Dissolution
or Winding Up of the Corporation. Subject to applicable law, the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of
the Preferred Stock and the provisions of Article IX hereof, in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the
Corporation, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive all the remaining assets of the Corporation available
for distribution to its stockholders, ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock (on an as converted
basis with respect to the Class B Common Stock) held by them.
Exhibit 3.2
Section 4.4 Rights and Options.
The Corporation has the authority to create and issue rights, warrants and options entitling the holders thereof to acquire from
the Corporation any shares of its capital stock of any class or classes, with such rights, warrants and options to be evidenced
by or in instrument(s) approved by the Board. The Board is empowered to set the exercise price, duration, times for exercise
and other terms and conditions of such rights, warrants or options; provided, however, that the consideration to be received for
any shares of capital stock issuable upon exercise thereof may not be less than the par value thereof.
Article V
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 5.1 Board Powers.
The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by, or under the direction of, the Board. In addition to the powers
and authority expressly conferred upon the Board by statute, this Amended and Restated Certificate or the Bylaws of the Corporation
then in effect (the “Bylaws”), the Board is hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts
and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation, subject, nevertheless, to the provisions of the DGCL, this Amended and
Restated Certificate, and any Bylaws adopted by the stockholders of the Corporation; provided, however, that no Bylaws hereafter
adopted by the stockholders of the Corporation shall invalidate any prior act of the Board that would have been valid if such Bylaws
had not been adopted.
Section 5.2 Number, Election
and Term.
(a) The number of directors
of the Corporation shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of
the Board, subject to any contractual rights of stockholders or any series of the Preferred Stock to elect directors.
(b) Subject to Section 5.5
hereof, the Board shall be divided into two classes, as nearly equal in number as possible and designated Class I and
Class II. The term of the initial Class I Directors shall expire at the first annual meeting of the stockholders of the
Corporation following the effectiveness of this Amended and Restated Certificate; and the term of the initial Class II Directors
shall expire at the second annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Amended and
Restated Certificate. At each succeeding annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, beginning with the first annual
meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Amended and Restated Certificate, each of the
successors elected to the class of directors whose term expires at that annual meeting shall be elected for a two-year term or
until the election and qualification of their respective successors in office, subject to their earlier death, resignation or removal.
Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, if the number of directors that constitutes the Board is changed, any increase or decrease
shall be apportioned by the Board among the classes so as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly equal as
possible, but in no case shall a decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board shorten the term of any incumbent director.
Subject to any contractual rights of stockholders, in accordance with the DGCL, or the rights of the holders of one or more series
of Preferred Stock, voting separately by class or series, to elect directors pursuant to the terms of one or more series of Preferred
Stock, the election of directors shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast by the stockholders present in person or
represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon. The Board is hereby expressly authorized, by resolution or resolutions
thereof, to assign members of the Board already in office to the aforesaid classes at the time this Amended and Restated Certificate
(and therefore such classification) becomes effective in accordance with the DGCL.
Exhibit 3.2
(c) Subject to Section 5.5
hereof, a director shall hold office until the annual meeting for the year in which his or her term expires and until his or
her successor has been elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, resignation, retirement,
disqualification or removal.
(d) Unless and except to
the extent that the Bylaws shall so require, the election of directors need not be by written ballot.
Section 5.3 Newly Created Directorships
and Vacancies. Subject to Section 5.5 hereof and the contractual rights of any stockholder, in accordance with
the DGCL, newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors and any vacancies on the Board resulting
from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal or other cause may be filled solely and exclusively by a majority
vote of the remaining directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director (and not by stockholders),
and any director so chosen shall hold office for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors to which the new directorship
was added or in which the vacancy occurred and until his or her successor has been elected and qualified, subject, however, to
such director’s earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.
Section 5.4 Removal.
Subject to Section 5.5 hereof and the contractual rights of any stockholder, in accordance with the DGCL, any or all
of the directors may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of holders of a majority
of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election
of directors, voting together as a single class.
Section 5.5 Preferred Stock -
Directors. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article V, and except as otherwise required by law,
whenever the holders of one or more series of the Preferred Stock shall have the right, voting separately by class or series, to
elect one or more directors, the term of office, the filling of vacancies, the removal from office and other features of such directorships
shall be governed by the terms of such series of the Preferred Stock as set forth in this Amended and Restated Certificate (including
any Preferred Stock Designation) and such directors shall not be included in any of the classes created pursuant to this Article V
unless expressly provided by such terms.
Article VI
BYLAWS
In furtherance and not in limitation of
the powers conferred upon it by law, the Board shall have the power and is expressly authorized to adopt, amend, alter or repeal
the Bylaws. The affirmative vote of a majority of the Board shall be required to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws. The
Bylaws also may be adopted, amended, altered or repealed by the stockholders; provided, however, that in addition to any vote of
the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation required by law or by this Amended and Restated Certificate
(including any Preferred Stock Designation), the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of
all then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting
together as a single class, shall be required for the stockholders to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws; and provided further,
however, that no Bylaws hereafter adopted by the stockholders shall invalidate any prior act of the Board that would have been
valid if such Bylaws had not been adopted.
Exhibit 3.2
Article VII
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS; ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT
Section 7.1 Special Meetings.
Subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of the Preferred Stock, and to the requirements of applicable
law, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer
of the Corporation, or the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board, and the ability of the stockholders
of the Corporation to call a special meeting is hereby specifically denied. Except as provided in the foregoing sentence, special
meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may not be called by another person or persons.
Section 7.2 Advance Notice.
Advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election of directors and of business to be brought by stockholders before any
meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be given in the manner provided in the Bylaws.
Section 7.3 Action by Written
Consent. Except as may be otherwise provided for or fixed pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate (including
any Preferred Stock Designation) relating to the rights of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock, subsequent
to the consummation of the Offering, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be
effected by a duly called annual or special meeting of such stockholders and may not be effected by written consent of the stockholders
other than with respect to our Class B Common Stock with respect to which action may be taken by written consent.
Article VIII
LIMITED LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION
Section 8.1 Limitation of Director
Liability. A director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary
damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is
not permitted under the DGCL as the same exists or may hereafter be amended unless they violated their duty of loyalty to the Corporation
or its stockholders, acted in bad faith, knowingly or intentionally violated the law, authorized unlawful payments of dividends,
unlawful stock purchases or unlawful redemptions, or derived improper personal benefit from their actions as directors. Any amendment,
modification or repeal of the foregoing sentence shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation
hereunder in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such amendment, modification or repeal.
Section 8.2 Indemnification and
Advancement of Expenses.
(a) To the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, the Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless
each person who is or was made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending
or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “proceeding”)
by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the
Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation
or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to an employee
benefit plan (an “indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity
as a director, officer, employee or agent, or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent, against
all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, Employee
Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”) excise taxes and penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably
incurred by such indemnitee in connection with such proceeding. The Corporation shall to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable
law pay the expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties
and amounts paid in settlement) incurred by an indemnitee in defending or otherwise participating in any proceeding in advance
of its final disposition; provided, however, that, solely to the extent required by applicable law, such payment of expenses in
advance of the final disposition of the proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking, by or on behalf of the indemnitee,
to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified under
this Section 8.2 or otherwise. The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses conferred by this Section 8.2
shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee
or agent and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions
of this Section 8.2(a), except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses, the
Corporation shall indemnify and advance expenses to an indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by
such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board.
Exhibit 3.2
(b) The rights to indemnification
and advancement of expenses conferred on any indemnitee by this Section 8.2 shall not be exclusive of any other rights
that any indemnitee may have or hereafter acquire under law, this Amended and Restated Certificate, the Bylaws, an agreement, vote
of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.
(c) Any repeal or amendment
of this Section 8.2 by the stockholders of the Corporation or by changes in law, or the adoption of any other provision
of this Amended and Restated Certificate inconsistent with this Section 8.2, shall, unless otherwise required by law,
be prospective only (except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification
rights on a retroactive basis than permitted prior thereto), and shall not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or
protection existing at the time of such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision in respect of any proceeding
(regardless of when such proceeding is first threatened, commenced or completed) arising out of, or related to, any act or omission
occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision.
(d) This Section 8.2
shall not limit the right of the Corporation, to the extent and in the manner authorized or permitted by law, to indemnify
and to advance expenses to persons other than indemnitees.
Article IX
BUSINESS COMBINATION REQUIREMENTS; EXISTENCE
Section 9.1 General.
(a) The provisions of this
Article IX shall apply during the period commencing upon the effectiveness of this Amended and Restated Certificate
and terminating upon the consummation of the Corporation’s initial Business Combination and no amendment to this Article IX
shall be effective prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination unless approved by the affirmative vote of
the holders of at least sixty-five percent (65%) of all then outstanding shares of the Common Stock.
Exhibit 3.2
(b) Immediately after the
Offering, a certain amount of the net offering proceeds received by the Corporation in the Offering (including the proceeds of
any exercise of the underwriter’s over-allotment option) and certain other amounts specified in the Corporation’s registration
statement on Form S-1, as initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 12,
2021, as amended (the “Registration Statement”), shall be deposited in a trust account (the “Trust
Account”), established for the benefit of the Public Stockholders (as defined below) pursuant to a trust agreement described
in the Registration Statement. Except for the withdrawal of interest to pay franchise and income taxes, none of the funds held
in the Trust Account (including the interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account) will be released from the Trust Account
until the earliest to occur of (i) the completion of the initial Business Combination, (ii) the redemption of 100% of
the Offering Shares (as defined below) not previously properly redeemed in accordance with clause (iii) below if the Corporation
does not complete its initial Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Offering and (iii) the redemption
of any Offering Shares properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote seeking to amend any provisions of this Amended
and Restated Certificate relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity (as described in Section 9.7).
Holders of shares of the Common Stock included as part of the units sold in the Offering (the “Offering Shares”)
(whether such Offering Shares were purchased in the Offering or in the secondary market following the Offering and whether or not
such holders are the Sponsor or officers or directors of the Corporation, or any affiliates of any of the foregoing) are referred
to herein as “Public Stockholders.”
Section 9.2 Redemption Rights.
(a) Prior to the consummation
of the initial Business Combination, the Corporation shall provide all holders of Offering Shares with the opportunity to have
their Offering Shares redeemed upon the consummation of the initial Business Combination pursuant to, and subject to the limitations
of, Sections 9.2(b) and 9.2(c) (such rights of such holders to have their Offering Shares redeemed pursuant
to such Sections, the “Redemption Rights”) hereof for cash equal to the applicable redemption price per share
determined in accordance with Section 9.2(b) hereof (the “Redemption Price”); provided, however,
that the Corporation shall not redeem Offering Shares to the extent that such redemption would result in the Corporation’s
failure to have net tangible assets (as determined in accordance with Rule 3a51-1(g)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) (or any successor rule)) of at least $5,000,001 or any greater net
tangible asset or cash requirement which may be contained in the agreement relating to the initial Business Combination upon consummation
of the initial Business Combination (such limitation hereinafter called the “Redemption Limitation”). Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in this Amended and Restated Certificate, there shall be no Redemption Rights or liquidating
distributions with respect to any warrant issued pursuant to the Offering.
Exhibit 3.2
(b) If the Corporation offers
to redeem the Offering Shares other than in conjunction with a stockholder vote on an initial Business Combination with a proxy
solicitation pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act (or any successor rules or regulations) and filing proxy materials
with the SEC, the Corporation shall offer to redeem the Offering Shares upon the consummation of the initial Business Combination,
subject to lawfully available funds therefor, in accordance with the provisions of Section 9.2(a) hereof, pursuant
to a tender offer in accordance with Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act (or any successor rule or regulation)
(such rules and regulations hereinafter called the “Tender Offer Rules”) which it shall commence prior
to the consummation of the initial Business Combination and shall file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to the consummation
of the initial Business Combination that 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 (or any successor rule or regulation)
(such rules and regulations hereinafter called the “Proxy Solicitation Rules”), even if such information
is not required under the Tender Offer Rules; provided, however, that if a stockholder vote is required by law to approve the proposed
initial Business Combination, or the Corporation decides to submit the proposed initial Business Combination to the stockholders
for their approval for business or other legal reasons, the Corporation shall offer to redeem the Offering Shares, subject to lawfully
available funds therefor, in accordance with the provisions of Section 9.2(a) hereof, in conjunction with a proxy
solicitation pursuant to the Proxy Solicitation Rules (and not the Tender Offer Rules) at a price per share equal to the Redemption
Price calculated in accordance with the following provisions of this Section 9.2(b). In the event that the Corporation
offers to redeem the Offering Shares pursuant to a tender offer in accordance with the Tender Offer Rules, the Redemption Price
per share of the Common Stock payable to holders of the Offering Shares tendering their Offering Shares pursuant to such tender
offer shall be equal to the quotient obtained by dividing: (i) the aggregate amount on deposit in the Trust Account as of
two business days prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination, including interest not previously released to
the Corporation to pay its franchise and income taxes, by (ii) the total number of then outstanding Offering Shares. If the
Corporation offers to redeem the Offering Shares in conjunction with a stockholder vote on the proposed initial Business Combination
pursuant to a proxy solicitation, the Redemption Price per share of the Common Stock payable to holders of the Offering Shares
exercising their Redemption Rights shall be equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (a) the aggregate amount on deposit
in the Trust Account as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial Business Combination, including interest
not previously released to the Corporation to pay its franchise and income taxes, by (b) the total number of then outstanding
Offering Shares.
(c) If the Corporation offers
to redeem the Offering Shares in conjunction with a stockholder vote on an initial Business Combination pursuant to a proxy solicitation,
a Public Stockholder, together with any affiliate of such stockholder or any other person with whom such stockholder is acting
in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), shall be restricted
from seeking Redemption Rights with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the Offering Shares without the prior consent of
the Corporation.
(d) In the event that the
Corporation has not consummated an initial Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Offering, the Corporation
shall (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not
more than ten business days thereafter subject to lawfully available funds therefor, redeem 100% of the Offering Shares in consideration
of a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the aggregate amount then on deposit
in the Trust Account, including interest not previously released to the Corporation to pay its franchise and income taxes (less
up to $100,000 of such net interest to pay dissolution expenses), by (B) the total number of then outstanding Offering Shares,
which redemption will completely extinguish rights of the Public Stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating
distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption,
subject to the approval of the remaining stockholders and the Board in accordance with applicable law, dissolve and liquidate,
subject in each case to the Corporation’s obligations under the DGCL to provide for claims of creditors and other requirements
of applicable law.
(e) If the Corporation offers
to redeem the Offering Shares in conjunction with a stockholder vote on an initial Business Combination, the Corporation shall
consummate the proposed initial Business Combination only if (i) such initial Business Combination is approved by the affirmative
vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of the Common Stock that are voted at a stockholder meeting held to consider such
initial Business Combination and (ii) the Redemption Limitation is not exceeded.
Exhibit 3.2
(f) If the Corporation conducts
a tender offer pursuant to Section 9.2(b), the Corporation shall consummate the proposed initial Business Combination
only if the Redemption Limitation is not exceeded.
Section 9.3 Distributions from
the Trust Account.
(a) A Public Stockholder
shall be entitled to receive funds from the Trust Account only as provided in Sections 9.2(a), 9.2(b), 9.2(d) or
9.7 hereof. In no other circumstances shall a Public Stockholder have any right or interest of any kind in or to distributions
from the Trust Account, and no stockholder other than a Public Stockholder shall have any interest in or to the Trust Account.
(b) Each Public Stockholder
that does not exercise its Redemption Rights shall retain its interest in the Corporation and shall be deemed to have given its
consent to the release of the remaining funds in the Trust Account to the Corporation, and following payment to any Public Stockholders
exercising their Redemption Rights, the remaining funds in the Trust Account shall be released to the Corporation.
(c) The exercise by a Public
Stockholder of the Redemption Rights shall be conditioned on such Public Stockholder following the specific procedures for redemptions
set forth by the Corporation in any applicable tender offer or proxy materials sent to the Public Stockholders relating to the
proposed initial Business Combination, including the requirement that any Public Stockholder holder that holds Offering Shares
beneficially through a nominee must identify itself to the Corporation in connection with any redemption election in order to validly
redeem such Offering Shares. Holders of Offering Shares seeking to exercise their Redemption Rights may be required to either tender
their certificates (if any) to the Corporation’s transfer agent or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically
using The Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System, at the holder’s option, in each
case up to two business days prior to the originally scheduled vote on the proposal to approve a Business Combination. Payment
of the amounts necessary to satisfy the Redemption Rights properly exercised shall be made as promptly as practical after the consummation
of the initial Business Combination.
Section 9.4 Share Issuances.
Prior to the consummation of the Corporation’s initial Business Combination, the Corporation shall not issue any additional
shares of capital stock of the Corporation that would entitle the holders thereof to receive funds from the Trust Account or vote
on any initial Business Combination, on any pre-Business Combination activity or on any amendment to this Article IX.
Section 9.5 Transactions with
Affiliates. In the event the Corporation enters into an initial Business Combination with a target business that is affiliated
with the Sponsor, or the directors or officers of the Corporation, the Corporation, or a committee of the independent directors
of the Corporation, shall obtain an opinion from an independent accounting firm or an independent investment banking firm that
such Business Combination is fair to the Corporation from a financial point of view.
Section 9.6 No Transactions with
Other Blank Check Companies. The Corporation shall not enter into an initial Business Combination with another blank check
company or a similar company with nominal operations.
Section 9.7 Additional Redemption
Rights. If, in accordance with Section 9.1(a), any amendment is made to Section 9.2(d) to
modify the substance or timing of the Corporation’s obligation to allow redemption in connection with the initial Business
Combination or to redeem 100% of the Offering Shares if the Corporation has not consummated an initial Business Combination within
24 months from the closing of the Offering or with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial
Business Combination activity, the Public Stockholders shall be provided with the opportunity to redeem their Offering Shares upon
the 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 not previously released to the Corporation to pay its franchise and income taxes, divided by
the number of then outstanding Offering Shares; provided, however, that any such amendment will be voided, and this Article IX
will remain unchanged, if any stockholders who wish to redeem are unable to redeem due to the Redemption Limitation.
Exhibit 3.2
Section 9.8 Minimum Value of
Target. The Corporation’s initial Business Combination must occur with one or more businesses that together have
an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of the net assets held in the Trust Account (excluding the deferred underwriting
discounts and commissions and taxes payable on the interest earned on the Trust Account) at the time of the agreement to enter
into the initial Business Combination.
Article X
CORPORATE OPPORTUNITY
To the extent allowed by law, the doctrine
of corporate opportunity, or any other analogous doctrine, shall not apply with respect to the Corporation or any of its officers
or directors, or any of their respective affiliates, in circumstances where the application of any such doctrine would conflict
with any fiduciary duties or contractual obligations they may have as of the date of this Amended and Restated Certificate or in
the future, and the Corporation renounces any expectancy that any of the directors or officers of the Corporation will offer any
such corporate opportunity of which he or she may become aware to the Corporation, except, the doctrine of corporate opportunity
shall apply with respect to any of the directors or officers of the Corporation only with respect to a corporate opportunity that
was offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation and (i) such opportunity
is one the Corporation is legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for the Corporation
to pursue and (ii) the director or officer is permitted to refer that opportunity to the Corporation without violating any
legal obligation.
Article XI
AMENDMENT OF AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
The Corporation reserves the right at any
time and from time to time to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Amended and Restated Certificate (including
any Preferred Stock Designation), and other provisions authorized by the laws of the State of Delaware at the time in force that
may be added or inserted, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by this Amended and Restated Certificate and the DGCL; and,
except as set forth in Article VIII, all rights, preferences and privileges of whatever nature herein conferred upon
stockholders, directors or any other persons by and pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate in its present form or as
hereafter amended are granted subject to the right reserved in this Article XI; provided, however, that
Article IX and Section 4.3(a)(iii) of this Amended and Restated Certificate may be amended only as
provided therein.
Exhibit 3.2
Article XII
EXCLUSIVE FORUM FOR CERTAIN LAWSUITS
Section
12.1 Forum. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of
Chancery of the State of Delaware shall be the sole and exclusive forum for any stockholder (including a beneficial owner) to
bring (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach
of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s
stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees arising pursuant
to any provision of the DGCL or this Amended and Restated Certificate or the Bylaws, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against
the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees governed by the internal affairs doctrine, except for, as to each of (i)
through (iv) above, any claim (A) as to which the Court of Chancery determines that there is an indispensable party not
subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction
of the Court of Chancery within ten days following such determination), (B) which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction
of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery, or (C) for which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter
jurisdiction. This exclusive forum provision will not apply to any action brought to enforce any duty or liability created
by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. Section
27 of the Exchange Act creates exclusive federal jurisdiction over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created
by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope
of this Section 12.1 is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of Delaware in the name of any stockholder,
such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to service of process on such stockholder’s counsel. Additionally, unless
the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts shall, to the fullest
extent permitted by law, be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Section 12.2 Severability.
If any provision or provisions of this Article XII shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied
to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity,
legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article XII
(including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Article XII containing any such provision
held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application
of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. Any person
or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have
notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article XII.
Article XIII
APPLICATION OF DGCL SECTION 203
Section 13.1 Section 203
of the DGCL. The Corporation hereby expressly elects not to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL.
Section 13.2 Limitation on Business
Combinations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall not engage in any business combination (as defined below),
at any point in time at which the Common Stock is registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act with
any interested stockholder (as defined below) for a period of three (3) years following the time that such stockholder became
an interested stockholder, unless:
(a) prior to such time, the
Board approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder;
or
Exhibit 3.2
(b) upon consummation of
the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least
eighty-five percent (85%) of the voting stock outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining
the voting stock outstanding (but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder) those shares owned by (i) persons
who are directors and also officers of the Corporation and (ii) employee stock plans in which employee participants do not
have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer;
or
(c) at or subsequent to that
time, the business combination is approved by the Board and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not
by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66-2/3% of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested
stockholder.
Section 13.3 Certain Definitions.
Solely for purposes of this Article XIII, references to:
(a) “affiliate”
means a person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common
control with, another person.
(b) “associate,”
when used to indicate a relationship with any person, means: (i) any corporation, partnership, unincorporated association
or other entity of which such person is a director, officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the owner of twenty percent
(20%) or more of any class of voting stock; (ii) any trust or other estate in which such person has at least a twenty percent
(20%) beneficial interest or as to which such person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity; and (iii) any relative
or spouse of such person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same residence as such person.
(c) “business combination,”
when used in reference to the Corporation and any interested stockholder of the Corporation, means:
(i) any merger or consolidation
of the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation (a) with the interested stockholder,
or (b) with any other corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity if the merger or consolidation
is caused by the interested stockholder and as a result of such merger or consolidation Section 13.2 is not applicable
to the surviving entity;
(ii) any sale, lease, exchange,
mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions), except proportionately as a stockholder
of the Corporation, to or with the interested stockholder, whether as part of a dissolution or otherwise, of assets of the Corporation
or of any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation which assets have an aggregate market value equal to
ten percent (10%) or more of either the aggregate market value of all the assets of the Corporation determined on a consolidated
basis or the aggregate market value of all the outstanding stock of the Corporation;
(iii) any transaction which
results in the issuance or transfer by the Corporation or by any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation
of any stock of the Corporation or of such subsidiary to the interested stockholder, except: (a) pursuant to the exercise,
exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into stock of the Corporation or any such
subsidiary which securities were outstanding prior to the time that the interested stockholder became such; (b) pursuant to
a merger under Section 251(g) of the DGCL; (c) pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made, or the exercise,
exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into stock of the Corporation or any such
subsidiary which security is distributed, pro rata to all stockholders of a class or series of stock of the Corporation subsequent
to the time the interested stockholder became such; (d) pursuant to an exchange offer by the Corporation to purchase stock
made on the same terms to all stockholders of said stock; or (e) any issuance or transfer of stock by the Corporation; provided,
however, that in no case under items (c)-(e) of this subsection (iii) shall there be an increase in the interested
stockholder’s proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the Corporation or of the voting stock of the Corporation
(except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments); or
Exhibit 3.2
(iv) any transaction involving
the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation which has the effect, directly or indirectly,
of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series, or securities convertible into the stock of any class
or series, of the Corporation or of any such subsidiary which is owned by the interested stockholder, except as a result of immaterial
changes due to fractional share adjustments or as a result of any purchase or redemption of any shares of stock not caused, directly
or indirectly, by the interested stockholder.
(d) “control,”
including the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with,”
means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a
person, whether through the ownership of voting stock, by contract, or otherwise. A person who is the owner of twenty percent (20%)
or more of the voting power of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other
entity shall be presumed to have control of such entity, in the absence of proof by a preponderance of the evidence to the contrary.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a presumption of control shall not apply where such person holds voting stock, in good faith and
not for the purpose of circumventing this Article XIII, as an agent, bank, broker, nominee, custodian or trustee for
one or more owners who do not individually or as a group have control of such entity.
(e) “Exempted Person”
means the Sponsor, its members and affiliates, any of its direct or indirect transferees of at least 15% of the Corporation’s
outstanding common stock and any “group” of which any such person is a part under Rule 13d-5 of the Exchange Act.
(f) “interested
stockholder” means any person (other than the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the
Corporation) that (i) is the owner of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the voting stock of the Corporation, or (ii) is
an affiliate or associate of the Corporation and was the owner of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the voting stock of the Corporation
at any time within the three (3) year period immediately prior to the date on which it is sought to be determined whether
such person is an interested stockholder; and the affiliates and associates of such person; but “interested stockholder”
shall not include (a) any Exempted Person, or (b) any person whose ownership of shares in excess of the fifteen percent
(15%) limitation set forth herein is the result of any action taken solely by the Corporation; provided that with respect to clause
(b) such person shall be an interested stockholder if thereafter such person acquires additional shares of voting stock of
the Corporation, except as a result of further corporate action not caused, directly or indirectly, by such person. For the purpose
of determining whether a person is an interested stockholder, the voting stock of the Corporation deemed to be outstanding shall
include stock deemed to be owned by the person through application of the definition of “owner” below but shall not
include any other unissued stock of the Corporation which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding,
or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or otherwise.
Exhibit 3.2
(g) “owner,”
including the terms “own” and “owned,” when used with respect to any stock, means a person
that individually or with or through any of its affiliates or associates:
(1) beneficially owns such
stock, directly or indirectly; or
(2) has (a) the right
to acquire such stock (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement,
arrangement or understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided,
however, that a person shall not be deemed the owner of stock tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such
person or any of such person’s affiliates or associates until such tendered stock is accepted for purchase or exchange; or
(b) the right to vote such stock pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided, however, that a person
shall not be deemed the owner of any stock because of such person’s right to vote such stock if the agreement, arrangement
or understanding to vote such stock arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given in response to a proxy or consent solicitation
made to ten (10) or more persons; or
(3) has any agreement, arrangement
or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent as described
in item (b) of subsection (2) above), or disposing of such stock with any other person that beneficially owns, or whose
affiliates or associates beneficially own, directly or indirectly, such stock.
(h) “person”
means any individual, corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity.
(i) “stock”
means, with respect to any corporation, capital stock and, with respect to any other entity, any equity interest.
(j) “voting stock”
means stock of any class or series entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.
Exhibit 3.2
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Digital Transformation
Opportunities Corp. has caused this Amended and Restated Certificate to be duly executed and acknowledged in its name and on its
behalf by an authorized officer as of the date first set forth above.
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DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
OPPORTUNITIES CORP. |
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By: |
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Name: |
Kevin Nazemi |
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Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
[Signature Page to Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation]
Exhibit 4.1
CUSIP
[●]
SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OPPORTUNITIES
CORP.
UNITS CONSISTING OF ONE SHARE OF CLASS A COMMON STOCK AND
ONE-
FOURTH OF ONE REDEEMABLE WARRANT, EACH WHOLE WARRANT ENTITLING THE HOLDER
TO PURCHASE ONE SHARE OF CLASS A COMMON STOCK
THIS CERTIFIES THAT ____________________
is the owner of _____________________ Units.
Each Unit (“Unit”) consists
of one (1) share of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”), of Digital Transformation Opportunities
Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and one-fourth of one redeemable warrant (“Warrant”). Each
whole Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one (1) share (subject to adjustment) of Common Stock for $11.50 per share (subject
to adjustment). Each Warrant will become exercisable on the thirty (30) days after the Company’s completion of a merger,
capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more
businesses (each a “Business Combination”) and will expire unless exercised before 5:00 p.m., New York City Time, on
the date that is five (5) years after the date on which the Company completes its initial Business Combination, or earlier upon
redemption or liquidation. The Common Stock and Warrants comprising the Units represented by this certificate are not transferable
separately prior to , 2021, unless the underwriter elects to allow separate trading earlier, subject to the Company’s filing
of a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission containing an audited balance sheet reflecting the
Company’s receipt of the gross proceeds of the Company’s initial public offering and issuing a press release announcing
when separate trading will begin. The terms of the Warrants are governed by a Warrant Agreement, dated as of , 2021, between the
Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Warrant Agent, and are subject to the terms and provisions contained
therein, all of which terms and provisions the holder of this certificate consents to by acceptance hereof. Copies of the Warrant
Agreement are on file at the office of the Warrant Agent at 1 State Street, 30th Floor, New York, New York 10004, and are available
to any Warrant holder on written request and without cost.
This certificate is not valid unless countersigned
by the Transfer Agent and Registrar of the Company.
This certificate shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.
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DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OPPORTUNITIES CORP. |
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By: |
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|
|
Name: |
Kevin Nazemi |
|
|
Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
|
CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY |
Digital Transformation Opportunities
Corp.
The Company will furnish without charge
to each unitholder who so requests, a statement of the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional
or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof of the Company and the qualifications, limitations, or restrictions
of such preferences and/or rights.
The following abbreviations, when used in
the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable
laws or regulations:
TEN COM |
— |
as tenants in common |
UNIF GIFT
MIN ACT |
— |
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Custodian |
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TEN ENT |
— |
as tenants by the entireties |
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(Cust) |
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(Minor) |
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JT TEN |
— |
as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common |
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under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act |
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(State) |
Additional abbreviations may also be used
though not in the above list.
For value received, _____________
hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto
___________________________________________
(PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE)
____________________________________________________________________
(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING
ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE)
Units represented
by the within Certificate, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint Attorney to transfer the said Units on the
books of the within named Company with full power of substitution in the premises.
Dated |
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Notice: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever. |
Signature(s) Guaranteed: |
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THE SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15 (OR ANY SUCCESSOR RULE) UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED). |
In each case, as more fully described in
the Company’s final prospectus dated , 2021, the
holder(s) of this certificate shall be entitled to receive a pro-rata portion of certain funds held in the trust account
established in connection with the Company’s initial public offering only in the event that (i) the Company redeems
the shares of Class A common stock sold in the Company’s initial public offering and liquidates because it does not
consummate an initial business combination within the period set forth in the Company’s amended and restated certificate
of incorporation, as the same may be amended from time to time, (ii) the Company redeems the shares of Class A common
stock sold in its initial public offering in connection with a stockholder vote to amend the Company’s amended and restated
certificate of incorporation (a) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to allow redemption
in connection with the Company’s initial business combination or to redeem 100% of the Class A common stock if it does
not consummate an initial business combination within the period set forth in the Company’s amended and restated certificate
of incorporation, as the same may be amended from time to time, or (b) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’
rights or pre-initial business combination activity, or (iii) if the holder(s) seek(s) to redeem for cash his,
her or its respective shares of Class A common stock in connection with a tender offer (or proxy solicitation, solely in
the event the Company seeks stockholder approval of the proposed initial business combination) setting forth the details of a
proposed initial business combination. In no other circumstances shall the holder(s) have any right or interest of any kind
in or to the trust account.
Exhibit 4.2
NUMBER |
SHARES |
C- |
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|
CUSIP [●] |
SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OPPORTUNITIES
CORP.
INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE
OF DELAWARE
CLASS A COMMON STOCK
This Certifies that ___________________________________
is the owner of ___________________________
FULLY PAID AND NON-ASSESSABLE SHARES OF
THE PAR VALUE OF $0.0001 EACH OF THE CLASS A COMMON STOCK OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OPPORTUNITIES CORP.
(THE “COMPANY”)
transferable on the books of the Company
in person or by duly authorized attorney upon surrender of this certificate properly endorsed.
The Company will be forced to redeem all
of its shares of Class A common stock if it does not complete a business combination within the period set forth in the Company’s
amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as the same may be amended from time to time, all as more fully described in
the Company’s final prospectus dated , 2021.
This certificate is not valid unless countersigned
by the Transfer Agent and registered by the Registrar.
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DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OPPORTUNITIES CORP. |
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By: |
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Name: |
Kevin Nazemi |
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Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
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CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY |
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By: |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OPPORTUNITIES
CORP.
The Company will furnish without charge
to each stockholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special
rights of each class of stock or series thereof of the Company and the qualifications, limitations, or restrictions of such preferences
and/or rights. This certificate and the shares represented thereby are issued and shall be held subject to all the provisions of
the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation and all amendments thereto and resolutions of the Board of
Directors providing for the issue of securities (copies of which may be obtained from the secretary of the Company), to all of
which the holder of this certificate by acceptance hereof assents. The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on
the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:
TEN COM |
— |
as tenants in common |
UNIF GIFT
MIN ACT |
— |
|
Custodian |
|
TEN ENT |
— |
as tenants by the entireties |
|
|
(Cust) |
|
(Minor) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
JT TEN |
— |
as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common |
|
|
under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act |
|
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|
(State) |
Additional abbreviations may also be used
though not in the above list.
For value received, _______________________
hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto
|
|
|
(PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER(S) OF ASSIGNEE(S)) |
(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME(S) AND
ADDRESS(ES), INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE(S))
Shares of the capital stock represented
by the within Certificate, and hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints Attorney to transfer the said stock on the books of
the within named Company with full power of substitution in the premises.
Dated: |
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NOTICE: THE SIGNATURE(S) TO THIS ASSIGNMENT MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME AS WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THE CERTIFICATE IN EVERY PARTICULAR, WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE WHATEVER. |
Signature(s) Guaranteed:
THE SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15 (OR ANY SUCCESSOR RULE) UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED).
In each case, as more fully described in
the Company’s final prospectus dated , 2021, the
holder(s) of this certificate shall be entitled to receive a pro-rata portion of certain funds held in the trust account established
in connection with the Company’s initial public offering only in the event that (i) the Company redeems the shares of
Class A common stock sold in the Company’s initial public offering and liquidates because it does not consummate an
initial business combination within the period set forth in the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation,
as the same may be amended from time to time, (ii) the Company redeems the shares of Class A common stock sold in its
initial public offering in connection with a stockholder vote to amend the Company’s amended and restated certificate of
incorporation (a) to modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to allow redemption in connection with
the Company’s initial business combination or to redeem 100% of the Class A common stock if it does not consummate an
initial business combination within the period set forth in the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation,
as the same may be amended from time to time, or (b) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights
or pre-initial business combination activity, or (iii) if the holder(s) seek(s) to redeem for cash his, her or its
respective shares of Class A common stock in connection with a tender offer (or proxy solicitation, solely in the event the
Company seeks stockholder approval of the proposed initial business combination) setting forth the details of a proposed initial
business combination. In no other circumstances shall the holder(s) have any right or interest of any kind in or to the trust
account.
Exhibit 4.4
WARRANT
AGREEMENT
THIS WARRANT AGREEMENT
(this “Agreement”), dated as of [●], 2021, is by and between Digital Transformation Opportunities
Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company,
a New York limited purpose trust company, as warrant agent (the “Warrant Agent”, also referred to herein
as the “Transfer Agent”).
WHEREAS, the Company
is engaged in an initial public offering (the “Offering”) of units of the Company, each such unit comprised
of one share of Class A common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”), and
one-fourth of one redeemable Public Warrant (as defined below) (the “Units”) and, in connection therewith,
has determined to issue and deliver up to 6,250,000 warrants (or up to 7,187,500 warrants if the Over-allotment Option (as defined
below) is exercised in full) to public investors in the Offering (the “Public Warrants”), each whole
Public Warrant entitling the holder to purchase one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share, subject to
adjustment as described herein;
WHEREAS, on [●],
2021, the Company entered into that certain Warrant Purchase Agreement with Digital Transformation Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company (the “Sponsor”), pursuant to which the Sponsor agreed to purchase an aggregate of 5,000,000
warrants (or up to 5,500,000 warrants if the Over-allotment Option is exercised in full) simultaneously with the closing of the
Offering (and the closing of the Over-allotment Option, if applicable), bearing the legend set forth in Exhibit B hereto
(the “Private Placement Warrants”), at a purchase price of $1.50 per Private Placement Warrant;
WHEREAS, in order to
finance the Company’s transaction costs in connection with an intended initial Business Combination (as defined below), the
Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor or certain of the Company’s officers and directors may, but are not obligated to,
loan the Company funds as the Company may require, of which up to $2,000,000 of such loans may be converted into warrants at a
price of $1.50 per warrant at the option of the lender (the “Working Capital Warrants”);
WHEREAS,
the Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement
on Form S-1, File No. 333-253079, and a prospectus (the “Prospectus”), for the registration
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of the Units, the Public Warrants
and the Common Stock included in the Units;
WHEREAS, the Company
desires the Warrant Agent to act on behalf of the Company, and the Warrant Agent is willing to so act, in connection with the issuance,
registration, transfer, exchange, redemption and exercise of the Warrants;
WHEREAS, the Company
desires to provide for the form and provisions of the Warrants, the terms upon which they shall be issued and exercised, and the
respective rights, limitation of rights, and immunities of the Company, the Warrant Agent and the holders of the Warrants; and
WHEREAS, all acts and
things have been done and performed which are necessary to make the Warrants, when executed on behalf of the Company and countersigned
by or on behalf of the Warrant Agent (if a physical certificate is issued), as provided herein, the valid, binding and legal obligations
of the Company, and to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in
consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Appointment of Warrant Agent.
The Company hereby
appoints the Warrant Agent to act as agent for the Company for the Warrants, and the Warrant Agent hereby accepts such appointment
and agrees to perform the same in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.
2. Warrants.
2.1 Form of Warrant.
Each Warrant shall initially be issued in registered form only.
2.2 Effect of Countersignature.
If a physical certificate is issued, unless and until countersigned by the Warrant Agent pursuant to this Agreement, a Warrant
certificate shall be invalid and of no effect and may not be exercised by the holder thereof.
2.3 Registration.
2.3.1 Warrant Register.
The Warrant Agent shall maintain books (the “Warrant Register”) for the registration of original issuance
and the registration of transfer of the Warrants. Upon the initial issuance of the Warrants in book-entry form, the Warrant Agent
shall issue and register the Warrants in the names of the respective holders thereof in such denominations and otherwise in accordance
with instructions delivered to the Warrant Agent by the Company. Ownership of beneficial interests in the Public Warrants shall
be shown on, and the transfer of such ownership shall be effected through, records maintained by institutions that have accounts
with The Depository Trust Company (the “Depositary”) (such institution, with respect to a Warrant in
its account, a “Participant”).
If the Depositary subsequently
ceases to make its book-entry settlement system available for the Public Warrants, the Company may instruct the Warrant Agent regarding
making other arrangements for book-entry settlement. In the event that the Public Warrants are not eligible for, or it is no longer
necessary to have the Public Warrants available in, book-entry form, the Warrant Agent shall provide written instructions to the
Depositary to deliver to the Warrant Agent for cancellation each book-entry Public Warrant, and the Company shall instruct the
Warrant Agent to deliver to the Depositary definitive certificates in physical form evidencing such Warrants (“Definitive
Warrant Certificates”) which shall be in the form annexed hereto as Exhibit A.
Physical certificates,
if issued, shall be signed by, or bear the electronic signature of, the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial
Officer, Secretary or other principal officer of the Company. In the event the person whose electronic signature has been placed
upon any Warrant shall have ceased to serve in the capacity in which such person signed the Warrant before such Warrant is issued,
it may be issued with the same effect as if he or she had not ceased to be such at the date of issuance.
2.3.2 Registered
Holder. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Warrant, the Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and
treat the person in whose name such Warrant is registered in the Warrant Register (the “Registered Holder”)
as the absolute owner of such Warrant and of each Warrant represented thereby (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other
writing on any physical certificate made by anyone other than the Company or the Warrant Agent), for the purpose of any exercise
thereof, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
2.4 Detachability
of Warrants. The Common Stock and Public Warrants comprising the Units shall begin separate trading on the 52nd day following
the date of the Prospectus or, if such 52nd day is not on a day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or federal holiday, on which banks
in New York City are generally open for normal business (a “Business Day”), then on the immediately succeeding
Business Day following such date, or earlier (the “Detachment Date”) with the consent of Barclays Capital
Inc. (the “Underwriter”), but in no event shall the Common Stock and the Public Warrants comprising the
Units be separately traded until (A) the Company has filed (i) a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Commission
containing an audited balance sheet reflecting the receipt by the Company of the gross proceeds of the Offering, including the
proceeds received by the Company from the exercise by the Underwriter of its right to purchase additional Units in the Offering
(the “Over-allotment Option”), if the Over-allotment Option is exercised prior to the filing of the Current
Report on Form 8-K, and (ii) a second or amended Current Report on Form 8-K to provide updated financial information
to reflect the underwriters’ exercise of the Over-allotment Option, if the Over-allotment Option is exercised following the
filing of the Form 8-K pursuant to clause (i) above, and (B) the Company issues a press release announcing when
such separate trading shall begin.
2.5 No Fractional
Warrants Other Than as Part of Units. The Company shall not issue fractional Warrants other than as part of the Units, each
of which is comprised of one share of Common Stock and one-fourth of one Public Warrant. If, upon the detachment of Public Warrants
from the Units or otherwise, a holder of Warrants would be entitled to receive a fractional Warrant, the Company shall round down
to the nearest whole number the number of Warrants to be issued to such holder.
2.6 Private Placement
Warrants and Working Capital Warrants. The Private Placement Warrants and the Working Capital Warrants shall be identical to
the Public Warrants, except that so long as they are held by the Sponsor or any Permitted Transferees (as defined below) they:
(i) may be exercised for cash or on a cashless basis, pursuant to subsection 3.3.1(b) hereof, (ii) including
the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants and the Working Capital Warrants, subject to
certain exceptions, may not be transferred, assigned or sold until thirty (30) days after the completion by the Company of an initial
Business Combination (as defined below), and (iii) shall not be redeemable by the Company pursuant to Section 6.1
hereof; provided, however, that in the case of (ii), the Private Placement Warrants and the Working Capital Warrants and any shares
of Common Stock held by the Sponsor thereof or any Permitted Transferees and issued upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants
or the Working Capital Warrants may be transferred by the holders thereof:
(a) to the Company’s
officers or directors, any affiliates or family members of any of the Company’s officers or directors, any affiliate of the
Sponsor or to any member(s) of the Sponsor, any affiliates of such members and funds and accounts advised by such members;
(b) in the case
of an individual, by gift to a member such individual’s immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member
of such individual’s immediate family, an affiliate of such individual or to a charitable organization;
(c) in the case
of an individual, by virtue of the laws of descent and distribution upon death of such person;
(d) in the case
of an individual, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order;
(e) by private sales
or transfers made in connection with the consummation of an initial Business Combination at prices no greater than the price at
which the securities were originally purchased;
(f) in the event
of the Company’s liquidation prior to consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination;
(g) by virtue of
the laws of the State of Delaware or the Sponsor’s limited liability company agreement upon liquidation or dissolution of
the Sponsor;
(h) in the event
of the Company’s liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction which results in
all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Common Stock for cash, securities or other
property subsequent to the Company’s completion of its initial Business Combination; or
(i) to the Company
for no value for cancellation in connection with the consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination;
provided,
however, that, in the case of clauses (a) through (e) or (g), any such transferees (the “Permitted
Transferees”) enter into a written agreement with the Company agreeing to be bound by the transfer restrictions in
this Agreement.
3. Terms and Exercise of Warrants.
3.1 Warrant Price.
Each whole Warrant shall entitle the Registered Holder thereof, subject to the provisions of such Warrant and of this Agreement,
to purchase from the Company the number of shares of Common Stock stated therein, at the price of $11.50 per share, subject to
the adjustments provided in Section 4 hereof and in the last sentence of this Section 3.1. The term “Warrant
Price” as used in this Agreement shall mean the price per share (including in cash or by payment of Warrants pursuant to
a “cashless exercise,” to the extent permitted hereunder) at which shares of Common Stock may be purchased at the time
a Warrant is exercised. The Company in its sole discretion may lower the Warrant Price at any time prior to the Expiration Date
(as defined below) for a period of not less than twenty (20) Business Days (unless otherwise required by the Commission, any national
securities exchange on which the Warrants are listed or applicable law); provided, that the Company shall provide at least three
(3) Business Days prior written notice of such reduction to Registered Holders of the Warrants and, provided further that
any such reduction shall be identical among all of the Warrants.
3.2 Duration of Warrants.
A Warrant may be exercised only during the period (the “Exercise Period”) commencing thirty (30) days
after the first date on which the Company completes a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization
or similar business combination involving the Company and one or more businesses or entities (a “Business Combination”),
and terminating at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the earlier to occur of: (x) the date that is five (5) years after
the date on which the Company completes its initial Business Combination, (y) the liquidation of the Company in accordance
with the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended from time to time, if the Company fails
to complete a Business Combination, or (z) other than with respect to the Private Placement Warrants or the Working Capital
Warrants to the extent then held by the Sponsor or its Permitted Transferees with respect to a redemption pursuant to Section 6.1
hereof or, if the Reference Value equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (subject to adjustment in compliance with Section 4 hereof),
Section 6.2 hereof, 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the Redemption Date (as defined below) as provided in Section 6.3
hereof (the “Expiration Date”); provided, however, that the exercise of any Warrant shall
be subject to the satisfaction of any applicable conditions, as set forth in subsection 3.3.2 below, with respect to an effective
registration statement or a valid exemption therefrom being available. Except with respect to the right to receive the Redemption
Price (as defined below) (other than with respect to a Private Placement Warrant or a Working Capital Warrant to the extent then
held by the Sponsor thereof or its Permitted Transferees in connection with a redemption pursuant to Section 6.1 hereof or,
if the Reference Value equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (subject to adjustment in compliance with Section 4 hereof), Section 6.2
hereof) in the event of a redemption (as set forth in Section 6 hereof), each outstanding Warrant (other than a Private Placement
Warrant or a Working Capital Warrant to the extent then held by the Sponsor or its Permitted Transferees in the event of a redemption
pursuant to Section 6.1 hereof or, if the Reference Value equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (subject to adjustment in compliance
with Section 4 hereof), Section 6.2 hereof) not exercised on or before the Expiration Date shall become void, and all
rights thereunder and all rights in respect thereof under this Agreement shall cease at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration
Date. The Company in its sole discretion may extend the duration of the Warrants by delaying the Expiration Date; provided,
that the Company shall provide at least twenty (20) days prior written notice of any such extension to Registered Holders of the
Warrants and, provided further that any such extension shall be identical in duration among all the Warrants.
3.3 Exercise of Warrants.
3.3.1 Payment.
Subject to the provisions of the Warrant and this Agreement, a Warrant may be exercised by the Registered Holder thereof by delivering
to the Warrant Agent at its corporate trust department (i) the Definitive Warrant Certificate evidencing the Warrants to be
exercised, or, in the case of a Warrant represented in book-entry form, the Warrants to be exercised (the “Book-Entry
Warrants”) on the records of the Depositary to an account of the Warrant Agent at the Depositary designated for such
purposes in writing by the Warrant Agent to the Depositary from time to time, (ii) an election to purchase (“Election
to Purchase”) any shares of Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Warrant, properly completed and executed by
the Registered Holder on the reverse of the Definitive Warrant Certificate or, in the case of a Book-Entry Warrant, properly delivered
by the Participant in accordance with the Depositary’s procedures, and (iii) the payment in full of the Warrant Price
for each full share of Common Stock as to which the Warrant is exercised and any and all applicable taxes due in connection with
the exercise of the Warrant, the exchange of the Warrant for the shares of Common Stock and the issuance of such shares of Common
Stock, as follows:
(a) in lawful money
of the United States, in good certified check or wire payable to the order of the Warrant Agent;
(b) with respect
to any Private Placement Warrant or Working Capital Warrant, so long as such Private Placement Warrant or Working Capital Warrant
is held by the Sponsor or a Permitted Transferee, by surrendering the Warrants for that number of shares of Common Stock equal
to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrants, multiplied
by the excess of the “Fair Market Value”, as defined in this subsection 3.3.1(b), over the Warrant Price by
(y) the Fair Market Value. Solely for purposes of this subsection 3.3.1(b), the “Fair Market Value” shall
mean the average last reported sale price of the Common Stock for the ten (10) trading days ending on the third trading day
prior to the date on which notice of exercise of the Warrant is sent to the Warrant Agent;
(d) as provided
in Section 6.2 hereof with respect to a Make-Whole Exercise;
(e) as provided
in Section 7.4 hereof.
3.3.2 Issuance of
Shares of Common Stock upon Exercise. As soon as practicable after the exercise of any Warrant and the clearance of the funds
in payment of the Warrant Price (if payment is pursuant to subsection 3.3.1(a)), the Company shall issue to the Registered
Holder of such Warrant a book-entry position or certificate, as applicable, for the number of full shares of Common Stock to which
he, she or it is entitled, registered in such name or names as may be directed by him, her or it, and if such Warrant shall not
have been exercised in full, a new book-entry position or countersigned Warrant, as applicable, for the number of shares of Common
Stock as to which such Warrant shall not have been exercised. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be obligated
to deliver any shares of Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Warrant and shall have no obligation to settle such Warrant
exercise unless a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the shares of Common Stock underlying the Public
Warrants is then effective and a prospectus relating thereto is current, subject to the Company’s satisfying its obligations
under Section 7.4 or a valid exemption from registration is available. No Warrant shall be exercisable and the Company
shall not be obligated to issue shares of Common Stock upon exercise of a Warrant unless the Common Stock issuable upon such Warrant
exercise has been registered, qualified or deemed to be exempt from registration or qualification under the securities laws of
the state of residence of the Registered Holder of the Warrants, except pursuant to Section 7.4. In the event that
the conditions in the two immediately preceding sentences are not satisfied with respect to a Warrant, the holder of such Warrant
shall not be entitled to exercise such Warrant and such Warrant may have no value and expire worthless, in which case the purchaser
of a Unit containing such Public Warrants shall have paid the full purchase price for the Unit solely for the shares of Common
Stock underlying such Unit. In no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the exercise of a Warrant. The Company
may require holders of Public Warrants to settle the Warrant on a “cashless basis” pursuant to Section 7.4
hereof. If, by reason of any exercise of Warrants on a “cashless basis”, the holder of any Warrant would be entitled,
upon the exercise of such Warrant, to receive a fractional interest in a share of Common Stock, the Company shall round down to
the nearest whole number, the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued to such holder.
3.3.3 Valid Issuance.
All shares of Common Stock issued upon the proper exercise of a Warrant in conformity with this Agreement shall be validly issued,
fully paid and non-assessable.
3.3.4 Date of Issuance.
Each person in whose name any book-entry position or certificate, as applicable, for shares of Common Stock is issued shall for
all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of such shares of Common Stock on the date on which the Warrant, or
book-entry position representing such Warrant, was surrendered and payment of the Warrant Price was made, irrespective of the date
of delivery of such certificate in the case of a certificated Warrant, except that, if the date of such surrender and payment is
a date when the share transfer books of the Company or book-entry system of the Warrant Agent are closed, such person shall be
deemed to have become the holder of such shares of Common Stock at the close of business on the next succeeding date on which the
share transfer books or book-entry system are open.
3.3.5 Maximum Percentage.
A holder of a Warrant may notify the Company in writing in the event he, she or it elects to be subject to the provisions contained
in this subsection 3.3.5; however, no holder of a Warrant shall be subject to this subsection 3.3.5 unless
he, she or it makes such election. If the election is made by a holder, the Warrant Agent shall not effect the exercise of the
holder’s Warrant, and such holder shall not have the right to exercise such Warrant, to the extent that after giving effect
to such exercise, such person (together with such person’s affiliates or any other person subject to aggregation with such
person for purposes of the “beneficial ownership” test under Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or any “group” (within the meaning of Section 13 of
the Exchange Act) of which such person is or may be deemed to be a part), to the Warrant Agent’s actual knowledge, would
beneficially own (within the meaning of Section 13 of the Exchange Act) (or to the extent that for any reason the equivalent
calculation under Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder would result in a higher ownership
percentage, such higher percentage would be) in excess of 4.9% or 9.8% (or such other amount as a holder may specify) (the “Maximum
Percentage”) of the shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise. For purposes
of the foregoing sentence, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such person and his, her or its
affiliates or any such other person or group shall include the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrant
with respect to which the determination of such sentence is being made, but shall exclude shares of Common Stock that would be
issuable upon (x) exercise of the remaining, unexercised portion of the Warrant beneficially owned by such person and his,
her or its affiliates and (y) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or unconverted portion of any other securities of
the Company beneficially owned by such person and his, her or its affiliates (including, without limitation, any convertible notes
or convertible preferred stock or warrants) subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained
herein. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this paragraph, beneficial ownership shall be calculated
in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act. For purposes of the Warrant, in determining the number of outstanding
shares of Common Stock, the holder may rely on the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock as reflected in (1) the Company’s
most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Current Report on Form 8-K or other public
filing with the Commission as the case may be, (2) a more recent public announcement by the Company or (3) any other
notice by the Company or the Transfer Agent setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. For any reason at any
time, upon the written request of the holder of the Warrant, the Company shall, within two (2) Business Days, confirm orally
and in writing to such holder the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding. In any case, the number of outstanding shares
of Common Stock shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of equity securities of the Company by the
holder and his, her or its affiliates since the date as of which such number of outstanding shares of Common Stock was reported.
By written notice to the Company, the holder of a Warrant may from time to time increase or decrease the Maximum Percentage applicable
to such holder to any other percentage specified in such notice; provided, however, that any such increase shall
not be effective until the sixty-first (61st) day after such notice is delivered to the Company.
4. Adjustments.
4.1 Stock Dividends.
4.1.1 Split-Ups.
If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 4.6 below, the number of outstanding shares of Common
Stock is increased by a stock dividend payable in shares of Common Stock, or by a split-up of shares of Common Stock or other similar
event, then, on the effective date of such stock dividend, split-up or similar event, the number of shares of Common Stock issuable
on exercise of each Warrant shall be increased in proportion to such increase in the outstanding shares of Common Stock. A rights
offering to holders of the Common Stock entitling holders to purchase shares of Common Stock at a price less than the “Fair
Market Value” (as defined below) shall be deemed a stock dividend of a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the product
of (i) the number of shares of Common Stock actually sold in such rights offering (or issuable under any other equity securities
sold in such rights offering that are convertible into or exercisable for the Common Stock) and (ii) one (1) minus the
quotient of (x) the price per share of Common Stock paid in such rights offering divided by (y) the Fair Market Value.
For purposes of this subsection 4.1.1, (i) if the rights offering is for securities convertible into or exercisable
for Common Stock, in determining the price payable for Common Stock, there shall be taken into account any consideration received
for such rights, as well as any additional amount payable upon exercise or conversion and (ii) “Fair Market Value”
means the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock as reported during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the
trading day prior to the first date on which the shares of Common Stock trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market,
regular way, without the right to receive such rights.
4.1.2 Extraordinary
Dividends. If the Company, at any time while the Warrants are outstanding and unexpired, shall pay a dividend or make a distribution
in cash, securities or other assets to all or substantially all of the holders of the Common Stock on account of such shares of
Common Stock (or other shares of the Company’s capital stock into which the Warrants are convertible), other than (a) as
described in subsection 4.1.1 above, (b) Ordinary Cash Dividends (as defined below), (c) to satisfy the redemption
rights of the holders of the Common Stock in connection with a proposed initial Business Combination, (d) to satisfy the redemption
rights of the holders of Common Stock in connection with a stockholder vote to amend the Company’s amended and restated certificate
of incorporation to (i) 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 the shares of Common Stock included in the Units sold in the Offering
if the Company does not complete the Business Combination within the time period set forth in the Company’s amended and restated
certificate of incorporation or (ii) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial
Business Combination activity or (e) in connection with the redemption of the shares of Common Stock included in the Units
sold in the Offering upon the failure of the Company to complete its initial Business Combination and any subsequent distribution
of its assets upon its liquidation (any such non-excluded event being referred to herein as an “Extraordinary Dividend”),
then the Warrant Price shall be decreased, effective immediately after the effective date of such Extraordinary Dividend, by the
amount of cash and/or the fair market value (as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”),
in good faith) of any securities or other assets paid on each share of Common Stock in respect of such Extraordinary Dividend.
For purposes of this subsection 4.1.2, “Ordinary Cash Dividends” means any cash dividend or cash
distribution which, when combined on a per share basis with the per share amounts of all other cash dividends and cash distributions
paid on the Common Stock during the 365-day period ending on the date of declaration of such dividend or distribution (as adjusted
to appropriately reflect any of the events referred to in other subsections of this Section 4 and excluding cash dividends
or cash distributions that resulted in an adjustment to the Warrant Price or to the number of shares of Common Stock issuable on
exercise of each Warrant) does not exceed $0.50 (being 5% of the offering price of the Units in the Offering). Solely for purposes
of illustration, if the Company, at a time while the Warrants are outstanding and unexpired, pays a cash dividend of $0.35 per
share and previously paid an aggregate of $0.40 of cash dividends and cash distributions on the shares of Common Stock during the
365-day period ending on the date of declaration of such $0.35 per share dividend, then the Warrant Price will be decreased, effectively
immediately after the effective date of such $0.35 per share dividend, by $0.25 (the absolute value of the difference between $0.75
per share (the aggregate amount of all cash dividends and cash distributions paid or made in such 365- day period, including such
$0.35 dividend) and $0.50 per share (the greater of (x) $0.50 per share and (y) the aggregate amount of all cash dividends
and cash distributions paid or made in such 365-day period prior to such $0.35 dividend)).
4.2 Aggregation of
Shares. If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 4.6 hereof, the number of outstanding
shares of Common Stock is decreased by a consolidation, combination, reverse stock split or reclassification of shares of Common
Stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such consolidation, combination, reverse stock split, reclassification
or similar event, the number of shares of Common Stock issuable on exercise of each Warrant shall be decreased in proportion to
such decrease in outstanding shares of Common Stock.
4.3 Adjustments in
Warrant Price.
4.3.1 Whenever the
number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants is adjusted, as provided in subsection 4.1.1
or Section 4.2 above, the Warrant Price shall be adjusted (to the nearest cent) by multiplying such Warrant Price
immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction (x) the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock
purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants immediately prior to such adjustment, and (y) the denominator of which shall
be the number of shares of Common Stock so purchasable immediately thereafter.
4.3.2 If (x) the
Company issues additional shares of Common Stock or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common
Stock for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of its initial Business Combination at an issue price or effective
issue price of less than $9.20 per share of Common Stock, with such issue price or effective issue price to be determined in good
faith by the Board (and in the case of any such issuance to the Sponsor or its affiliates, without taking into account any shares
of Common Stock issued prior to the Offering and held by the Sponsor or such affiliates, as applicable, prior to such issuance)
(the “Newly Issued Price”), (y) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more
than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for the funding of an initial Business Combination on the
date of the consummation of such initial Business Combination (net of redemptions), and (z) the volume weighted average trading
price of the Common Stock during the 20 trading day period starting on the trading day prior to the day on which the Company consummates
an initial Business Combination (such price, the “Market Value”) is below $9.20 per share, the Warrant
Price will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 115% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price,
the $18.00 per share redemption trigger price described in Section 6.1 and Section 6.2 shall be adjusted
(to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price and the $10.00 per share
redemption trigger price described in Section 6.2 shall be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to the higher of the
Market Value and the Newly Issued Price.
4.4 Replacement of
Securities upon Reorganization, etc. In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock (other than a change under subsections 4.1.1 or 4.1.2 or Section 4.2 hereof or that solely affects
the par value of such shares of Common Stock), or in the case of any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another
entity or conversion of the Company as another entity (other than a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing
corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding shares of Common Stock), or in
the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of the assets or other property of the Company as an entirety
or substantially as an entirety in connection with which the Company is dissolved, the holders of the Warrants shall thereafter
have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in the Warrants and in lieu
of the shares of Common Stock of the Company immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights
represented thereby, the kind and amount of shares of stock or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such
reclassification, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, that the
holder of the Warrants would have received if such holder had exercised his, her or its Warrant(s) immediately prior to such
event (the “Alternative Issuance” ); provided, however, that (i) if the holders of
the Common Stock were entitled to exercise a right of election as to the kind or amount of securities, cash or other assets receivable
upon such consolidation or merger, then the kind and amount of securities, cash or other assets constituting the Alternative Issuance
for which each Warrant shall become exercisable shall be deemed to be the weighted average of the kind and amount received per
share by the holders of the Common Stock in such consolidation or merger that affirmatively make such election, and (ii) if
a tender, exchange or redemption offer shall have been made to and accepted by the holders of the Common Stock (other than a tender,
exchange or redemption offer made by the Company in connection with redemption rights held by stockholders of the Company as provided
for in the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation or as a result of the repurchase of shares of Common
Stock by the Company if a proposed initial Business Combination is presented to the stockholders of the Company for approval) under
circumstances in which, upon completion of such tender or exchange offer, the maker thereof, together with members of any group
(within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act (or any successor rule)) of which such maker is a part,
and together with any affiliate or associate of such maker (within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act (or any
successor rule)) and any members of any such group of which any such affiliate or associate is a part, own beneficially (within
the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act (or any successor rule)) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock, the holder of a Warrant shall be entitled to receive as the Alternative Issuance, the highest amount of cash, securities
or other property to which such holder would actually have been entitled as a stockholder if such Warrant holder had exercised
the Warrant prior to the expiration of such tender or exchange offer, accepted such offer and all of the Common Stock held by such
holder had been purchased pursuant to such tender or exchange offer, subject to adjustments (from and after the consummation of
such tender or exchange offer) as nearly equivalent as possible to the adjustments provided for in this Section 4;
provided, further, that if less than 70% of the consideration receivable by the holders of the Common Stock in the
applicable event is payable in the form of common stock in the successor entity that is listed for trading on a national securities
exchange or is quoted in an established over-the-counter market, or is to be so listed for trading or quoted immediately following
such event, and if the Registered Holder properly exercises the Warrant within thirty (30) days following the public disclosure
of the consummation of such applicable event by the Company pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission,
the Warrant Price shall be reduced by an amount (in dollars) (but in no event less than zero) equal to the difference of (i) the
Warrant Price in effect prior to such reduction minus (ii) (A) the Per Share Consideration (as defined below) minus (B) the
Black-Scholes Warrant Value (as defined below). The “Black-Scholes Warrant Value” means the value of
a Warrant immediately prior to the consummation of the applicable event based on the Black-Scholes Warrant Model for a Capped American
Call on Bloomberg Financial Markets (“Bloomberg”). For purposes of calculating such amount, (1) Section 6
of this Agreement shall be taken into account, (2) the price of each share of Common Stock shall be the volume weighted average
price of the Common Stock as reported during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the effective
date of the applicable event, (3) the assumed volatility shall be the 90 day volatility obtained from the HVT function on
Bloomberg determined as of the trading day immediately prior to the day of the announcement of the applicable event, and (4) the
assumed risk-free interest rate shall correspond to the U.S. Treasury rate for a period equal to the remaining term of the Warrant.
“Per Share Consideration” means (i) if the consideration paid to holders of the Common Stock consists
exclusively of cash, the amount of such cash per share of Common Stock, and (ii) in all other cases, the volume weighted average
price of the Common Stock as reported during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the effective
date of the applicable event. If any reclassification or reorganization also results in a change in shares of Common Stock covered
by subsection 4.1.1, then such adjustment shall be made pursuant to subsection 4.1.1 or Sections 4.2, 4.3
and this Section 4.4. The provisions of this Section 4.4 shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications,
reorganizations, mergers or consolidations, sales or other transfers. In no event will the Warrant Price be reduced to less than
the par value per share issuable upon exercise of the Warrant.
4.5 Notices of Changes
in Warrant. Upon every adjustment of the Warrant Price or the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of a
Warrant, the Company shall give written notice thereof to the Warrant Agent, which notice shall state the Warrant Price resulting
from such adjustment and the increase or decrease, if any, in the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable at such price upon
the exercise of a Warrant, setting forth in reasonable detail the method of calculation and the facts upon which such calculation
is based. Upon the occurrence of any event specified in Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 or 4.4, the Company
shall give written notice of the occurrence of such event to each holder of a Warrant, at the last address set forth for such holder
in the Warrant Register, of the record date or the effective date of the event. Failure to give such notice, or any defect therein,
shall not affect the legality or validity of such event.
4.6 No Fractional
Shares. Notwithstanding any provision contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not issue fractional shares
of Common Stock upon the exercise of Warrants. If, by reason of any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 4, the
holder of any Warrant would be entitled, upon the exercise of such Warrant, to receive a fractional interest in a share, the Company
shall, upon such exercise, round down to the nearest whole number the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued to such holder.
4.7 Form of Warrant.
The form of Warrant need not be changed because of any adjustment pursuant to this Section 4, and Warrants issued after
such adjustment may state the same Warrant Price and the same number of shares of Common Stock as is stated in the Warrants initially
issued pursuant to this Agreement; provided, however, that the Company may at any time in its sole discretion make any change in
the form of Warrant that the Company may deem appropriate and that does not affect the substance thereof, and any Warrant thereafter
issued or countersigned, whether in exchange or substitution for an outstanding Warrant or otherwise, may be in the form as so
changed.
4.8 Other Events.
In case any event shall occur affecting the Company as to which none of the provisions of the preceding subsections of this Section 4
are strictly applicable, but which would require an adjustment to the terms of the Warrants in order to (i) avoid an adverse
impact on the Warrants and (ii) effectuate the intent and purpose of this Section 4, then, in each such case,
the Company shall appoint a firm of independent public accountants, investment banking or other appraisal firm of recognized national
standing, which shall give its opinion as to whether or not any adjustment to the rights represented by the Warrants is necessary
to effectuate the intent and purpose of this Section 4 and, if they determine that an adjustment is necessary, the
terms of such adjustment; provided, however, that under no circumstances shall the Warrants be adjusted pursuant
to this Section 4.8 as a result of any issuance of securities in connection with a Business Combination. The Company
shall adjust the terms of the Warrants in a manner that is consistent with any adjustment recommended in such opinion.
4.9 No Adjustment.
For the avoidance of doubt, no adjustment shall be made to the terms of the Warrants solely as a result of an adjustment to the
conversion ratio of the Company’s Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Class B Common
Stock”), into shares of Common Stock or the conversion of the shares of Class B Common Stock into shares of
Common Stock, in each case, pursuant to the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as further amended
from time to time.
5. Transfer and Exchange of Warrants.
5.1 Registration of
Transfer. The Warrant Agent shall register the transfer, from time to time, of any outstanding Warrant upon the Warrant Register,
upon surrender of such Warrant for transfer, in the case of certificated Warrants, properly endorsed with signatures properly guaranteed
and accompanied by appropriate instructions for transfer. Upon any such transfer, a new Warrant representing an equal aggregate
number of Warrants shall be issued and the old Warrant shall be cancelled by the Warrant Agent. In the case of certificated Warrants,
the Warrants so cancelled shall be delivered by the Warrant Agent to the Company from time to time upon request.
5.2 Procedure for
Surrender of Warrants. Warrants may be surrendered to the Warrant Agent, together with a written request for exchange or transfer,
and thereupon the Warrant Agent shall issue in exchange therefor one or more new Warrants as requested by the Registered Holder
of the Warrants so surrendered, representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants; provided, however, that except as otherwise
provided herein or with respect to any Book-Entry Warrant, each Book-Entry Warrant may be transferred only in whole and only to
the Depositary, to another nominee of the Depositary, to a successor depositary, or to a nominee of a successor depository; provided
further, however that in the event that a Warrant surrendered for transfer bears a restrictive legend (as in the case
of the Private Placement Warrants and the Working Capital Warrants), the Warrant Agent shall not cancel such Warrant and issue
new Warrants in exchange thereof until the Warrant Agent has received an opinion of counsel for the Company stating that such transfer
may be made and indicating whether the new Warrants must also bear a restrictive legend.
5.3 Fractional Warrants.
The Warrant Agent shall not be required to effect any registration of transfer or exchange which shall result in the issuance of
a warrant certificate or book-entry position for a fraction of a warrant, except as part of the Units.
5.4 Service Charges.
No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Warrants.
5.5 Warrant Execution
and Countersignature. The Warrant Agent is hereby authorized to countersign and to deliver, in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement, the Warrants required to be issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5, and the Company, whenever
required by the Warrant Agent, shall supply the Warrant Agent with Warrants duly executed on behalf of the Company for such purpose.
5.6 Transfer of Warrants.
Prior to the Detachment Date, the Public Warrants may be transferred or exchanged only together with the Unit in which such Warrant
is included, and only for the purpose of effecting, or in conjunction with, a transfer or exchange of such Unit. Furthermore, each
transfer of a Unit on the register relating to such Units shall operate also to transfer the Warrants included in such Unit. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the provisions of this Section 5.6 shall have no effect on any transfer of Warrants on and after the
Detachment Date.
6. Redemption.
6.1 Redemption of
Warrants for Cash. Subject to Section 6.5 hereof, not less than all of the outstanding Warrants may be redeemed,
at the option of the Company, at any time during the Exercise Period, at the office of the Warrant Agent, upon notice to the Registered
Holders of the Warrants, as described in Section 6.3 below, at a Redemption Price of $0.01 per Warrant, provided that (a) the
Reference Value equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (subject to adjustment in compliance with Section 4 hereof) and (b) there
is an effective registration statement covering the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, and a current
prospectus relating thereto, available throughout the 30-day Redemption Period (as defined in Section 6.3 below).
6.2 Redemption of
Warrants for Cash. Subject to Section 6.5 hereof, not less than all of the outstanding Warrants may be redeemed,
at the option of the Company, at any time during the Exercise Period, at the office of the Warrant Agent, upon notice to the Registered
Holders of the Warrants, as described in Section 6.3 below, at a Redemption Price of $0.10 per Warrant, provided that
the Reference Value equals or exceeds $10.00 per share (subject to adjustment in compliance with Section 4 hereof)
and, if the Reference Value is less than $18.00 per share, the Private Placement Warrants are also concurrently exchanged at the
same price (equal to a number of shares of Common Stock) as the outstanding Public Warrants. During the 30-day Redemption Period
in connection with a redemption pursuant to this Section 6.2, Registered Holders of the Warrants may elect to exercise
their Warrants on a “cashless basis” pursuant to subsection 3.3.1 and receive a number of shares of Common Stock
determined by reference to the table below, based on the Redemption Date (calculated for purposes of the table as the period to
expiration of the Warrants) and the “Redemption Fair Market Value” (as such term is defined in this Section 6.2)
(a “Make-Whole Exercise”). Solely for purposes of this Section 6.2, the “Redemption
Fair Market Value” shall mean the volume-weighted average price of the Common Stock as reported during the ten (10) trading
days immediately following the date on which notice of redemption pursuant to this Section 6.2 is sent to the Registered
Holders. In connection with any redemption pursuant to this Section 6.2, the Company shall provide the Registered Holders
with the Redemption Fair Market Value no later than one (1) Business Day after the ten (10) trading day period described
above ends.
Redemption Date | |
Redemption Date Fair Market Value of Common Stock | |
(period to expiration of warrants) | |
<10.00 | | |
11.00 | | |
12.00 | | |
13.00 | | |
14.00 | | |
15.00 | | |
16.00 | | |
17.00 | | |
>18.00 | |
60 months | |
| 0.261 | | |
| 0.281 | | |
| 0.297 | | |
| 0.311 | | |
| 0.324 | | |
| 0.337 | | |
| 0.348 | | |
| 0.358 | | |
| 0.361 | |
57 months | |
| 0.257 | | |
| 0.277 | | |
| 0.294 | | |
| 0.310 | | |
| 0.324 | | |
| 0.337 | | |
| 0.348 | | |
| 0.358 | | |
| 0.361 | |
54 months | |
| 0.252 | | |
| 0.272 | | |
| 0.291 | | |
| 0.307 | | |
| 0.322 | | |
| 0.335 | | |
| 0.347 | | |
| 0.357 | | |
| 0.361 | |
51 months | |
| 0.246 | | |
| 0.268 | | |
| 0.287 | | |
| 0.304 | | |
| 0.320 | | |
| 0.333 | | |
| 0.346 | | |
| 0.357 | | |
| 0.361 | |
48 months | |
| 0.241 | | |
| 0.263 | | |
| 0.283 | | |
| 0.301 | | |
| 0.317 | | |
| 0.332 | | |
| 0.344 | | |
| 0.356 | | |
| 0.361 | |
45 months | |
| 0.235 | | |
| 0.258 | | |
| 0.279 | | |
| 0.298 | | |
| 0.315 | | |
| 0.330 | | |
| 0.343 | | |
| 0.356 | | |
| 0.361 | |
42 months | |
| 0.228 | | |
| 0.252 | | |
| 0.274 | | |
| 0.294 | | |
| 0.312 | | |
| 0.328 | | |
| 0.342 | | |
| 0.355 | | |
| 0.361 | |
39 months | |
| 0.221 | | |
| 0.246 | | |
| 0.269 | | |
| 0.290 | | |
| 0.309 | | |
| 0.325 | | |
| 0.340 | | |
| 0.354 | | |
| 0.361 | |
36 months | |
| 0.213 | | |
| 0.239 | | |
| 0.263 | | |
| 0.285 | | |
| 0.305 | | |
| 0.323 | | |
| 0.339 | | |
| 0.353 | | |
| 0.361 | |
33 months | |
| 0.205 | | |
| 0.232 | | |
| 0.257 | | |
| 0.280 | | |
| 0.301 | | |
| 0.320 | | |
| 0.337 | | |
| 0.352 | | |
| 0.361 | |
30 months | |
| 0.196 | | |
| 0.224 | | |
| 0.250 | | |
| 0.274 | | |
| 0.297 | | |
| 0.316 | | |
| 0.335 | | |
| 0.351 | | |
| 0.361 | |
27 months | |
| 0.185 | | |
| 0.214 | | |
| 0.242 | | |
| 0.268 | | |
| 0.291 | | |
| 0.313 | | |
| 0.332 | | |
| 0.350 | | |
| 0.361 | |
24 months | |
| 0.173 | | |
| 0.204 | | |
| 0.233 | | |
| 0.260 | | |
| 0.285 | | |
| 0.308 | | |
| 0.329 | | |
| 0.348 | | |
| 0.361 | |
21 months | |
| 0.161 | | |
| 0.193 | | |
| 0.223 | | |
| 0.252 | | |
| 0.279 | | |
| 0.304 | | |
| 0.326 | | |
| 0.347 | | |
| 0.361 | |
18 months | |
| 0.146 | | |
| 0.179 | | |
| 0.211 | | |
| 0.242 | | |
| 0.271 | | |
| 0.298 | | |
| 0.322 | | |
| 0.345 | | |
| 0.361 | |
15 months | |
| 0.130 | | |
| 0.164 | | |
| 0.197 | | |
| 0.230 | | |
| 0.262 | | |
| 0.291 | | |
| 0.317 | | |
| 0.342 | | |
| 0.361 | |
12 months | |
| 0.111 | | |
| 0.146 | | |
| 0.181 | | |
| 0.216 | | |
| 0.250 | | |
| 0.282 | | |
| 0.312 | | |
| 0.339 | | |
| 0.361 | |
9 months | |
| 0.090 | | |
| 0.125 | | |
| 0.162 | | |
| 0.199 | | |
| 0.237 | | |
| 0.272 | | |
| 0.305 | | |
| 0.336 | | |
| 0.361 | |
6 months | |
| 0.065 | | |
| 0.099 | | |
| 0.137 | | |
| 0.178 | | |
| 0.219 | | |
| 0.259 | | |
| 0.296 | | |
| 0.331 | | |
| 0.361 | |
3 months | |
| 0.034 | | |
| 0.065 | | |
| 0.104 | | |
| 0.150 | | |
| 0.197 | | |
| 0.243 | | |
| 0.286 | | |
| 0.326 | | |
| 0.361 | |
0 months | |
| — | | |
| — | | |
| 0.042 | | |
| 0.115 | | |
| 0.179 | | |
| 0.233 | | |
| 0.281 | | |
| 0.323 | | |
| 0.361 | |
The exact Redemption
Fair Market Value and Redemption Date (as defined below) may not be set forth in the table above, in which case, if the Redemption
Fair Market Value is between two values in the table or the Redemption Date is between two redemption dates in the table, the number
of shares of Common Stock to be issued for each Warrant exercised in a Make-Whole Exercise will be determined by a straight-line
interpolation between the number of shares set forth for the higher and lower Redemption Fair Market Values and the earlier and
later redemption dates, as applicable, based on a 365- or 366-day year, as applicable.
The share prices set
forth in the column headings of the table above shall be adjusted as of any date on which the number of shares issuable upon exercise
of a Warrant or the Warrant Price is adjusted pursuant to Section 4 hereof. If the number of shares issuable upon exercise
of a Warrant is adjusted pursuant to Section 4 hereof, the adjusted share prices in the column headings shall equal the share
prices immediately prior to such adjustment, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the Warrant Price after such adjustment
and the denominator of which is the price of the warrant immediately prior to such adjustment. In such an event, the number of
shares in the table above shall be adjusted by multiplying such share amounts by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number
of shares deliverable upon exercise of a Warrant immediately prior to such adjustment and the denominator of which is the number
of shares deliverable upon exercise of a Warrant as so adjusted. If the Warrant Price is adjusted, (a) in the case of an adjustment
pursuant to Section 4.4 hereof, the adjusted share prices in the column headings shall equal the share prices immediately
prior to such adjustment multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued
Price and the denominator of which is $10.00 and (b) in the case of an adjustment pursuant to Section 4.1.2 hereof,
the adjusted share prices in the column headings shall equal the share prices immediately prior to such adjustment less the decrease
in the Warrant Price pursuant to such Warrant Price adjustment. In no event shall the number of shares issued in connection with
a Make-Whole Exercise exceed 0.361 shares of Common Stock per Warrant (subject to adjustment).
6.3 Date Fixed for,
and Notice of, Redemption. In the event that the Company elects to redeem all of the Warrants, pursuant to Sections 6.1
or 6.2, the Company shall fix a date for the redemption (the “Redemption Date”). Notice of redemption
shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, by the Company not less than thirty (30) days prior to the Redemption Date
(the “30-day Redemption Period”) to the Registered Holders of the Warrants to be redeemed at their last
addresses as they shall appear on the registration books. Any notice mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively
presumed to have been duly given whether or not the Registered Holder received such notice. As used in this Agreement, “Redemption
Price” shall mean the price per Warrant at which any Warrants are redeemed pursuant to Section 6.1 or
Section 6.2 hereof and (b) “Reference Value” shall mean the last reported sale price
of the Common Stock for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on
which the Company sends the notice of redemption to the Registered Holder.
6.4 Exercise After
Notice of Redemption. The Warrants may be exercised, for cash (or on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 6.2
of this Agreement) at any time after notice of redemption shall have been given by the Company pursuant to Section 6.3
hereof and prior to the Redemption Date. On and after the Redemption Date, the record holder of the Warrants shall have no further
rights except to receive, upon surrender of the Warrants, the Redemption Price.
6.5 Exclusion of Private
Placement Warrants and Working Capital Warrants. The Company agrees that the redemption rights provided in Section 6.1
hereof shall not apply to the Private Placement Warrants or the Working Capital Warrants if at the time of the redemption such
Private Placement Warrants or Working Capital Warrants continue to be held by the Sponsor or its Permitted Transferees. However,
once such Private Placement Warrants or Working Capital Warrants are transferred (other than to Permitted Transferees in accordance
with Section 2.6 hereof), the Company may redeem the Private Placement Warrants or Working Capital Warrants pursuant
to Section 6.1 hereof, provided that the criteria for redemption are met, including the opportunity of the holder of
such Private Placement Warrants or Working Capital Warrants to exercise such Private Placement Warrants or Working Capital Warrants
prior to redemption pursuant to Section 6.4 hereof. Private Placement Warrants or Working Capital Warrants that are
transferred to persons other than Permitted Transferees shall upon such transfer cease to be Private Placement Warrants or Working
Capital Warrants and shall become Public Warrants under this Agreement.
7. Other Provisions Relating to Rights
of Holders of Warrants.
7.1 No Rights as Stockholder.
A Warrant does not entitle the Registered Holder thereof to any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company, including, without
limitation, the right to receive dividends, or other distributions, exercise any preemptive rights to vote or to consent or to
receive notice as a stockholder in respect of the meetings of stockholders or the election of directors of the Company or any other
matter.
7.2 Lost, Stolen,
Mutilated, or Destroyed Warrants. If any Warrant is lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed, the Company and the Warrant Agent
may on such terms as to indemnity or otherwise as they may in their discretion impose (which shall, in the case of a mutilated
Warrant, include the surrender thereof), issue a new Warrant of like denomination, tenor, and date as the Warrant so lost, stolen,
mutilated, or destroyed. Any such new Warrant shall constitute a substitute contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not
the allegedly lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed Warrant shall be at any time enforceable by anyone.
7.3 Reservation of
Common Stock. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available a number of its authorized but unissued shares of Common
Stock that shall be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Warrants issued pursuant to this Agreement.
7.4 Registration of
Common Stock; Cashless Exercise at Company’s Option.
7.4.1 Registration
of the Common Stock. The Company agrees that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than fifteen (15) Business Days
after the closing of its initial Business Combination, it shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to file with the Commission
a post-effective amendment to the registration statement or a new registration statement for the registration, under the Securities
Act, of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts
to cause the foregoing registration statement to become effective within 60 Business Days after the closing of the Company’s
initial Business Combination and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement, and a current prospectus relating
thereto, until the expiration or redemption of the Warrants in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. If any such registration
statement has not been declared effective by the 60th Business Day following the closing of the Business Combination, holders of
the applicable Warrants shall have the right, during the period beginning on the 61st Business Day after the closing of the Business
Combination and ending upon such registration statement being declared effective by the Commission, and during any other period
when the Company shall fail to have maintained an effective registration statement covering the issuance of the shares of Common
Stock issuable upon exercise of the applicable Warrants, to exercise such Warrants on a “cashless basis,” by exchanging
the Warrants (in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act (or any successor rule) or another exemption) for that number
of shares of Common Stock equal to the lesser of (A) the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares
of Common Stock underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “Fair Market Value” (as defined below) over
the Warrant Price by (y) the Fair Market Value and (B) 0.361 per whole Warrant. Solely for purposes of this subsection 7.4.1,
“Fair Market Value” shall mean the average reported last sale price of the Common Stock as reported during the ten
(10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the date that notice of exercise is received by the Warrant Agent from
the holder of such Warrants or his, her or its securities broker or intermediary. The date that notice of cashless exercise is
received by the Warrant Agent shall be conclusively determined by the Warrant Agent. In connection with the “cashless exercise”
of a Public Warrant, the Company shall, upon request, provide the Warrant Agent with an opinion of counsel for the Company (which
shall be an outside law firm with securities law experience) stating that (i) the exercise of the Warrants on a cashless basis
in accordance with this subsection 7.4.1 is not required to be registered under the Securities Act and (ii) the shares of
Common Stock issued upon such exercise shall be freely tradable under United States federal securities laws by anyone who is not
an affiliate (as such term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act (or any successor statute)) of the Company and, accordingly,
shall not be required to bear a restrictive legend. Except as provided in subsection 7.4.2, for the avoidance of any doubt,
unless and until all of the Warrants have been exercised or have expired, the Company shall continue to be obligated to comply
with its registration obligations under the first three sentences of this subsection 7.4.1.
7.4.2 Cashless Exercise at Company’s
Option. If the shares of Common Stock are at the time of any exercise of a Public Warrant not listed on a national securities
exchange such that they satisfy the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities
Act, the Company may, at its option, (i) require holders of Public Warrants who exercise Public Warrants to exercise such
Public Warrants on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act as described
in subsection 7.4.1 and (ii) in the event the Company so elects, the Company shall (x) not be required to file or maintain
in effect a registration statement for the registration, under the Securities Act, of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon
exercise of the Warrants, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, and (y) use its commercially reasonable
efforts to register or qualify for sale the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrant under applicable
blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available.
8. Concerning the Warrant Agent and Other
Matters.
8.1 Payment of Taxes.
The Company shall from time to time promptly pay all taxes and charges that may be imposed upon the Company or the Warrant Agent
in respect of the issuance or delivery of shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of the Warrants, but the Company shall not be
obligated to pay any transfer taxes in respect of the Warrants or such shares of Common Stock.
8.2 Resignation, Consolidation,
or Merger of Warrant Agent.
8.2.1 Appointment
of Successor Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent, or any successor to it hereafter appointed, may resign its duties and be discharged
from all further duties and liabilities hereunder after giving sixty (60) days’ notice in writing to the Company. If the
office of the Warrant Agent becomes vacant by resignation or incapacity to act or otherwise, the Company shall appoint in writing
a successor Warrant Agent in place of the Warrant Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of
thirty (30) days after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the Warrant Agent or by the holder
of a Warrant (who shall, with such notice, submit his, her or its Warrant for inspection by the Company), then the holder of any
Warrant may apply to the Supreme Court of the State of New York for the County of New York for the appointment of a successor Warrant
Agent at the Company’s cost. Any successor Warrant Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such court, shall be a corporation
or other entity organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, in good standing and having its principal office
in the United States of America, and authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers and subject to supervision or
examination by federal or state authority. After appointment, any successor Warrant Agent shall be vested with all the authority,
powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations of its predecessor Warrant Agent with like effect as if originally named as
Warrant Agent hereunder, without any further act or deed; but if for any reason it becomes necessary or appropriate, the predecessor
Warrant Agent shall execute and deliver, at the expense of the Company, an instrument transferring to such successor Warrant Agent
all the authority, powers, and rights of such predecessor Warrant Agent hereunder; and upon request of any successor Warrant Agent
the Company shall make, execute, acknowledge, and deliver any and all instruments in writing for more fully and effectually vesting
in and confirming to such successor Warrant Agent all such authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations.
8.2.2 Notice of
Successor Warrant Agent. In the event a successor Warrant Agent shall be appointed, the Company shall give notice thereof to
the predecessor Warrant Agent and the Transfer Agent for the Common Stock not later than the effective date of any such appointment.
8.2.3 Merger or
Consolidation of Warrant Agent. Any entity into which the Warrant Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated
or any entity resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Warrant Agent shall be a party shall be the successor Warrant
Agent under this Agreement without any further act.
8.3 Fees and Expenses
of Warrant Agent.
8.3.1 Remuneration.
The Company agrees to pay the Warrant Agent reasonable remuneration for its services as such Warrant Agent hereunder and shall,
pursuant to its obligations under this Agreement, reimburse the Warrant Agent upon demand for all expenditures that the Warrant
Agent may reasonably incur in the execution of its duties hereunder.
8.3.2 Further Assurances.
The Company agrees to perform, execute, acknowledge, and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged, and delivered
all such further and other acts, instruments, and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Warrant Agent for the carrying
out or performing of the provisions of this Agreement.
8.4 Liability of Warrant
Agent.
8.4.1 Reliance on
Company Statement. Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement, the Warrant Agent shall deem it necessary
or desirable that any fact or matter be proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder,
such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively
proved and established by a statement signed by the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President, Secretary or Chairman
of the Board of the Company and delivered to the Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent may rely upon such statement for any action taken
or suffered in good faith by it pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.
8.4.2 Indemnity.
The Warrant Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own gross negligence, willful misconduct, fraud or bad faith. The Company
agrees to indemnify the Warrant Agent and save it harmless against any and all liabilities, including judgments, out-of-pocket
costs and reasonable outside counsel fees, for anything done or omitted by the Warrant Agent in the execution of this Agreement,
except as a result of the Warrant Agent’s gross negligence, willful misconduct, fraud or bad faith.
8.4.3 Exclusions.
The Warrant Agent shall have no responsibility with respect to the validity of this Agreement or with respect to the validity or
execution of any Warrant (except its countersignature thereof). The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible for any breach by the
Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Warrant. The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible
to make any adjustments required under the provisions of Section 4 hereof or responsible for the manner, method, or
amount of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such adjustment; nor shall it
by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any shares of Common
Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Warrant or as to whether any shares of Common Stock shall, when issued, be
valid and fully paid and non-assessable.
8.5 Acceptance of
Agency. The Warrant Agent hereby accepts the agency established by this Agreement and agrees to perform the same upon the terms
and conditions herein set forth and among other things, shall account promptly to the Company with respect to Warrants exercised
and concurrently account for, and pay to the Company, all monies received by the Warrant Agent for the purchase of shares of Common
Stock through the exercise of the Warrants.
8.6 Waiver. The
Warrant Agent has no right of set-off or any other right, title, interest or claim of any kind (“Claim”)
in, or to any distribution of, the Trust Account (as defined in that certain Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of
the date hereof, by and between the Company and the Warrant Agent as trustee thereunder) and hereby agrees not to seek recourse,
reimbursement, payment or satisfaction for any Claim against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever. The Warrant Agent hereby
waives any and all Claims against the Trust Account and any and all rights to seek access to the Trust Account.
9. Miscellaneous Provisions.
9.1 Successors.
All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Warrant Agent shall bind and inure
to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns.
9.2 Notices. Any
notice, statement or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Warrant Agent or by the holder of any Warrant
to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given when so delivered if by hand or overnight delivery or if sent by certified mail
or private courier service within five (5) days after deposit of such notice, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address
is filed in writing by the Company with the Warrant Agent), as follows:
Digital Transformation Opportunities Corp.
10485 NE 6th Street, Unit 3930
Bellevue, WA 98004
Attn: Kevin Nazemi
Email: kevin@dtocorp.com
Any notice, statement or demand authorized
by this Agreement to be given or made by the holder of any Warrant or by the Company to or on the Warrant Agent shall be sufficiently
given when so delivered if by hand or overnight delivery or if sent by certified mail or private courier service within five (5) days
after deposit of such notice, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Warrant Agent with the
Company), as follows:
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th Floor
New York, NY 10004
Attn: Compliance Department
With a copy in each case to:
Paul Hastings LLP
515 South Flower Street
Twenty-Fifth Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90071
Attention: Jonathan Ko
9.3 Applicable Law
and Exclusive Forum. The validity, interpretation, and performance of this Agreement and of the Warrants shall be governed
in all respects by the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in
the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction. The Company hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or claim
against it arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement, including under the Securities Act, shall be brought and enforced
in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably
submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be the exclusive forum for any such action, proceeding or claim. The Company
hereby waives any objection to such jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the provisions of this paragraph will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act or
any other claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are the sole and exclusive forum.
Any person or entity
purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in the Warrants shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the forum
provisions in this Section 9.3. If any action, the subject matter of which is within the scope of the forum provisions above,
is filed in a court other than a court of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of
New York (a “foreign action”) in the name of any Warrant holder, such Warrant holder shall be deemed to have
consented to: (x) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in the State of New York in connection
with any action brought in any such court to enforce the forum provisions (an “enforcement action”), and (y) having
service of process made upon such Warrant holder in any such enforcement action by service upon such Warrant holder’s counsel
in the foreign action as agent for such Warrant holder.
9.4 Persons Having
Rights under this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to confer upon, or give to, any person, corporation
or other entity other than the parties hereto and the Registered Holders of the Warrants any right, remedy, or claim under or by
reason of this Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise, or agreement hereof. All covenants, conditions, stipulations,
promises, and agreements contained in this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their
successors and assigns and of the Registered Holders of the Warrants.
9.5 Examination of
the Warrant Agreement. A copy of this Agreement shall be available at all reasonable times at the office of the Warrant Agent
in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York, for inspection by the Registered Holder of any Warrant. The Warrant Agent
may require any such holder to submit such holder’s Warrant for inspection by the Warrant Agent.
9.6 Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in any number of original or electronic counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all
purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. A signed
copy of this Agreement delivered by e-mail or other means of electronic transmission shall be deemed to have the same legal effect
as delivery of an original signed copy of this Agreement.
9.7 Effect of Headings.
The section headings herein are for convenience only and are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation
thereof.
9.8 Amendments.
This Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto without the consent of any Registered Holder (i) for the purpose of curing
any ambiguity or to correct any mistake, including to conform the provisions hereof to the description of the terms of the Warrants
and this Agreement set forth in the Prospectus, or curing, correcting or supplementing any defective provision contained herein
or adding or changing any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Agreement as the parties may
deem necessary or desirable and that the parties deem shall not adversely affect the interest of the Registered Holders, and (ii) to
provide for the delivery of Alternative Issuance pursuant to Section 4.4. All other modifications or amendments, including
any amendment to increase the Warrant Price or shorten the Exercise Period, shall require the vote or written consent of the Registered
Holders of 50% of the then outstanding Public Warrants and, solely with respect to any amendment to the terms of the Private Placement
Warrants, Working Capital Warrants or Post-IPO Warrants or any provision of this Agreement with respect to the Private Placement
Warrants, Working Capital Warrants or Post-IPO Warrants, 50% of the number of then outstanding Private Placement Warrants, Working
Capital Warrants or Post-IPO Warrants, as applicable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may lower the Warrant Price or
extend the duration of the Exercise Period pursuant to Sections 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, without the consent of
the Registered Holders.
9.9 Severability.
This Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect
the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid
or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Agreement a provision
as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid and enforceable.
Exhibit A – Form of Warrant
Certificate
Exhibit B – Legend
[Signature Page Follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF,
the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
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Digital Transformation Opportunities Corp. |
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Kevin Nazemi |
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Chief Executive Officer |
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CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, as Warrant Agent |
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[Signature
Page to Warrant Agreement]
EXHIBIT A
[Form of Warrant Certificate]
[FACE]
Number
Warrants
THIS
WARRANT SHALL BE VOID IF NOT EXERCISED PRIOR TO
THE EXPIRATION OF THE EXERCISE PERIOD PROVIDED FOR
IN THE WARRANT AGREEMENT DESCRIBED BELOW
Digital Transformation Opportunities Corp.
Incorporated Under the Laws of the State
of Delaware
CUSIP [__________]
Warrant Certificate
This
Warrant Certificate certifies that __________, or its registered assigns, is the registered holder of __________
warrant(s) evidenced hereby (the “Warrants” and each, a “Warrant”) to
purchase shares of Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (“Common Stock”), of Digital
Transformation Opportunities Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”). Each Warrant entitles the
holder, upon exercise during the period set forth in the Warrant Agreement referred to below, to receive from the Company that
number of fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock as set forth below, at the exercise price (the “Exercise
Price”) as determined pursuant to the Warrant Agreement, payable in lawful money (or through “cashless
exercise” as provided for in the Warrant Agreement) of the United States of America upon surrender of this Warrant
Certificate and payment of the Exercise Price at the office or agency of the Warrant Agent referred to below, subject to the conditions
set forth herein and in the Warrant Agreement. Defined terms used in this Warrant Certificate but not defined herein shall have
the meanings given to them in the Warrant Agreement.
Each whole Warrant
is initially exercisable for one fully paid and non-assessable share of Common Stock. No fractional shares will be issued upon
exercise of any Warrant. If, upon the exercise of Warrants, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share
of Common Stock, the Company will, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number the number of shares of Common Stock to
be issued to the Warrant holder. The number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants is subject to adjustment
upon the occurrence of certain events set forth in the Warrant Agreement.
The initial Exercise
Price per share of Common Stock for any Warrant is equal to $11.50 per share. The Exercise Price is subject to adjustment upon
the occurrence of certain events set forth in the Warrant Agreement.
Subject to the conditions
set forth in the Warrant Agreement, the Warrants may be exercised only during the Exercise Period and to the extent not exercised
by the end of such Exercise Period, such Warrants shall become void.
Reference is hereby
made to the further provisions of this Warrant Certificate set forth on the reverse hereof and such further provisions shall for
all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.
This Warrant Certificate shall not be valid
unless countersigned by the Warrant Agent, as such term is used in the Warrant Agreement.
This Warrant Certificate
shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflicts of
laws principles thereof.
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Digital Transformation Opportunities Corp. |
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CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, as Warrant Agent |
[Form of Warrant Certificate]
[Reverse]
The Warrants evidenced
by this Warrant Certificate are part of a duly authorized issue of Warrants entitling the holder on exercise to receive shares
of Common Stock and are issued or to be issued pursuant to a Warrant Agreement dated as of __________, 2021 (the “Warrant
Agreement”), duly executed and delivered by the Company to Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a
New York limited purpose trust company, as warrant agent (the “Warrant Agent”), which Warrant Agreement
is hereby incorporated by reference in and made a part of this instrument and is hereby referred to for a description of the rights,
limitation of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Warrant Agent, the Company and the holders (the words
“holders” or “holder” meaning the Registered Holders or Registered Holder,
respectively) of the Warrants. A copy of the Warrant Agreement may be obtained by the holder hereof upon written request to the
Company. Defined terms used in this Warrant Certificate but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Warrant
Agreement.
Warrants may be exercised
at any time during the Exercise Period set forth in the Warrant Agreement. The holder of Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate
may exercise them by surrendering this Warrant Certificate, with the form of election to purchase set forth hereon properly completed
and executed, together with payment of the Exercise Price as specified in the Warrant Agreement (or through “cashless exercise”
as provided for in the Warrant Agreement) at the principal corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent. In the event that upon
any exercise of Warrants evidenced hereby the number of Warrants exercised shall be less than the total number of Warrants evidenced
hereby, there shall be issued to the holder hereof or his, her or its assignee, a new Warrant Certificate evidencing the number
of Warrants not exercised.
Notwithstanding anything
else in this Warrant Certificate or the Warrant Agreement, no Warrant may be exercised unless at the time of exercise (i) a
registration statement covering the issuance of the shares of Common Stock to be issued upon exercise is effective under the Securities
Act and (ii) a prospectus thereunder relating to the shares of Common Stock is current, except through “cashless exercise”
as provided for in the Warrant Agreement.
The Warrant Agreement
provides that upon the occurrence of certain events the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants
set forth on the face hereof may, subject to certain conditions, be adjusted. If, upon exercise of a Warrant, the holder thereof
would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share of Common Stock, the Company shall, upon exercise, round down to
the nearest whole number of shares of Common Stock to be issued to the holder of the Warrant.
Warrant Certificates,
when surrendered at the principal corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent by the Registered Holder thereof in person or by
legal representative or attorney duly authorized in writing, may be exchanged, in the manner and subject to the limitations provided
in the Warrant Agreement, but without payment of any service charge, for another Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of
like tenor evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants.
Upon due presentation
for registration of transfer of this Warrant Certificate at the office of the Warrant Agent a new Warrant Certificate or Warrant
Certificates of like tenor and evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants shall be issued to the transferee(s) in
exchange for this Warrant Certificate, subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, without charge except for
any tax or other governmental charge imposed in connection therewith.
The Company and the
Warrant Agent may deem and treat the Registered Holder(s) hereof as the absolute owner(s) of this Warrant Certificate
(notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing hereon made by anyone), for the purpose of any exercise hereof, of
any distribution to the holder(s) hereof, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall
be affected by any notice to the contrary. Neither the Warrants nor this Warrant Certificate entitles any holder hereof to any
rights of a stockholder of the Company.
Election to Purchase
(To Be Executed Upon Exercise of Warrant)
The undersigned hereby
irrevocably elects to exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, to receive __________ shares of Common Stock
and herewith tenders payment for such shares of Common Stock to the order of Digital Transformation Opportunities Corp. (the “Company”)
in the amount of $ __________ in accordance with the terms hereof. The undersigned requests that a certificate for such shares
of Common Stock be registered in the name of __________, whose address is __________ and that such shares of Common Stock be delivered
to __________ whose address is __________. If said number of shares of Common Stock is less than all of the shares of Common Stock
purchasable hereunder, the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of such shares
of Common Stock be registered in the name of __________, whose address is __________ and that such Warrant Certificate be delivered
to __________, whose address is __________.
In the event that the
Warrant has been called for redemption by the Company pursuant to Section 6.2 of the Warrant Agreement and a holder thereof
elects to exercise its Warrant pursuant to a Make-Whole Exercise, the number of shares of Common Stock that this Warrant is exercisable
for shall be determined in accordance with Section 6.2 of the Warrant Agreement.
In the event that the
Warrant is a Private Placement Warrant or a Working Capital Warrant that is to be exercised on a “cashless” basis pursuant
to subsection 3.3.1(b) of the Warrant Agreement, the number of shares of Common Stock that this Warrant is exercisable
for shall be determined in accordance with subsection 3.3.1(b) of the Warrant Agreement.
In the event that the
Warrant is to be exercised on a “cashless” basis pursuant to Section 7.4 of the Warrant Agreement, the
number of shares of Common Stock that this Warrant is exercisable for shall be determined in accordance with Section 7.4
of the Warrant Agreement.
In the event that the
Warrant may be exercised, to the extent allowed by the Warrant Agreement, through cashless exercise (i) the number of shares
of Common Stock that this Warrant is exercisable for would be determined in accordance with the relevant section of the Warrant
Agreement which allows for such cashless exercise and (ii) the holder hereof shall complete the following: The undersigned
hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, through the cashless exercise provisions
of the Warrant Agreement, to receive shares of Common Stock. If said number of shares of Common Stock is less than all of the shares
of Common Stock purchasable hereunder (after giving effect to the cashless exercise), the undersigned requests that a new Warrant
Certificate representing the remaining balance of such shares of Common Stock be registered in the name of __________, whose address
is __________ and that such Warrant Certificate be delivered to __________, whose address is __________.
[Signature Page Follows]
Date: __________ |
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THE SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE GUARANTEED
BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN
APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15 (OR ANY SUCCESSOR RULE) UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED).
EXHIBIT B
LEGEND
“THE SECURITIES
REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED,
OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF UNLESS REGISTERED UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE. IN
ADDITION, SUBJECT TO ANY ADDITIONAL LIMITATIONS ON TRANSFER DESCRIBED IN THE LETTER AGREEMENT BY AND AMONG Digital Transformation
Opportunities Corp. (THE “COMPANY”), DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION SPONSOR LLC AND THE OTHER PARTIES THERETO, THE SECURITIES
REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED PRIOR TO THE DATE THAT IS THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER THE DATE UPON WHICH THE
COMPANY COMPLETES ITS INITIAL BUSINESS COMBINATION (AS DEFINED IN SECTION 3 OF THE WARRANT AGREEMENT REFERRED TO HEREIN)
EXCEPT TO A PERMITTED TRANSFEREE (AS DEFINED IN SECTION 2 OF THE WARRANT AGREEMENT) WHO AGREES IN WRITING WITH THE COMPANY
TO BE SUBJECT TO SUCH TRANSFER PROVISIONS.
SECURITIES EVIDENCED
HEREBY AND SHARES OF CLASS A COMMON STOCK OF THE COMPANY ISSUED UPON EXERCISE OF SUCH SECURITIES SHALL BE ENTITLED TO REGISTRATION
RIGHTS UNDER A REGISTRATION AND STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT TO BE EXECUTED BY THE COMPANY.”
Exhibit 5.1
February 26,
2021
Digital Transformation Opportunities Corp.
10485 NE 6th Street, Unit 3930
Bellevue, WA 98004
| Re: | Digital Transformation Opportunities Corp. Registration Statement
on Form S-1 |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have
acted as counsel to Digital Transformation Opportunities Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”),
in connection with the preparation and filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”),
pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of the Registration Statement
on Form S-1 (File No. 333-253079) of the Company (as amended through the date hereof and including all exhibits thereto,
the “Registration Statement”), including a related prospectus filed with the Registration Statement
(the “Prospectus”) relating to the proposed underwritten public offering of up to 28,750,000 units of
the Company (the “Units”) (which includes up to 3,750,000 Units that may be issued and sold pursuant
to the exercise of an over-allotment option granted to the Underwriter (as defined below)), with each Unit consisting of: (i) one
share of the Company’s class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock,” and
the shares of Common Stock underlying the Units, the “Shares”) and (ii) one-fourth of one redeemable
warrant of the Company (each whole warrant, a “Warrant”), with each Warrant entitling the holder to
purchase one share of Common Stock, for an aggregate of up to 7,187,500 Warrants (including up to 937,500 Warrants included in
the Units subject to the Underwriter’s over-allotment option), to be issued under a Warrant Agreement (the “Warrant
Agreement”) to be entered into by the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant
agent (in such capacity, the “Warrant Agent”), pursuant to the terms of an underwriting agreement (the
“Underwriting Agreement”) to be executed by the Company and Barclays Capital Inc., as underwriter (the
“Underwriter”), and the 7,187,500 Shares underlying the Warrants.
This opinion letter is being furnished
in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.
In connection
with this opinion letter, we have examined and relied upon the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the form of Underwriting
Agreement, the form of Unit certificate, the form of Class A common stock certificate, the form of Warrant certificate, the
form of Warrant Agreement, the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, the Company’s Bylaws, and a certificate of
the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware certifying as to the formation and good standing of the Company under the laws
of the State of Delaware as of February 26, 2021 (the “Good Standing Certificate”), as currently
in effect, and the originals or copies certified to our satisfaction of such records, documents, certificates, memoranda and other
instruments as in our judgment are necessary or appropriate to enable us to render the opinions expressed below. In addition
to the foregoing, we have made such investigations of law as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions
set forth herein.
Digital Transformation Opportunities Corp.
February 26, 2021
Page 2
In such examination and in rendering the
opinions expressed below, we have assumed, without independent investigation or verification: (i) the genuineness of all
signatures on all agreements, instruments, corporate records, certificates and other documents submitted to us; (ii) the
legal capacity, competency and authority of all persons or entities executing all agreements, instruments, corporate records,
certificates and other documents submitted to us; (iii) the authenticity and completeness of all agreements, instruments,
corporate records, certificates and other documents submitted to us as originals; (iv) that all agreements, instruments,
corporate records, certificates and other documents submitted to us as certified, electronic, facsimile, conformed, photostatic
or other copies conform to the originals thereof, and that such originals are authentic and complete; (v) the due authorization,
execution and delivery of all agreements, instruments, corporate records, certificates and other documents by all parties thereto
(other than the Company); (vi) that no documents submitted to us have been amended or terminated orally or in writing, except
as has been disclosed to us in writing; (vii) that the Underwriting Agreement and the Warrant Agreement are the valid and
binding obligations of each of the parties thereto (other than the Company), enforceable against such parties (other than the
Company) in accordance with their respective terms and that no such documents have been amended or terminated orally or in writing;
(viii) that the statements contained in the certificates and comparable documents of public officials, officers and representatives
of the Company and other persons on which we have relied for the purposes of this opinion letter are true and correct on and as
of the date hereof; (ix) that there has not been nor will there be any change in the good standing status of the Company
from that reported in the Good Standing Certificate; (x) all documents filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that
have not been executed will conform to the forms thereof; and (xi) the Registration Statement shall have been declared effective
and such effectiveness shall not have been terminated or rescinded. As to all questions of fact material to this opinion letter
and as to the materiality of any fact or other matter referred to herein, we have relied (without independent investigation or
verification) upon representations and certificates or comparable documents of officers and representatives of the Company.
Based upon the foregoing, and in reliance
thereon, and subject to the assumptions, exceptions, qualifications and limitations set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:
1. The
Units, the Shares and Warrants included in the Units and the Shares underlying the Warrants have been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action on the part of the Company.
2. When
the Underwriting Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the respective parties thereto and the Units have been duly
issued by the Company and executed by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as transfer agent, as contemplated
by the Registration Statement, the Units will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company
in accordance with their terms except as such enforceability may be limited by (i) any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally including, without limitation, fraudulent
transfer or fraudulent conveyance laws; (ii) public policy considerations, statutes or court decisions that may limit rights
to obtain exculpation, indemnification or contribution (including, without limitation, indemnification regarding violations of
the securities laws and indemnification for losses resulting from a judgment for the payment of any amount other than in United
States dollars); and (iii) general principles of equity (including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness,
good faith and fair dealing) and the availability of equitable remedies (including, without limitation, specific performance and
equitable relief), regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.
3. When
the Underwriting Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the parties thereto and the Units, the Shares and the Warrants
have been issued and delivered in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement against payment in full of the consideration payable
therefor as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company or a duly authorized committee thereof and as contemplated by
the Underwriting Agreement, the Shares included in the Units will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
Digital Transformation Opportunities Corp.
February 26, 2021
Page 3
4. When
the Underwriting Agreement and the Warrant Agreement have been duly executed and delivered by the respective parties thereto and
the Warrants have been duly executed by the Company and duly countersigned by the Warrant Agent in accordance with the terms of
the Warrant Agreement and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriter pursuant to the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, the
Warrants will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms
except as such enforceability may be limited by (i) any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or
similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally including, without limitation, fraudulent transfer or fraudulent conveyance
laws; (ii) public policy considerations, statutes or court decisions that may limit rights to obtain exculpation, indemnification
or contribution (including, without limitation, indemnification regarding violations of the securities laws and indemnification
for losses resulting from a judgment for the payment of any amount other than in United States dollars); and (iii) general
principles of equity (including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing) and
the availability of equitable remedies (including, without limitation, specific performance and equitable relief), regardless
of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.
5. When
the Warrants are duly exercised in accordance with the terms of the Warrant Agreement, each Share issuable upon exercise of the
Warrants will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
Without limiting any of the other limitations, exceptions,
assumptions and qualifications stated elsewhere herein, we express no opinion with regard to the applicability or effect of the
laws of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the state of New York and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
as in effect on the date hereof. We are not rendering any opinion as to compliance with any federal or state antifraud law, rule or
regulation relating to securities, or to the sale or issuance thereof.
This opinion letter deals only with the specified legal issues
expressly addressed herein, and you should not infer any opinion that is not explicitly stated herein from any matter addressed
in this opinion letter. This opinion letter is rendered solely in connection with the offering of the Units. This opinion letter
is rendered as of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to advise you or any other person with regard to any change after
the date hereof in the circumstances or the law that may bear on the matters set forth herein even if the change may affect the
legal analysis or a legal conclusion or other matters in this opinion letter.
We hereby consent to the filing
of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm in the Prospectus under
the heading “Legal Matters.” In giving such consent, we do not hereby admit that we are within the category of persons
whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules or regulations of the Commission thereunder.
Very truly yours, |
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/s/ Paul Hastings LLP |
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Exhibit 10.1
[●], 2021
Digital Transformation Opportunities Corp.
10485 NE 6th Street, Unit 3930
Bellevue, WA 98004
Re: Initial Public Offering
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This letter (this “Letter Agreement”)
is being delivered to you in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”)
to be entered into by and among Digital Transformation Opportunities Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”),
and Barclays Capital Inc. (the “Underwriter”), relating to an underwritten initial public offering (the
“Public Offering”), of 28,750,000 of the Company’s units (including up to 3,750,000 units that
may be purchased by the Underwriter to cover over-allotments, if any) (the “Units”), each comprising
one share of the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”),
and one-fourth of one redeemable warrant. Each whole warrant (each, a “Warrant”) entitles the holder
thereof to purchase one share of Common Stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment. The Units will be sold in
the Public Offering pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1 and a prospectus (the “Prospectus”),
filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and the Company
has applied to have the Units listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market. Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in paragraph 13
hereof.
In order to induce the Company and the Underwriter to enter
into the Underwriting Agreement and to proceed with the Public Offering and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt
and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, each of Digital Transformation Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
(the “Sponsor”) and the undersigned individuals, each of whom is a holder of shares of Class B Common
Stock of the Company or a member of the Company’s board of directors and/or management team to the Company (each, an “Insider”
and collectively, the “Insiders”), hereby agrees with the Company as follows:
| 1. | It is acknowledged and agreed that the Company shall not enter into a definitive agreement regarding a proposed Business Combination
without the prior consent of the Sponsor. |
| 2. | The Sponsor and each Insider hereby agrees that in the event that the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within
24 months from the closing of the Public Offering, or such later period approved by the Company’s stockholders in accordance
with the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation (the “Charter”), the Sponsor
and each Insider shall take all reasonable steps to cause the Company to (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of
winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than 10 business days thereafter, subject to lawfully
available funds therefor, redeem 100% of the Common Stock sold as part of the Units in the Public Offering (the “Offering
Shares”), at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account
(as defined below), including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company
to pay its franchise and income taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then
outstanding Offering Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish all Public Stockholders’ rights as stockholders
(including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly
as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining stockholders and the
Company’s board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Company’s obligations under Delaware
law to provide for claims of creditors and other requirements of applicable law. The Sponsor and each Insider agrees not to propose
any amendment to the Charter to (a) modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to allow redemption in
connection with the Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Offering Shares if the Company does not complete a Business Combination
within the time period set forth in the Charter or (b) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’
rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity, unless the Company provides Public Stockholders with the opportunity to redeem
their shares of Common Stock 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 and not previously
released to the Company to pay its franchise and income taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided
by the number of then outstanding Offering Shares. |
The Sponsor and each Insider acknowledges that it, he
or she has no right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the Trust Account or any other asset of the
Company as a result of any liquidation of the Company with respect to the Founder Shares held by it, him or her. The Sponsor and
each Insider hereby agrees that if the Company seeks stockholder approval of a proposed Business Combination, then in connection
with such proposed Business Combination, it, he or she shall vote any shares of Capital Stock owned by it, him or her in favor
of any proposed Business Combination. The Sponsor and each Insider hereby waives, with respect to any shares of Common Stock held
by it, him or her, if any, any redemption rights it, he or she may have in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination,
including, without limitation, any such rights available in the context of (i) a stockholder vote to approve such Business
Combination, or (ii) a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to the Charter to (a) modify the substance or timing
of the Company’s obligation to allow redemption in connection with the Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Offering
Shares if the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the time period set forth in the Charter or (b) with
respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity (although the
Sponsor and the Insiders shall be entitled to liquidation rights with respect to any Offering Shares it or they hold if the Company
fails to consummate a Business Combination within the time period set forth in the Charter). If the Company engages in a tender
offer in connection with any proposed Business Combination, the Sponsor and each Insider agrees that it, he or she will not seek
to sell its, his or her shares of Common Stock to the Company in connection with such tender offer.
| 3. | The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that prior to entering into a definitive agreement for a Business Combination with
a target business that is affiliated with the undersigned or any other Insiders of the Company or their respective affiliates,
such transaction must be approved by a majority of the Company’s disinterested independent directors and the Company must
obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or an independent accounting firm that such Business Combination
is fair to the Company from a financial point of view. |
| 4. | During the period commencing on the effective date of the Underwriting Agreement and ending 180 days after such date, the Sponsor
and each Insider shall not, without the prior written consent of the Representative, (i) sell, offer to sell, contract or
agree to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agree to dispose of, directly or indirectly,
or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations
of the Commission promulgated thereunder, with respect to any Units, shares of Common Stock, Founder Shares, Warrants or any securities
convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, shares of Common Stock (but excluding Units and shares of Common Stock purchased
in the Public Offering or thereafter) owned by it, him or her, (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers
to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any Units, shares of Common Stock, Founder Shares,
Warrants or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, shares of Common Stock owned by it, him or her,
whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise, or (iii) publicly announce
any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (i) or (ii). |
| 5. | In the event of the liquidation of the Trust Account upon the failure of the Company to consummate its initial Business Combination
within the time period set forth in the Charter, the Sponsor (the “Indemnitor”), which for purposes of
clarification shall not extend to any other shareholders, members or managers of the Sponsor, or any of the other undersigned,
agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever (including,
but not limited to, any and all legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any
litigation, whether pending or threatened) to which the Company may become subject as a result of any claim by (i) any third
party for services rendered or products sold to the Company or (ii) any prospective target business with which the Company
has entered into a written letter of intent, confidentiality or other similar agreement or Business Combination agreement (a “Target”);
provided, however, that such indemnification of the Company by the Indemnitor shall (x) apply only to the extent
necessary to ensure that such claims by a third party for services rendered (other than the Company’s independent public
accountants) or products sold to the Company or a Target do not reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below the lesser
of (i) $10.00 per Offering Share and (ii) the actual amount per Offering Share held in the Trust Account as of the date
of the liquidation of the Trust Account, if less than $10.00 per Offering Share is then held in the Trust Account due to reductions
in the value of the trust assets, less interest earned on the funds in the Trust Account which may be withdrawn to pay franchise
and income taxes, (y) not apply to any claims by a third party or a Target which executed a waiver of any and all rights to
the monies held in the Trust Account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable) and (z) not apply to any claims under the
Company’s indemnity of the Underwriter against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (the “Securities Act”). In the event that any such executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable
against such third party, the Indemnitor shall not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third party claims. The
Indemnitor shall have the right to defend against any such claim with counsel of its choice reasonably satisfactory to the Company
if, within 15 days following written receipt of notice of the claim to the Indemnitor, the Indemnitor notifies the Company in writing
that it shall undertake such defense. |
| 6. | To the extent that the Underwriter does not exercise its over-allotment option to purchase up to an additional 3,750,000 Units
within 45 days from the date of the Prospectus (and as further described in the Prospectus) in full, the Sponsor agrees to forfeit,
at no cost, a number of Founder Shares so that the Initial Stockholders will own an aggregate of 20% of the Company’s issued
and outstanding shares of Capital Stock after the Public Offering (assuming, for purposes of this calculation, that the Initial
Stockholders do not purchase any Units in the Public Offering). To the extent that the size of the Public Offering is increased
or decreased, the Company will effect a stock dividend or other appropriate mechanism, as applicable, with respect to the Founder
Shares immediately prior to the consummation of the Public Offering in such amount as to maintain the number of Founder Shares,
on an as-converted basis, at 20% of the sum of the total number of shares of Common Stock and Founder Shares outstanding at such
time. |
| 7. | The Sponsor and each Insider hereby agrees and acknowledges that: (i) the Underwriter and the Company would be irreparably
injured in the event of a breach by such Sponsor or an Insider of its, his or her obligations under paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
7(a), 8(a), 8(b) and, solely as to each Insider, 10, as applicable, of this Letter Agreement, (ii) monetary damages may
not be an adequate remedy for such breach and (iii) the non-breaching party shall be entitled to injunctive relief, in addition
to any other remedy that such party may have in law or in equity, in the event of such breach. The Sponsor shall also be entitled
to seek injunctive relief, in addition to any other remedy that such parties may have in law or in equity, in the event of a breach
under this Letter Agreement. |
| 8. | (a) The Sponsor and each Insider agrees that it, he or she shall not Transfer any Founder Shares (or shares of Common Stock
issuable upon conversion thereof) until the earlier of (A) one year after the completion of the Company’s initial Business
Combination or (B) subsequent to the initial Business Combination, (x) if the last reported sale price of the Common
Stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and
the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the Company’s initial
Business Combination or (y) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization
or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares
of Common Stock for cash, securities or other property (the “Founder Shares Lock-up Period”). |
(b) The
Sponsor and each Insider agrees that it, he or she shall not Transfer any Private Placement Warrants (or shares of Common Stock
issued or issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants), until 30 days after the completion of the Company’s
initial Business Combination (the “Private Placement Warrants Lock-up Period”, together with the Founder
Shares Lock-up Period, the “Lock-up Periods”).
(c) Notwithstanding
the provisions set forth in paragraphs 8(a) and (b), Transfers of the Founder Shares, Private Placement Warrants and shares
of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise or conversion of the Private Placement Warrants or the Founder Shares and
that are held by the Sponsor, any Insider or any of their permitted transferees (that have complied with this paragraph 8(c)),
are permitted (a) to the Company’s officers or directors, any affiliates or family members of any of the Company’s
officers or directors, the Sponsor, any affiliate of the Sponsor or to any member(s) of the Sponsor, any affiliates of such
members and funds and accounts advised by such members, or any limited partners of any such funds that are invested in the Sponsor;
(b) in the case of an individual, by gift to a member of such individual’s immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary
of which is a member of such individual’s immediate family, an affiliate of such individual or to a charitable organization;
(c) in the case of an individual, by virtue of the laws of descent and distribution upon death of such person; (d) in
the case of an individual, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order; (e) by private sales or transfers made in connection
with the consummation of an initial Business Combination at prices no greater than the price at which the securities were originally
purchased; (f) to an entity that is an affiliate of the holder; (g) in the event of the Company’s liquidation prior
to the completion of an initial Business Combination; (h) by virtue of the laws of the State of Delaware or the Sponsor’s
limited liability company agreement upon dissolution of the Sponsor; (i) in the event of the Company’s liquidation,
merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction which results in all of the Company’s stockholders
having the right to exchange their shares of Common Stock for cash, securities or other property subsequent to the completion of
an initial Business Combination; or (j) to the Company for no value for cancellation in connection with the consummation of
the Company’s initial Business Combination; provided, however, that, in the case of clauses (a) through (f) or
(h), these permitted transferees must enter into a written agreement with the Company agreeing to be bound by the transfer restrictions
and the other restrictions contained herein.
| 9. | Each of the Insiders who is or is nominated to be a director or officer of the Company agrees to serve in such capacity until
the earlier of the consummation by the Company of an initial Business Combination, the liquidation of the Company, or his or her
removal, death or incapacity. The Sponsor and each Insider represents and warrants that it, he or she has never been suspended
or expelled from membership in any securities or commodities exchange or association or had a securities or commodities license
or registration denied, suspended or revoked. Each Insider’s biographical information furnished to the Company (including
any such information included in the Prospectus) is true and accurate in all material respects and does not omit any material information
with respect to the Insider’s background and contains all of the information required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 401
of Regulation S-K, promulgated under the Securities Act. Each Insider’s questionnaire furnished to the Company and the Representative
is true and accurate in all material respects. Each Insider represents and warrants that: it, he or she is not subject to or a
respondent in any legal action for, any injunction, cease-and-desist order or order or stipulation to desist or refrain from any
act or practice relating to the offering of securities in any jurisdiction; it, he or she has never been convicted of, or pleaded
guilty to, any crime (i) involving fraud, (ii) relating to any financial transaction or handling of funds of another
person, or (iii) pertaining to any dealings in any securities and it, he or she is not currently a defendant in any such criminal
proceeding. |
| 10. | Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, neither the Sponsor nor any Insider, nor any affiliate of the Sponsor or any Insider,
shall receive from the Company any finder’s fee, reimbursement, consulting fee, monies in respect of any repayment of a loan
or other compensation prior to, or in connection with any services rendered in order to effectuate, the consummation of the Company’s
initial Business Combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is). |
| 11. | The Company, the Sponsor and each Insider represents and warrants, severally and not jointly, that it, he or she has full right
and power, without violating any agreement to which it, he or she is bound (including, without limitation, any non-competition
or non-solicitation agreement with any employer or former employer), to enter into this Letter Agreement and, as applicable, to
serve as an officer, advisor and/or director on the board of directors of the Company and hereby consents to being named in the
Prospectus as an officer, advisor and/or director of the Company. |
| 12. | As used herein, (i) “Business Combination”
shall mean a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination,
involving the Company and one or more businesses; (ii) “Capital Stock” shall mean, collectively,
the Common Stock and the Founder Shares; (iii) “Founder Shares” shall mean the 7,187,500 shares
of the Company’s Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, initially issued to the Sponsor (up to 937,500 shares
of which are subject to complete or partial forfeiture by the Sponsor if the over-allotment option is not exercised in full by
the Underwriter); (iv) “Initial Stockholders” shall mean the Sponsor and any Insider that holds
Founder Shares; (v) “Private Placement Warrants” shall mean the Warrants to purchase up to 5,000,000
shares of Common Stock of the Company (or 5,500,000 shares of Common Stock if the over-allotment option is exercised in full by
the Underwriter) that the Sponsor has agreed to purchase for an aggregate purchase price of $7,500,000 (or $8,250,000 if the over-allotment
option is exercised in full by the Underwriter), or $1.50 per Warrant, in a private placement that shall occur simultaneously with
the consummation of the Public Offering; (vi) “Public Stockholders” shall mean the holders of securities
issued in the Public Offering; (vii) “Trust Account” shall mean the trust account into which the net
proceeds of the Public Offering and certain proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Warrants shall be deposited; and (viii) “Transfer”
shall mean the (a) sale of, offer to sell, contract or agreement to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant of any option to purchase
or otherwise dispose of or agreement to dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establishment or increase of a put equivalent position
or liquidation with respect to or decrease of a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange
Act, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder with respect to, any security, (b) entry into any swap
or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any security,
whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise, or (c) public announcement
of any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (a) or (b). |
| 13. | The Company will maintain an insurance policy or policies providing directors’ and officers’ liability insurance,
and each Insider shall be covered by such policy or policies, in accordance with its or their terms, to the maximum extent of the
coverage available for any of the Company’s directors or officers. |
| 14. | This Letter Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter
hereof and supersedes all prior understandings, agreements, or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral,
to the extent they relate in any way to the subject matter hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby. This Letter Agreement
may not be changed, amended, modified or waived (other than to correct a typographical error) as to any particular provision, except
by a written instrument executed by all parties hereto. |
| 15. | No party hereto may assign either this Letter Agreement or any of its rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the
prior written consent of the other parties, except that the Sponsor may assign its rights, interests and obligations hereunder
to any affiliate of the Sponsor. Any purported assignment in violation of this paragraph shall be void and ineffectual and shall
not operate to transfer or assign any interest or title to the purported assignee. This Letter Agreement shall be binding on the
Company, the Sponsor and each Insider and their respective successors, heirs and assigns and permitted transferees. |
| 16. | Nothing in this Letter Agreement shall be construed to confer upon, or give to, any person or corporation other than the parties
hereto any right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Letter Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise
or agreement hereof. All covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises and agreements contained in this Letter Agreement shall
be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their successors, heirs, personal representatives and assigns and
permitted transferees. |
| 17. | This Letter Agreement may be executed in any number of original, facsimile or other electronic counterparts and each of such
counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and
the same instrument. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or by e-mail delivery of a “.pdf”
format data file, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature
is executed) with the same force and effect as if such facsimile or “.pdf” signature page were an original thereof. |
| 18. | This Letter Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall
not affect the validity or enforceability of this Letter Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu
of any such invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Letter
Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid and enforceable. |
| 19. | This Letter Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware,
without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction.
The parties hereto (i) all agree that any action, proceeding, claim or dispute arising out of, or relating in any way to,
this Letter Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of Wilmington, in the State of Delaware, and irrevocably submit
to such jurisdiction and venue, which jurisdiction and venue shall be exclusive and (ii) waive any objection to such exclusive
jurisdiction and venue or that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. |
| 20. | Any notice, consent or request to be given in connection with any of the terms or provisions of this Letter Agreement shall
be in writing and shall be sent by express mail or similar private courier service, by certified mail (return receipt requested),
by hand delivery or facsimile or e-mail transmission. |
| 21. | This Letter Agreement shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the expiration of the Lock-up Periods or (ii) the liquidation
of the Company. |
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Sincerely, |
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DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION SPONSOR LLC |
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By: |
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Name: Kevin Nazemi |
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Title: Manager |
[Signature
Page to Letter Agreement]
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Kevin Nazemi |
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Kyle Francis |
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Bradley Fluegel |
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Jim Moffatt |
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Heather Zynczak |
Acknowledged and Agreed: |
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digital transformation Opportunities CORP. |
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By: |
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Name: Kyle Francis |
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Title: Chief Financial Officer |
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[Signature
Page to Letter Agreement]
Exhibit 10.2
INVESTMENT
MANAGEMENT TRUST AGREEMENT
This Investment Management Trust Agreement
(this “Agreement”) is made effective as of [●], 2021, by and between Digital Transformation Opportunities
Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company,
a New York limited purpose trust company (the “Trustee”).
WHEREAS,
the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-253079 ( the “Registration Statement”)
and prospectus (the “Prospectus”) for the initial public offering of the Company’s units (the “Units”),
each of which consists of one share of the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common
Stock”), and one-fourth of one redeemable warrant, each whole warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one
share of Common Stock (such initial public offering hereinafter referred to as the “Offering”), has been
declared effective as of the date hereof by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission;
WHEREAS, the Company has entered into an
Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Barclays Capital Inc. (the “Underwriter”);
WHEREAS, as described in the Prospectus,
$250,000,000 of the proceeds of the Offering and sale of the Private Placement Warrants (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement)
(or $287,500,000, if the Underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be delivered to the Trustee to be
deposited and held in a segregated trust account located at all times in the United States (the “Trust Account”)
for the benefit of the Company and the holders of the Common Stock included in the Units issued in the Offering as hereinafter
provided (the amount to be delivered to the Trustee (and any interest subsequently earned thereon) is referred to herein as the
“Property,” the stockholders for whose benefit the Trustee shall hold the Property will be referred to
as the “Public Stockholders,” and the Public Stockholders and the Company will be referred to together
as the “Beneficiaries”);
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement,
a portion of the Property equal to $8,750,000 or $10,062,500 if the Underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full,
is attributable to deferred underwriting discounts and commissions that will be payable by the Company to the Underwriter upon
and concurrently with the consummation of the Business Combination (as defined below) (the “Deferred Discount”);
and
WHEREAS, the Company and the Trustee desire
to enter into this Agreement to set forth the terms and conditions pursuant to which the Trustee shall hold the Property.
NOW THEREFORE, IT IS AGREED:
1. Agreements and Covenants of Trustee.
The Trustee hereby agrees and covenants to:
(a) Hold the Property in trust for the
Beneficiaries in accordance with the terms of this Agreement in the Trust Account established by the Trustee in the United States
at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (or at another U.S.-chartered commercial bank with consolidated assets of $100 billion or more)
in the United States, maintained by the Trustee and at a brokerage institution selected by the Trustee that is reasonably satisfactory
to the Company;
(b) Manage, supervise and administer
the Trust Account subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein;
(c) In a timely manner, upon the written
instruction of the Company, invest and reinvest the Property solely in United States government securities within the meaning of
Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, having a maturity of 185 days or less, or in money market
funds meeting the conditions of paragraphs (d)(1), (d)(2), (d)(3) and (d)(4) of Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (or any successor rule), which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations,
as determined by the Company; it being understood that the Trust Account will earn no interest while account funds are uninvested
awaiting the Company’s instructions hereunder and the Trustee may earn bank credits or other consideration;
(d) Collect and receive, when due, all
principal, interest or other income arising from the Property, which shall become part of the “Property,”
as such term is used herein;
(e) Promptly notify the Company and the
Underwriter of all communications received by the Trustee with respect to any Property requiring action by the Company;
(f) Supply any necessary information
or documents as may be requested by the Company (or its authorized agents) in connection with the Company’s preparation of
the tax returns relating to assets held in the Trust Account;
(g) Participate in any plan or proceeding
for protecting or enforcing any right or interest arising from the Property if, as and when instructed by the Company to do so;
(h) Render to the Company monthly written
statements of the activities of, and amounts in, the Trust Account reflecting all receipts and disbursements of the Trust Account;
(i) Commence liquidation of the Trust
Account only after and promptly after (x) receipt of, and only in accordance with, the terms of a letter from the Company
(“Termination Letter”) in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as either Exhibit A
or Exhibit B, as applicable, signed on behalf of the Company by its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President,
Executive Vice President, Vice President, Secretary or Chairman of the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”)
or other authorized officer of the Company, and complete the liquidation of the Trust Account and distribute the Property in the
Trust Account, including interest not previously released to the Company to pay its franchise and income taxes (less up to $100,000
of interest that may be released to the Company to pay dissolution expenses), only as directed in the Termination Letter and the
other documents referred to therein, or (y) upon the date which is, the later of (1) 24 months after the closing of the
Offering and (2) such later date as may be approved by the Company’s stockholders in accordance with the Company’s
amended and restated certificate of incorporation if a Termination Letter has not been received by the Trustee prior to such date,
in which case the Trust Account shall be liquidated in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Termination Letter attached
as Exhibit B and the Property in the Trust Account, including interest not previously released to the Company to pay its franchise
and income taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest that may be released to the Company to pay dissolution expenses) shall be distributed
to the Public Stockholders of record as of such date;
(j) Upon written request from the Company,
which may be given from time to time in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit C, withdraw from the
Trust Account and distribute to the Company the amount of interest earned on the Property requested by the Company to cover any
tax obligation, including any franchise tax obligations, owed by the Company as a result of assets of the Company or interest or
other income earned on the Property, which amount shall be delivered directly to the Company by electronic funds transfer or other
method of prompt payment, and the Company shall forward such payment to the relevant taxing authority, as applicable; provided,
however, that to the extent there is not sufficient cash in the Trust Account to pay such tax obligation, the Trustee shall liquidate
such assets held in the Trust Account as shall be designated by the Company in writing to make such distribution, so long as there
is no reduction in the principal amount per share initially deposited in the Trust Account; provided, further, that if the tax
to be paid is a franchise tax, the written request by the Company to make such distribution shall be accompanied by a copy of the
franchise tax bill from the State of Delaware for the Company (it being acknowledged and agreed that any such amount in excess
of interest income earned on the Property shall not be payable from the Trust Account). The written request of the Company referenced
above shall constitute presumptive evidence that the Company is entitled to said funds, and the Trustee shall have no responsibility
to look beyond said request;
(k) Upon written request from the Company,
which may be given from time to time in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit D, the Trustee shall
distribute on behalf of the Company the amount requested by the Company to be used to redeem shares of Common Stock from Public
Stockholders properly submitted in connection with a stockholder vote to approve an amendment to the Company’s amended and
restated certificate of incorporation to (i) modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to allow redemption
in connection with a Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the shares of Common Stock included in the Units sold in the Offering
if the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the time period set forth in the Company’s amended and restated
certificate of incorporation or (ii) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial
Business Combination activity; and
(l) Not make any withdrawals or distributions
from the Trust Account other than pursuant to Section 1(i), Section 1(j) or Section 1(k) above.
2. Agreements and Covenants of the Company.
The Company hereby agrees and covenants to:
(a) Give all instructions to the Trustee
hereunder in writing, signed by the Company’s Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or
other authorized officer of the Company. In addition, except with respect to its duties under Section 1(i), Section 1(j) or
Section 1(k) hereof, the Trustee shall be entitled to rely on, and shall be protected in relying on, any verbal or telephonic
advice or instruction which it, in good faith and with reasonable care, believes to be given by any one of the persons authorized
above to give written instructions, provided that the Company shall promptly confirm such instructions in writing;
(b) Subject to Section 4 hereof,
hold the Trustee harmless and indemnify the Trustee from and against any and all expenses, including reasonable counsel fees and
disbursements, or losses suffered by the Trustee in connection with any action taken by it hereunder and in connection with any
action, suit or other proceeding brought against the Trustee involving any claim, or in connection with any claim or demand, which
in any way arises out of or relates to this Agreement, the services of the Trustee hereunder, or the Property or any interest earned
on the Property, except for expenses and losses resulting from the Trustee’s gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct.
Promptly after the receipt by the Trustee of notice of demand or claim or the commencement of any action, suit or proceeding, pursuant
to which the Trustee intends to seek indemnification under this Section 2(b), it shall notify the Company in writing of such
claim (hereinafter referred to as the “Indemnified Claim”). The Trustee shall have the right to conduct
and manage the defense against such Indemnified Claim; provided that the Trustee shall obtain the consent of the Company with respect
to the selection of counsel, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Trustee may not agree to settle any Indemnified
Claim without the prior written consent of the Company, which such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Company may
participate in such action with its own counsel;
(c) Pay the Trustee the fees set forth
on Schedule A hereto, including an initial acceptance fee, annual administration fee, and transaction processing fee which fees
shall be subject to modification by the parties from time to time. It is expressly understood that the Property shall not be used
to pay such fees unless and until the closing of the Business Combination (defined below). The Company shall pay the Trustee the
initial acceptance fee and the first annual administration fee at the consummation of the Offering. The Company shall not be responsible
for any other fees or charges of the Trustee except as set forth in this Section 2(c), Schedule A and as may be provided in
Section 2(b) hereof;
(d) In connection with any vote of the
Company’s stockholders regarding a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar
business combination involving the Company and one or more businesses (the “Business Combination”), provide
to the Trustee an affidavit or certificate of the inspector of elections for the stockholder meeting verifying the vote of such
stockholders regarding such Business Combination;
(e) Provide the Underwriter with a copy
of any Termination Letter(s) and/or any other correspondence that is sent to the Trustee with respect to any proposed withdrawal
from the Trust Account promptly after it issues the same;
(f) Unless otherwise agreed among the
Company and the Underwriter, ensure that any Instruction Letter (as defined in Exhibit A) delivered in connection with a Termination
Letter in the form of Exhibit A expressly provides that the Deferred Discount is paid directly to the account or accounts
directed by the Underwriter prior to any transfer of the funds held in the Trust Account to the Company or any other person;
(g) Instruct the Trustee to make only
those distributions that are permitted under this Agreement, and refrain from instructing the Trustee to make any distributions
that are not permitted under this Agreement; and
(h) Within five (5) business days
after the Underwriter, exercise the over-allotment option (or any unexercised portion thereof) or such over-allotment option expires,
provide the Trustee with a notice in writing of the total amount of the Deferred Discount, which shall in no event be less than
$8,750,000.
3. Limitations of Liability. The
Trustee shall have no responsibility or liability to:
(a) Imply obligations, perform duties,
inquire or otherwise be subject to the provisions of any agreement or document other than this Agreement and that which is expressly
set forth herein;
(b) Take any action with respect to the
Property, other than as directed in Section 1 hereof, and the Trustee shall have no liability to any third party except for
liability arising out of the Trustee’s gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct;
(c) Institute any proceeding for the
collection of any principal and income arising from, or institute, appear in or defend any proceeding of any kind with respect
to, any of the Property unless and until it shall have received written instructions from the Company given as provided herein
to do so and the Company shall have advanced or guaranteed to it funds sufficient to pay any expenses incident thereto;
(d) Refund any depreciation in principal
of any Property;
(e) Assume that the authority of any
person designated by the Company to give instructions hereunder shall not be continuing unless provided otherwise in such designation,
or unless the Company shall have delivered a written revocation of such authority to the Trustee;
(f) The other parties hereto or to anyone
else for any action taken or omitted by it, or any action suffered by it to be taken or omitted, in good faith and in the Trustee’s
best judgment, except for the Trustee’s gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct. The Trustee may rely conclusively
and shall be protected in acting upon any order, notice, demand, certificate, opinion or advice of counsel (including counsel chosen
by the Trustee, which counsel may be the Company’s counsel), statement, instrument, report or other paper or document (not
only as to its due execution and the validity and effectiveness of its provisions, but also as to the truth and acceptability of
any information therein contained) which the Trustee believes, in good faith and with reasonable care, to be genuine and to be
signed or presented by the proper person or persons. The Trustee shall not be bound by any notice or demand, or any waiver, modification,
termination or rescission of this Agreement or any of the terms hereof, unless evidenced by a written instrument delivered to the
Trustee, signed by the proper party or parties and, if the duties or rights of the Trustee are affected, unless it shall give its
prior written consent thereto;
(g) Verify the accuracy of the information
contained in the Registration Statement;
(h) Provide any assurance that any Business
Combination entered into by the Company or any other action taken by the Company is as contemplated by the Registration Statement;
(i) File information returns with respect
to the Trust Account with any local, state or federal taxing authority or provide periodic written statements to the Company documenting
the taxes payable by the Company, if any, relating to any interest income earned on the Property;
(j) Prepare, execute and file tax reports,
income or other tax returns and pay any taxes with respect to any income generated by, and activities relating to, the Trust Account,
regardless of whether such tax is payable by the Trust Account or the Company, including, but not limited to, franchise and income
tax obligations, except pursuant to Section 1(j) hereof; or
(k) Verify calculations, qualify or otherwise
approve the Company’s written requests for distributions pursuant to Section 1(i), 1(j) or 1(k) hereof.
4. Trust Account Waiver. The Trustee
has no right of set-off or any right, title, interest or claim of any kind (“Claim”) to, or to any monies
in, the Trust Account, and hereby irrevocably waives any Claim to, or to any monies in, the Trust Account that it may have now
or in the future. In the event the Trustee has any Claim against the Company under this Agreement, including, without limitation,
under Section 2(b) or Section 2(c) hereof, the Trustee shall pursue such Claim solely against the Company and
its assets outside the Trust Account and not against the Property or any monies in the Trust Account.
5. Termination. This Agreement shall
terminate as follows:
(a) If the Trustee gives written notice
to the Company that it desires to resign under this Agreement, the Company shall use its reasonable efforts to locate a successor
trustee, pending which the Trustee shall continue to act in accordance with this Agreement. At such time that the Company notifies
the Trustee that a successor trustee has been appointed by the Company and has agreed to become subject to the terms of this Agreement,
the Trustee shall transfer the management of the Trust Account to the successor trustee, including but not limited to the transfer
of copies of the reports and statements relating to the Trust Account, whereupon this Agreement shall terminate; provided, however,
that in the event that the Company does not locate a successor trustee within ninety (90) days of receipt of the resignation notice
from the Trustee, the Trustee may submit an application to have the Property deposited with any court in the State of New York
or with the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and upon such deposit, the Trustee shall be immune
from any liability whatsoever; or
(b) At such time that the Trustee has
completed the liquidation of the Trust Account and its obligations in accordance with the provisions of Section 1(i) hereof
(which section may not be amended under any circumstances) and distributed the Property in accordance with the provisions of the
Termination Letter, this Agreement shall terminate except with respect to Section 2(b) and Section 4.
6. Miscellaneous.
(a) The Company and the Trustee each
acknowledge that the Trustee will follow the security procedures set forth below with respect to funds transferred from the Trust
Account. The Company and the Trustee will each restrict access to confidential information relating to such security procedures
to authorized persons. Each party must notify the other party immediately if it has reason to believe unauthorized persons may
have obtained access to such confidential information, or of any change in its authorized personnel. In executing funds transfers,
the Trustee shall rely upon all information supplied to it by the Company, including, account names, account numbers, and all other
identifying information relating to a Beneficiary, Beneficiary’s bank or intermediary bank. Except for any liability arising
out of the Trustee’s gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct, the Trustee shall not be liable for any loss, liability
or expense resulting from any error in the information or transmission of the funds.
(b) This Agreement shall be governed
by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles
that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction. This Agreement may be executed in several
original or facsimile counterparts, each one of which shall constitute an original, and together shall constitute but one instrument.
(c) This Agreement contains the entire
agreement and understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement or any provision hereof
may only be changed, amended or modified (other than to correct a typographical error) by a writing signed by each of the parties
hereto.
(d) This Agreement or any provision hereof
may only be changed, amended or modified pursuant to Section 6(c) hereof with the Consent of the Stockholders. For purposes
of this Section 6(d), the “Consent of the Stockholders” means (i) receipt by the Trustee of
a certificate from the inspector of elections of the stockholder meeting certifying that the Company’s stockholders of record
as of a record date established in accordance with Section 213(a) of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended
(or any successor rule), who hold sixty-five percent (65%) or more of all then outstanding shares of the Common Stock, par value
$0.0001 per share, of the Company voting together as a single class, have voted in favor of such change, amendment or modification,
or (ii) the Company’s stockholders of record as of the record date who hold sixty-five percent (65%) or more of all
then outstanding shares of the Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company voting together as a single class, have
delivered to the Trustee a signed writing approving such change, amendment or modification. No such amendment will affect any Public
Stockholder who has otherwise indicated his, her or its election to redeem his, her or its shares of Common Stock in connection
with a stockholder vote sought to amend this Agreement, including a corresponding change to the Company’s amended and restated
certificate of incorporation. Except for any liability arising out of the Trustee’s gross negligence, fraud or willful misconduct,
the Trustee may rely conclusively on the certification from the inspector or elections referenced above and shall be relieved of
all liability to any party for executing the proposed amendment in reliance thereon.
(e) The parties hereto consent to the
jurisdiction and venue of any state or federal court located in the City of New York, State of New York, for purposes of resolving
any disputes hereunder. AS TO ANY CLAIM, CROSS-CLAIM OR COUNTERCLAIM IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, EACH PARTY WAIVES THE
RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.
(f) Any notice, consent or request to
be given in connection with any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent by express mail
or similar private courier service, by certified mail (return receipt requested), by hand delivery or by electronic mail:
if to the Trustee,
to:
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th Floor
New York, NY 10004
Attn: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez
Email: fwolf@continentalstock.com
cgonzalez@continentalstock.com
if to the Company,
to:
Digital Transformation Opportunities Corp.
10485 NE 6th Street, Unit 3930
Bellevue, WA 98004
Attn: Kevin Nazemi
Email: kevin@dtocorp.com
in each case, with
copies, which shall not constitute notice, to:
Paul Hastings LLP
515 South Flower St, Twenty-Fifth Floor
Los Angeles, California 90071
Attn: Jonathan Ko
Email: jonathanko@paulhastings.com
and
Barclays Capital Inc.
745 Seventh Avenue
New York, New York 10019
Attn: Syndicate Registration
and
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
300 South Grand Avenue, Suite 3400
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 687-5000
Attn: P. Michelle Gasaway
Email: Michelle.Gasaway@skadden.com
(g) Each of the Company and the Trustee
hereby represents that it has the full right and power and has been duly authorized to enter into this Agreement and to perform
its respective obligations as contemplated hereunder. The Trustee acknowledges and agrees that it shall not make any claims or
proceed against the Trust Account, including by way of set-off, and shall not be entitled to any funds in the Trust Account under
any circumstance.
(h) This Agreement is the joint product
of the Trustee and the Company and each provision hereof has been subject to the mutual consultation, negotiation and agreement
of such parties and shall not be construed for or against any party hereto.
(i) This Agreement may be executed in
any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute
one and the same instrument. Delivery of a signed counterpart of this Agreement by facsimile or electronic transmission shall constitute
valid and sufficient delivery thereof.
(j) Each of the Company and the Trustee
hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriter is a third party beneficiary of this Agreement.
(k) Except as specified herein, no party
to this Agreement may assign its rights or delegate its obligations hereunder to any other person or entity.
[Signature Page Follows]
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Investment Management Trust Agreement as of the date first written
above.
|
CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST
COMPANY, as Trustee |
|
By: |
|
|
Name: |
Francis Wolf |
|
Title: |
Vice President |
|
|
|
| | DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OPPORTUNITIES CORP. |
|
Name: |
Kevin Nazemi |
|
Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
[Signature Page to Investment Management
Trust Agreement]
SCHEDULE
A
Fee Item |
|
Time and method of payment |
|
Amount |
|
Initial set-up fee |
|
Initial closing of Offering by wire transfer |
|
$ |
3,500.00 |
|
Trustee administration fee |
|
First year, initial closing of Offering by wire transfer, thereafter on the anniversary of the effective date of the Offering by wire transfer or check |
|
$ |
10,000.00 |
|
Transaction processing fee for disbursements to Company under Sections 1(i) and 1(j) |
|
Billed to Company following disbursement made to Company under Section 1 |
|
$ |
250.00 |
|
Paying Agent services as required pursuant to Sections 1(i) and 1(k) |
|
Billed to Company upon delivery of service pursuant to Sections 1(i) and 1(k) |
|
|
Prevailing rates |
|
EXHIBIT A
[Letterhead of Company]
[Insert date]
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez
Re: Trust Account - Termination Letter
Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:
Pursuant to Section 1(i) of the
Investment Management Trust Agreement between Digital Transformation Opportunities Corp. (the “Company”)
and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Trustee”), dated as of _________, 2021
(the “Trust Agreement”), this is to advise you that the Company has entered into an agreement with ______
(the “Target Business”) to consummate a business combination with the Target Business (the “Business
Combination”) on or about [insert date]. The Company shall notify you at least seventy-two (72) hours in advance
(or such shorter time as you may agree) of the actual date of the consummation of the Business Combination (the “Consummation
Date”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.
In accordance with the terms of the Trust
Agreement, we hereby authorize you to commence to liquidate all of the assets of the Trust Account and transfer the proceeds to
a segregated account held by you on behalf of the Beneficiaries to the effect that, on the Consummation Date, all of the funds
held in the Trust Operating Account at JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. will be immediately available for transfer to the account or
accounts that the Company shall direct on the Consummation Date (including as directed to it by the Underwriter (with respect to
the Deferred Discount)). It is acknowledged and agreed that while the funds are on deposit in the trust operating account at J.P.
Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. awaiting distribution, the Company will not earn any interest or dividends.
On the Consummation Date (i) counsel
for the Company shall deliver to you written notification that the Business Combination has been consummated, or will be consummated
substantially concurrently with your transfer of funds to the accounts as directed by the Company (the “Notification”)
and (ii) the Company shall deliver to you (a) a certificate of the Chief Executive Officer, which verifies that the Business
Combination has been approved by a vote of the Company’s stockholders, if a vote is held and (b) a joint written instruction
signed by the Company and the Underwriter with respect to the transfer of the funds held in the Trust Account, including payment
of amounts owed to public stockholders who have properly exercised their redemption rights and payment of the Deferred Discount
to the Underwriter from the Trust Account (the “Instruction Letter”). You are hereby directed and authorized
to transfer the funds held in the Trust Account immediately upon your receipt of the Notification and the Instruction Letter, in
accordance with the terms of the Instruction Letter. In the event that certain deposits held in the Trust Account may not be liquidated
by the Consummation Date without penalty, you will notify the Company in writing of the same and the Company shall direct you as
to whether such funds should remain in the Trust Account and be distributed after the Consummation Date to the Company. Upon the
distribution of all the funds, net of any payments necessary for reasonable unreimbursed expenses related to liquidating the Trust
Account, your obligations under the Trust Agreement shall be terminated.
In the event that the Business Combination
is not consummated on the Consummation Date described in the notice thereof and we have not notified you on or before the original
Consummation Date of a new Consummation Date, then upon receipt by the Trustee of written instructions from the Company, the funds
held in the Trust Account shall be reinvested as provided in Section 1(c) of the Trust Agreement on the business day
immediately following the Consummation Date as set forth in such notice as soon thereafter as possible.
|
|
Very truly yours, |
|
|
|
|
|
Digital Transformation Opportunities Corp. |
|
|
By: |
|
|
|
Name: |
Kevin Nazemi |
|
|
Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
cc: |
Barclays Capital Inc. |
|
EXHIBIT B
[Letterhead of Company]
[Insert date]
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez
Re: Trust Account - Termination Letter
Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:
Pursuant to Section 1(i) of the
Investment Management Trust Agreement between Digital Transformation Opportunities Corp. (the “Company”)
and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Trustee”), dated as of _________, 2021
(the “Trust Agreement”), this is to advise you that the Company did not effect a business combination
with a Target Business (the “Business Combination”) within the time frame specified in the Company’s
amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as described in the Company’s Prospectus relating to the Offering. Capitalized
terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.
In accordance with the terms of the Trust
Agreement, we hereby authorize you to liquidate all of the assets in the Trust Account and transfer the total proceeds into a segregated
account held by you on behalf of the Beneficiaries to await distribution to the Public Stockholders. The Company has selected _________,
20__ as the effective date for the purpose of determining when the Public Stockholders will be entitled to receive their share
of the liquidation proceeds. You agree to be the Paying Agent of record and, in your separate capacity as Paying Agent, agree to
distribute said funds directly to the Company’s Public Stockholders in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement and
the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Upon the distribution of all the funds, net of any payments
necessary for reasonable unreimbursed expenses related to liquidating the Trust Account, your obligations under the Trust Agreement
shall be terminated, except to the extent otherwise provided in Section 1(i) of the Trust Agreement.
|
|
Very truly yours, |
|
|
|
|
|
Digital Transformation Opportunities Corp. |
|
|
By: |
|
|
|
Name: |
Kevin Nazemi |
|
|
Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
cc: |
Barclays Capital Inc. |
|
|
|
|
EXHIBIT C
[Letterhead of Company]
[Insert date]
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez
Re: Trust Account - Withdrawal Instruction
Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:
Pursuant to Section 1(j) of the
Investment Management Trust Agreement between Digital Transformation Opportunities Corp. (the “Company”)
and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Trustee”), dated as of _________, 2021
(the “Trust Agreement”), the Company hereby requests that you deliver to the Company $_____ of the interest
income earned on the Property as of the date hereof. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set
forth in the Trust Agreement.
The Company needs such funds to pay for
the tax obligations as set forth on the attached tax return or tax statement. In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement,
you are hereby directed and authorized to transfer (via wire transfer) such funds promptly upon your receipt of this letter to
the Company’s operating account at:
[WIRE
INSTRUCTION INFORMATION]
|
|
Very truly yours, |
|
|
|
|
|
Digital Transformation Opportunities Corp. |
|
|
By: |
|
|
|
Name: |
Kevin Nazemi |
|
|
Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
cc: |
Barclays Capital Inc. |
|
|
|
|
EXHIBIT D
[Letterhead of Company]
[Insert date]
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th Floor
New York, New York 10004
Attn: Francis Wolf and Celeste Gonzalez
Re: Trust Account - Stockholder Redemption Withdrawal
Instruction
Mr. Wolf and Ms. Gonzalez:
Pursuant to Section 1(k) of the
Investment Management Trust Agreement between Digital Transformation Opportunities Corp. (the “Company”)
and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Trustee”), dated as of _________, 2021
(the “Trust Agreement”), the Company hereby requests that you deliver to the redeeming Public Stockholders
of the Company $______ of the principal and interest income earned on the Property as of the date hereof to a segregated
account held by you on behalf of the Beneficiaries for distribution to the Public Stockholders who have requested redemption of
their shares of Common Stock. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.
The Company needs such funds to pay its
Public Stockholders who have properly elected to have their shares of Common Stock redeemed by the Company in connection with a
stockholder vote to approve an amendment to the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation to (i) modify
the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to allow redemption in connection with a Business Combination or to redeem
100% of the shares of Common Stock included in the Units sold in the Offering if the Company does not complete a Business Combination
within the time period set forth in the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation or (ii) with respect
to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity. As such, you are hereby
directed and authorized to transfer (via wire transfer) such funds promptly upon your receipt of this letter.
|
|
Very truly yours, |
|
|
|
|
|
Digital Transformation Opportunities Corp. |
|
|
By: |
|
|
|
Name: |
Kevin Nazemi |
|
|
Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
cc: |
Barclays Capital Inc. |
|
|
|
|
Exhibit 10.3
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OPPORTUNITIES
CORP.
10485 NE 6th St, Unit 3930
Bellevue, WA 98004
January 8, 2021
Digital Transformation Sponsor LLC
10485 NE 6th St, Unit 3930
Bellevue, WA 98004
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Digital Transformation Opportunities Corp., a Delaware corporation
(the “Company”), is pleased to accept the offer Digital Transformation Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company (the “Subscriber”) has made to purchase 7,187,500 shares of the Company’s Class B common stock
(the “Founder Shares”), $0.0001 par value per share (the “Class B Common Stock”), up to 937,500
of which are subject to complete or partial forfeiture by the Subscriber if the underwriters of the proposed initial public offering
(“IPO”) of the Company pursuant to the registration statement on Form S-l expected to be filed by the Company
in connection with the IPO (the “Registration Statement”) do not fully exercise their over-allotment option
(the “Over-allotment Option”). For the purposes of this Agreement, references to “Common Stock”
are to, collectively, the Class B Common Stock and the Company’s Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Class
A Common Stock”). Pursuant to the Company’s certificate of incorporation, as amended to the date hereof (the “Charter”),
shares of Class B Common Stock will automatically convert into shares of Class A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis, subject to
adjustment, upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Charter. Unless the context otherwise requires, as used herein “Securities”
shall refer to the Founder Shares and shall be deemed to include any shares of Class A Common Stock issued upon conversion of the
Founder Shares. The terms (this “Agreement”) on which the Company is willing to sell the Founder Shares to the
Subscriber, and the Company and the Subscriber’s agreements regarding such Founder Shares, are as follows:
1.
Purchase of Founder Shares.
For the sum of $25,000 (the “Purchase Price”),
which the Company acknowledges receiving in cash, the Company hereby sells and issues the Founder Shares to the Subscriber, and
the Subscriber hereby purchases the Founder Shares from the Company, subject to the forfeiture provisions of Section 3 below, on
the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement Concurrently with the Subscriber’s execution of this
Agreement, the Company shall, at its option, deliver to the Subscriber a certificate registered in the Subscriber’s name
representing the Founder Shares (the “Original Certificate”), or effect such delivery in book-entry form.
2.
Representations, Warranties and Agreements.
2.1
Subscriber’s Representations, Warranties and Agreements. To induce the Company to issue the Securities to the
Subscriber, the Subscriber hereby represents and warrants to the Company and agrees with the Company as follows:
2.1.1
No Government Recommendation or Approval. The Subscriber understands that no federal or state agency has passed upon
or made any recommendation or endorsement of the offering of the Securities.
2.1.2
No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation by the Subscriber of
the transactions contemplated hereby do not violate, conflict with or constitute a default under (i) the formation and governing
documents of the Subscriber, (ii) any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Subscriber is a party, (iii) any law, statute,
rule or regulation to which the Subscriber is subject, or (iv) any agreement, order, judgment or decree to which the Subscriber
is subject.
2.1.3
Organization and Authority. The Subscriber is a Delaware limited liability company, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of Delaware and possesses all requisite power and authority necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement. Upon execution and delivery by you, this Agreement will be a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Subscriber,
enforceable against the Subscriber in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, fraudulent conveyance or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and subject to
general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity).
2.1.4
Experience, Financial Capability and Suitability. The Subscriber is: (i) sophisticated in financial matters
and is able to evaluate the risks and benefits of the investment in the Securities and (ii) able to bear the economic risk of its
investment in the Securities for an indefinite period of time because the Securities have not been registered under the Securities
Act (as defined below) and therefore cannot be sold unless subsequently registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from
such registration is available. The Subscriber is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its investment in the Company and
has the capacity to protect its own interests. The Subscriber must bear the economic risk of this investment until the Securities
are sold pursuant to: (i) an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or (ii) an exemption from registration available
with respect to such sale. The Subscriber is able to bear the economic risks of an investment in the Securities and to afford a
complete loss of the Subscriber’s investment in the Securities.
2.1.5
Access to Information: Independent Investigation. Prior to the execution of this Agreement, the Subscriber has had
the opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from representatives of the Company concerning an investment in the Company,
as well as the finances, operations, business and prospects of the Company, and the opportunity to obtain additional information
to verify the accuracy of all information so obtained. In determining whether to make this investment, the Subscriber has relied
solely on the Subscriber’s own knowledge and understanding of the Company and its business based upon the Subscriber’s
own due diligence investigation and the information furnished pursuant to this paragraph. The Subscriber understands that no person
has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations which were not furnished pursuant to this Section 2
and he Subscriber has not relied on any other representations or information in making its investment decision, whether written
or oral, relating to the Company, its operations or its prospects.
2.1.6
Regulation D Offering. The Subscriber represents that it is an “accredited investor” as such term is
defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”),
and acknowledges the sale contemplated hereby is being made in reliance on a private placement exemption applicable to “accredited
investors” within the meaning of Section 501(a) of Regulation D under the Securities Act or similar exemptions under federal
and state law.
2.1.7 Investment
Purposes. The Subscriber is purchasing the Securities solely for investment purposes, for the Subscriber’s own
account and not for the account or benefit of any other person, and not with a view towards the distribution or dissemination
thereof. The Subscriber did not decide to enter into this Agreement as a result of any general solicitation or general
advertising within the meaning of Rule 502 of Regulation D under the Securities Act.
2.1.8
Restrictions on Transfer; Shell Company. The Subscriber understands the Securities are being offered in a transaction
not involving a public offering within the meaning of the Securities Act. The Subscriber understands the Securities will be “restricted
securities” within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act and the Subscriber understands that the certificates
or book-entries representing the Securities will contain a legend in respect of such restrictions. If in the future the Subscriber
decides to offer, resell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Securities, such Securities may be offered, resold, pledged or otherwise
transferred only pursuant to: (i) registration under the Securities Act, or (ii) an available exemption from registration. The
Subscriber agrees that if any transfer of its Securities or any interest therein is proposed to be made, as a condition precedent
to any such transfer, the Subscriber may be required to deliver to the Company an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Company.
Absent registration under the Securities Act or an exemption therefrom, the Subscriber agrees not to resell the Securities. The
Subscriber further acknowledges that because the Company is a shell company, Rule 144 may not be available to the Subscriber for
the resale of the Founder Shares until at least one year following consummation of the initial business combination of the Company,
despite technical compliance with the requirements of Rule 144 and the release or waiver of any contractual transfer restrictions.
2.1.9
No Governmental Consents. No governmental, administrative or other third party consents or approvals are required,
necessary or appropriate on the part of the Subscriber in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
2.2
Company’s Representations, Warranties and Agreements. To induce the Subscriber to purchase the Securities,
the Company hereby represents and warrants to the Subscriber and agrees with the Subscriber as follows:
2.2.1
Organization and Corporate Power. The Company is a Delaware corporation and is qualified to do business in every
jurisdiction in which the failure to so qualify would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial
condition, operating results or assets of the Company. The Company possesses all requisite corporate power and authority necessary
to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
2.2.2
No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the
transactions contemplated hereby do not violate, conflict with or constitute a default under (i) the Charter or bylaws of the Company,
(ii) any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Company is a party or (iii) any law, statute, rule or regulation to which
the Company is subject, or any agreement, order, judgment or decree to which the Company is subject.
2.2.3
Title to Securities. Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof, the Securities
will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms
hereof, the Subscriber will have or receive good title to the Securities, free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances
of any kind, other than (a) transfer restrictions hereunder and under the other agreements to which the Securities may be subject,
(b) transfer restrictions under federal and state securities laws, and (c) liens, claims or encumbrances imposed due to the actions
of the Subscriber.
2.2.4 No
Adverse Actions. There are no actions, suits, investigations or proceedings pending, threatened against or affecting the
Company which: (i) seek to restrain, enjoin, prevent the consummation of or otherwise affect the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement or (ii) question the validity or legality of any transactions or seek to recover damages or to obtain other
relief in connection with any transactions.
2.2.5
Authorization. The shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Founder Shares have been duly authorized
and reserved for issuance upon such conversion.
3.
Forfeiture of Founder Shares.
3.1
Partial or No Exercise of the Over-allotment Option. In the event the Over-allotment Option granted to the underwriters
of the IPO is not exercised in full, the Subscriber acknowledges and agrees that it (or, if applicable, it and any transferees
of Founder Shares) shall automatically forfeit at the time such Over-allotment Option expires (or earlier if the underwriters of
the IPO waive their ability to exercise such Over-allotment Option) any and all rights to such number of Founder Shares (up to
an aggregate of 937,500 Founder Shares and pro rata based upon the percentage of the Over-allotment Option exercised) such that
immediately following such forfeiture, the Subscriber (and any such transferees), collectively with all other initial stockholders
of the Company prior to the IPO, if any, will own an aggregate number of Founder Shares equal to 20% of the issued and outstanding
Common Stock immediately following the IPO.
3.2
Termination of Rights as Stockholder. If any of the Founder Shares are forfeited in accordance with this Section
3, then after such time the Subscriber (or its successor in interest), shall no longer have any rights as a holder of such forfeited
Founder Shares, and the Company shall take such action as is appropriate to cancel such forfeited Founder Shares.
3.3
Share Certificates. In the event an adjustment to the Original Certificates, if any, is required pursuant to this
Section 3, then the Subscriber shall return such Original Certificates to the Company or its designated agent as soon as practicable
upon its receipt of notice from the Company advising the Subscriber of such adjustment, following which a new certificate (the
“New Certificate”), if any, shall be issued in such amount representing the adjusted number of Founder Shares
held by the Subscriber. The New Certificate, if any, shall be returned to the Subscriber as soon as practicable. Any such adjustment
for any uncertificated securities held by the Subscriber shall be made in book-entry form.
4.
Waiver of Liquidation Distributions: Redemption Rights. In connection with the Founder Shares purchased pursuant
to this Agreement, the Subscriber hereby waives any and all right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any distributions
by the Company from the trust account which will be established for the benefit of the Company’s public stockholders and
into which substantially all of the proceeds of the IPO will be deposited (the “Trust Account”), in the event
of a liquidation of the Company upon the Company’s failure to timely complete an initial business combination. For purposes
of clarity, in the event the Subscriber purchases securities in the IPO or securities of the Company issued in the IPO in the aftermarket,
any additional Common Stock so purchased shall be eligible to receive any liquidating distributions from the Trust Account by the
Company. However, in no event will the Subscriber have the right to redeem any shares of Common Stock into funds held in the Trust
Account upon the successful completion of an initial business combination.
5.
Restrictions on Transfer.
5.1 Securities
Law Restrictions. In addition to any restrictions to be contained in that certain letter agreement (commonly known as an
“Insider Letter”) to be entered into between the Subscriber and the Company (which will also contain other
agreements with respect to the Securities) in connection; with the consummation of the IPO, the Subscriber agrees not to
sell, transfer, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the Securities unless, prior thereto (a) a
registration statement on the appropriate form under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws with respect to
the Securities proposed to be transferred shall then be effective or (b) the Company has received an opinion from counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the Company, that such registration is not required because such transaction is exempt from
registration under the Securities Act and the rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder and with
all applicable state securities laws.
5.2
Restrictive Legends. All certificates representing the Securities shall have endorsed thereon legends substantially
as follows:
“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT
BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND NEITHER THE SECURITIES NOR ANY INTEREST
THEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER SUCH ACT OR SUCH LAWS OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH ACT AND SUCH LAWS WHICH, IN THE OPINION OF COUNSEL (IF
THE COMPANY SO REQUESTS), IS AVAILABLE.”
“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE
ARE SUBJECT TO LOCKUP PROVISIONS AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED DURING THE TERM OF THE
LOCKUP PERIOD.”
5.3
Additional Founder Shares or Substituted Securities. In the event of the declaration of a stock dividend, the declaration
of an extraordinary dividend payable in a form other than Common Stock, a spin-off, a stock split, an adjustment in conversion
ratio, a recapitalization or a similar transaction affecting the Company’s outstanding Common Stock without receipt of consideration,
any new, substituted or additional securities or other property which are by reason of such transaction distributed with respect
to any Securities subject to this Section 5 or into which such Securities thereby become convertible shall immediately be subject
to this Section 5 and Section 3. Appropriate adjustments to reflect the distribution of such securities or property shall be made
to the number and/or class of Securities subject to this Section 5 and Section 3.
6.
Other Agreements.
6.1
Further Assurances. The Subscriber agrees to execute such further instruments and to take such further action as
may reasonably be necessary to carry out the intent of this Agreement.
6.2
Notices. All notices, statements or other documents which are required or contemplated by this Agreement shall be
in writing and delivered (i) personally or sent by first class registered or certified mail, overnight courier service or facsimile
or electronic transmission to the address designated in writing, (ii) by facsimile to the number most recently provided to such
party or such other address or fax number as may be designated in writing by such party, and (iii) by electronic mail, to the electronic
mail address most recently provided to such party or such other electronic mail address as may be designated in writing by such
party. Any notice or other communication so transmitted shall be deemed to have been given on the day of delivery, if delivered
personally, on the business day following receipt of written confirmation, if sent by facsimile or electronic transmission, one
(1) business day after delivery to an overnight courier service or five (5) days after mailing if sent by mail.
6.3
Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with that certain Insider Letter to be entered into between the Subscriber
and the Company and the registration rights agreement to be entered into with respect to the Securities, each substantially in
the form to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the Subscriber
and the Company with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior oral or written agreements and understandings
relating to the subject matter hereof. No statement, representation, warranty, covenant or agreement of any kind not expressly
set forth in this Agreement shall affect, or be used to interpret, change or restrict, the express terms and provisions of this
Agreement.
6.4
Modifications and Amendments. The terms and provisions of this Agreement may be modified or amended only by written
agreement executed by all parties hereto.
6.5
Waivers and Consents. The terms and provisions of this Agreement may be waived, or consent for the departure therefrom
granted, only by written document executed by the party entitled to the benefits of such terms or provisions. No such waiver or
consent shall be deemed to be or shall constitute a waiver or consent with respect to any other terms or provisions of this Agreement,
whether or not similar. Each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which
it was given, and shall not constitute a continuing waiver or consent.
6.6
Assignment. The rights and obligations under this Agreement may not be assigned by either party hereto without the
prior written consent of the other party.
6.7
Benefit. All statements, representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in this Agreement shall be binding
on the parties hereto and shall inure to the benefit of the respective successors and permitted assigns of each party hereto. Nothing
in this Agreement shall be construed to create any rights or obligations except among the parties hereto, and no person or entity
shall be regarded as a third- party beneficiary of this Agreement.
6.8
Governing Law. This Agreement and the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall be construed in accordance
with and governed by the laws of New York applicable to contracts wholly performed within the borders of such state.
6.9
Severability. In the event that any court of competent jurisdiction shall determine that any provision, or any portion
thereof, contained in this Agreement shall be unreasonable or unenforceable in any respect, then such provision shall be deemed
limited to the extent that such court deems it reasonable and enforceable, and as so limited shall remain in full force and effect.
In the event that such court shall deem any such provision, or portion thereof, wholly unenforceable, the remaining provisions
of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect.
6.10
No Waiver of Rights, Powers and Remedies. No failure or delay by a party hereto in exercising any right, power or
remedy under this Agreement, and no course of dealing between the parties hereto, shall operate as a waiver of any such right,
power or remedy of such party. No single or partial exercise of any right, power or remedy under this Agreement by a party hereto,
nor any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce any such right, power or remedy, shall preclude such party from any other
or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy hereunder. The election of any remedy by a party
hereto shall not constitute a waiver of the right of such party to pursue other available remedies. No notice to or demand on a
party not expressly required under this Agreement shall entitle the party receiving such notice or demand to any other or further
notice or demand in similar or other circumstances or constitute a waiver of the rights of the party giving such notice or demand
to any other or further action in any circumstances without such notice or demand.
6.11
Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties made by the parties hereto in this
Agreement or in any other agreement, certificate or instrument provided for or contemplated hereby, shall survive the execution
and delivery hereof and any investigations made by or on behalf of the parties.
6.12
No Broker or Finder. Each of the parties hereto represents and warrants to the other that no broker, finder or other
financial consultant has acted on its behalf in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in such
a way as to create any liability on the other. Each of the parties hereto agrees to indemnify and hold the other harmless from
any claim or demand for commission or other compensation by any broker, finder, financial consultant or similar agent claiming
to have been employed by or on behalf of such party and to bear the cost of legal expenses incurred in defending against any such
claim.
6.13
Headings and Captions. The headings and captions of the various sections of this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall in no way modify or affect the meaning or construction of any of the terms or provisions hereof.
6.14
Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall
be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered
to the other party, it being understood that both parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is
delivered by facsimile transmission or any other form of electronic delivery, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation
of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such signature page
were an original thereof.
6.15
Construction. The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. If
an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement will be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties
hereto and no presumption or burden of proof will arise favoring or disfavoring any party hereto because of the authorship of any
provision of this Agreement. The words “include,” “includes,” and “including” will be deemed
to be followed by “without limitation.” Pronouns in masculine, feminine, and neuter genders will be construed to include
any other gender, and words in the singular form will be construed to include the plural and vice versa, unless the context otherwise
requires. The words “this Agreement,” “herein,” “hereof,” “hereby,” “hereunder,”
and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular section unless expressly so limited. The
parties hereto intend that each representation, warranty, and covenant contained herein will have independent significance. If
any party hereto has breached any representation, warranty, or covenant contained herein in any respect, the fact that there exists
another representation, warranty or covenant relating to the same subject matter (regardless of the relative levels of specificity)
which such party hereto has not breached will not detract from or mitigate the fact that such party hereto is in breach of the
first representation, warranty, or covenant.
6.16
Mutual Drafting. This Agreement is the joint product of the Subscriber and the Company and each provision hereof
has been subject to the mutual consultation, negotiation and agreement of such parties and shall not be construed for or against
any party hereto.
7.
Indemnification. Each party shall indemnity the other against any loss, cost or damages (including reasonable attorney’s
fees and expenses) incurred as a result of such party’s breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement in
this Agreement.
[Signature Page Follows]
If the foregoing accurately sets forth our understanding and
agreement, please sign the enclosed copy of this Agreement and return it to us.
|
Very truly yours, |
|
|
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OPPORTUNITIES CORP. |
|
|
By: |
/s/ Kevin Nazemi |
|
Name: |
Kevin Nazemi |
|
Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION SPONSOR LLC |
|
By: |
/s/ Kevin Nazemi |
|
Name: |
Kevin Nazemi |
Title: |
Manager |
[Signature Page
to Securities Subscription Agreement]
Exhibit 10.4
PRIVATE
PLACEMENT WARRANT PURCHASE AGREEMENT
THIS PRIVATE PLACEMENT WARRANT PURCHASE
AGREEMENT (as it may from time to time be amended, this “Agreement”), dated as of [●], 2021, is entered
into by and among Digital Transformation Opportunities Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Digital
Transformation Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Purchaser”).
WHEREAS, the Company intends to consummate
an initial public offering of the Company’s units (the “Public Offering”), each unit consisting of one
share of Class A common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (each, a “Share”), and one-fourth
of one redeemable warrant, each whole warrant entitling the holder to purchase one Share at an exercise price of $11.50 per Share,
as set forth in the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
(the “SEC”), File Number 333-253079 (the “Registration Statement”), under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
WHEREAS, the Purchaser has agreed to purchase,
at a price of $1.50 per warrant, an aggregate of 5,000,000 warrants (and up to 500,000 additional warrants if the underwriters
in the Public Offering exercise their over-allotment option in full) (the “Private Placement Warrants”), each
Private Placement Warrant entitling the holder to purchase one Share at an exercise price of $11.50 per Share.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual
promises contained in this Agreement and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement hereby, intending legally to be bound, agree as follows:
AGREEMENT
Section 1. Authorization, Purchase
and Sale; Terms of the Private Placement Warrants.
A. Authorization of the Private
Placement Warrants. The Company has duly authorized the issuance and sale of the Private Placement Warrants to the Purchaser.
B. Purchase and Sale of the
Private Placement Warrants.
(i) On the date of the consummation of the Public Offering (the
“IPO Closing Date”), the Company shall issue and sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser shall purchase from
the Company, 5,000,000 Private Placement Warrants at a price of $1.50 per warrant for an aggregate purchase price of $7,500,000
(the “Purchase Price”). The Purchaser shall pay the Purchase Price by wire transfer of immediately available
funds to a trust account at a financial institution to be chose by the Company (the “Trust Account”), maintained
by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, acting as trustee, in accordance with the Company’s wiring instructions,
at least one (1) business day prior to the IPO Closing Date. On the IPO Closing Date, upon the payment by the Purchaser of the
Purchase Price, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Company, the Company, at its option, shall deliver a certificate
evidencing the Private Placement Warrants purchased on such date duly registered in the Purchaser’s name to the Purchaser
or effect such delivery in book-entry form.
(ii) On the date of the closing
of the over-allotment option, if any, in connection with the Public Offering or on such earlier time and date as may be mutually
agreed by the Purchaser and the Company (each such date, an “Over-allotment Closing Date”, and each Over-allotment
Closing Date (if any) and the IPO Closing Date, a “Closing Date”), the Company shall issue and sell to the Purchaser,
and the Purchaser shall purchase from the Company, up to 500,000 Private Placement Warrants (or, to the extent the over-allotment
option is not exercised in full, a lesser number of Private Placement Warrants in proportion to portion of the over-allotment option
that is exercised) at a price of $1.50 per warrant for an aggregate purchase price of up to $750,000 (the “Over-allotment
Purchase Price”). The Purchaser shall pay the Over-allotment Purchase Price by wire transfer of immediately available
funds in accordance with the Company’s wiring instructions to the Trust Account, at least one (1) business day prior to the
Over-allotment Closing Date. On the Over-allotment Closing Date, upon the payment by the Purchaser of the Over-allotment Purchase
Price, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Company, the Company, at its option, shall deliver a certificate
evidencing the Private Placement Warrants purchased on such date duly registered in the Purchaser’s name to the Purchaser
or effect such delivery in book-entry form.
C. Terms of the Private Placement
Warrants.
(i) Each Private Placement
Warrant shall have the terms set forth in a Warrant Agreement to be entered into by the Company and a warrant agent, in connection
with the Public Offering (the “Warrant Agreement”), and shall be subject to the terms of a letter agreement
to be entered into by the Company, the Purchaser and the other parties thereto, in connection with the Public Offering.
(ii) At the time of, or prior
to, the IPO Closing Date, the Company and the Purchaser shall enter into a registration and stockholder rights agreement (the “Registration
and Stockholder Rights Agreement”) pursuant to which the Company will grant certain registration rights to the Purchaser
relating to the Private Placement Warrants and the Shares underlying the Private Placement Warrants.
Section 2. Representations and Warranties
of the Company.
As a material inducement to the Purchaser
to enter into this Agreement and purchase the Private Placement Warrants, the Company hereby represents and warrants to the Purchaser
(which representations and warranties shall survive each Closing Date) that:
A. Incorporation and Corporate
Power. The Company is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
Delaware and is qualified to do business in every jurisdiction in which the failure to so qualify would reasonably be expected
to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, operating results or assets of the Company. The Company possesses
all requisite corporate power and authority necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Warrant
Agreement.
B. Authorization; No Breach.
(i) The execution, delivery
and performance of this Agreement and the Private Placement Warrants have been duly authorized by the Company as of each Closing
Date. This Agreement constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject
to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general applicability relating to
or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or law).
Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms of the Warrant Agreement and this Agreement, the Private Placement
Warrants will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms as of each Closing
Date.
(ii) The execution and delivery
by the Company of this Agreement and the Private Placement Warrants, the issuance and sale of the Private Placement Warrants, the
issuance of the Shares upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants and the fulfillment of and compliance with the respective
terms hereof and thereof by the Company, do not and will not as of each Closing Date (a) conflict with or result in a breach
of the terms, conditions or provisions of, (b) constitute a default under, (c) result in the creation of any lien, security
interest, charge or encumbrance upon the Company’s capital stock or assets under, (d) result in a violation of, or (e) require
any authorization, consent, approval, exemption or other action by or notice or declaration to, or filing with, any court or administrative
or governmental body or agency pursuant to the certificate of incorporation or the bylaws of the Company (in effect on the date
hereof or as may be amended prior to completion of the Public Offering) or any material law, statute, rule or regulation to
which the Company is subject, or any agreement, order, judgment or decree to which the Company is subject, except for any filings
required after the date hereof under federal or state securities laws.
C. Title to Securities.
Upon issuance in accordance with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof and the Warrant Agreement, the Shares issuable upon
exercise of the Private Placement Warrants will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Upon issuance in accordance
with, and payment pursuant to, the terms hereof and the Warrant Agreement, the Purchaser will have good title to the Private Placement
Warrants purchased by it and the Shares issuable upon exercise of such Private Placement Warrants, free and clear of all liens,
claims and encumbrances of any kind, other than (i) transfer restrictions hereunder and under the other agreements contemplated
hereby, (ii) transfer restrictions under federal and state securities laws, and (iii) liens, claims or encumbrances imposed
due to the actions of the Purchaser.
D. Governmental Consents.
No permit, consent, approval or authorization of, or declaration to or filing with, any governmental authority is required in connection
with the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement or the consummation by the Company of any other transactions
contemplated hereby.
E. Regulation D Qualification.
Neither the Company nor, to its actual knowledge, any of its affiliates, members, officers, directors or beneficial shareholders
of 20% or more of its outstanding securities, has experienced a disqualifying event as enumerated pursuant to Rule 506(d) of
Regulation D under the Securities Act.
Section 3. Representations and Warranties
of the Purchaser.
As a material inducement to the Company
to enter into this Agreement and issue and sell the Private Placement Warrants to the Purchaser, the Purchaser hereby represents
and warrants to the Company (which representations and warranties shall survive each Closing Date) that:
A. Organization and Requisite
Authority. The Purchaser possesses all requisite power and authority necessary to carry out the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement.
B. Authorization; No Breach.
(i) This Agreement constitutes
a valid and binding obligation of the Purchaser, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights
and to general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or law).
(ii) The execution and delivery
by the Purchaser of this Agreement and the fulfillment of and compliance with the terms hereof by the Purchaser does not and shall
not as of each Closing Date (a) conflict with or result in a breach by the Purchaser of the terms, conditions or provisions
of, (b) constitute a default under, (c) result in the creation of any lien, security interest, charge or encumbrance
upon the Purchaser’s equity or assets under, (d) result in a violation of, or (e) require any authorization, consent,
approval, exemption or other action by or notice or declaration to, or filing with, any court or administrative or governmental
body or agency pursuant to the Purchaser’s organizational documents in effect on the date hereof or as may be amended prior
to completion of the contemplated Public Offering, or any material law, statute, rule or regulation to which the Purchaser
is subject, or any agreement, instrument, order, judgment or decree to which the Purchaser is subject, except for any filings required
after the date hereof under federal or state securities laws.
C. Investment Representations.
(i) The Purchaser is acquiring
the Private Placement Warrants and, upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants, the Shares issuable upon such exercise (collectively,
the “Securities”) for its own account, for investment purposes only and not with a view towards, or for resale
in connection with, any public sale or distribution thereof.
(ii) The Purchaser is an “accredited
investor” as such term is defined in Rule 501(a)(3) of Regulation D, and the Purchaser has not experienced a disqualifying
event as enumerated pursuant to Rule 506(d) of Regulation D under the Securities Act.
(iii) The Purchaser understands
that the Securities are being offered and will be sold to it in reliance on specific exemptions from the registration requirements
of the United States federal and state securities laws and that the Company is relying upon the truth and accuracy of, and the
Purchaser’s compliance with, the representations and warranties of the Purchaser set forth herein in order to determine the
availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of the Purchaser to acquire such Securities.
(iv) The Purchaser did not
decide to enter into this Agreement as a result of any general solicitation or general advertising within the meaning of Rule 502(c) under
the Securities Act.
(v) The Purchaser has been
furnished with all materials relating to the business, finances and operations of the Company and materials relating to the offer
and sale of the Securities which have been requested by the Purchaser. The Purchaser has been afforded the opportunity to ask questions
of the executive officers and directors of the Company. The Purchaser understands that its investment in the Securities involves
a high degree of risk and it has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as it has considered necessary to make an informed
investment decision with respect to the acquisition of the Securities.
(vi) The Purchaser understands
that no United States federal or state agency or any other government or governmental agency has passed on or made any recommendation
or endorsement of the Securities or the fairness or suitability of the investment in the Securities by the Purchaser nor have such
authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Securities.
(vii) The Purchaser understands
that: (a) the Securities have not been and are not being registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws,
and may not be offered for sale, sold, assigned or transferred unless (1) subsequently registered thereunder or (2) sold
in reliance on an exemption therefrom; and (b) except as specifically set forth in the Registration and Stockholder Rights
Agreement, neither the Company nor any other person is under any obligation to register the Securities under the Securities Act
or any state securities laws or to comply with the terms and conditions of any exemption thereunder. In this regard, the Purchaser
understands that the SEC has taken the position that promoters or affiliates of a blank check company and their transferees, both
before and after an initial Business Combination, are deemed to be “underwriters” under the Securities Act when reselling
the securities of a blank check company. Based on that position, Rule 144 adopted pursuant to the Securities Act would not
be available for resale transactions of the Securities despite technical compliance with the requirements of such Rule, and the
Securities can be resold only through a registered offering or in reliance upon another exemption from the registration requirements
of the Securities Act.
(viii) The Purchaser has such
knowledge and experience in financial and business matters, knowledge of the high degree of risk associated with investments in
the securities of companies in the development stage such as the Company, is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an
investment in the Securities and is able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Securities in the amount contemplated
hereunder for an indefinite period of time. The Purchaser has adequate means of providing for its current financial needs and
contingencies and will have no current or anticipated future needs for liquidity which would be jeopardized by the investment
in the Securities. The Purchaser can afford a complete loss of its investments in the Securities.
Section 4. Conditions of the Purchaser’s
Obligations.
The obligations of the Purchaser to purchase
and pay for the Private Placement Warrants are subject to the fulfillment, on or before each Closing Date, of each of the following
conditions:
A. Representations and Warranties.
The representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 2 shall be true and correct at and as of such Closing
Date as though then made.
B. Performance. The Company
shall have performed and complied with all agreements, obligations and conditions contained in this Agreement that are required
to be performed or complied with by it on or before such Closing Date.
C. No Injunction. No litigation,
statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed
by or in any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction or any self-regulatory organization having authority over
the matters contemplated hereby, which prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or
the Warrant Agreement.
D. Warrant Agreement and Registration
and Stockholder Rights Agreement. The Company shall have entered into the Warrant Agreement and the Registration and Stockholder
Rights Agreement, in each case on terms satisfactory to the Purchaser.
Section 5. Conditions of the Company’s
Obligations.
The obligations of the Company to the Purchaser
under this Agreement are subject to the fulfillment, on or before each Closing Date, of each of the following conditions:
A. Representations and Warranties.
The representations and warranties of the Purchaser contained in Section 3 shall be true and correct at and as of such Closing
Date as though then made.
B. Performance. The Purchaser
shall have performed and complied with all agreements, obligations and conditions contained in this Agreement that are required
to be performed or complied with by the Purchaser on or before such Closing Date.
C. Corporate Consents.
The Company shall have obtained the consent of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement and the Warrant Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Private Placement Warrants hereunder.
D. No Injunction. No litigation,
statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed
by or in any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction or any self-regulatory organization having authority over
the matters contemplated hereby, which prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or
the Warrant Agreement.
E. Warrant Agreement and Registration
and Stockholder Rights Agreement. The Company shall have entered into the Warrant Agreement and the Registration and Stockholder
Rights Agreement, in each case on terms satisfactory to the Company.
Section 6. Definitions.
Terms used but not otherwise defined in
this Agreement shall have the meaning assigned to such terms in the Registration Statement.
Section 7. Miscellaneous.
A. Successors and Assigns.
Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement by or on behalf of any
of the parties hereto shall bind and inure to the benefit of the respective successors of the parties hereto whether so expressed
or not. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, the parties may not assign this Agreement, other than
assignments by the Purchaser to affiliates thereof (including, without limitation one or more of its members).
B. Severability. Whenever
possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law,
but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective
only to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of this Agreement.
C. Counterparts. This Agreement
may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, none of which need contain the signatures of more than one party, but
all such counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. A signed copy of this Agreement delivered by
e-mail or other means of electronic transmission shall be deemed to have the same legal effect as delivery of an original signed
copy of this Agreement.
D. Descriptive Headings; Interpretation.
The descriptive headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a substantive part of this Agreement.
The use of the word “including” in this Agreement shall be by way of example rather than by limitation.
E. Governing Law. This
Agreement shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of New York and for all purposes shall be construed
in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would
result in the application of the laws of another jurisdiction.
F. Amendments. This Agreement
may not be amended, modified or waived as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by all parties hereto.
[Signature page follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have
executed this Agreement to be effective as of the date first set forth above.
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COMPANY: |
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Digital transformation OPPORTUNITIES corp. |
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By: |
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Name: |
Kyle Francis |
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Title: |
Chief Financial Officer |
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PURCHASER: |
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DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION SPONSOR llc |
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By: |
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Name: |
Kevin Nazemi |
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Title: |
Manager |
[Signature
Page to Warrant Purchase Agreement]
Exhibit 10.5
REGISTRATION AND STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION AND STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS
AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of [●], 2021, is made and entered into by and among Digital
Transformation Opportunities Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), Digital Transformation Sponsor
LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), and the undersigned parties listed under Holder
on the signature page hereto (each such party, together with the Sponsor, and any person or entity who hereafter becomes a
party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 6.2 of this Agreement, a “Holder” and collectively
the “Holders”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS,
the Company and the Sponsor have entered into that certain Securities Subscription Agreement, dated as of January 8, 2021,
pursuant to which the Sponsor purchased an aggregate of 7,187,500 shares (the “Founder Shares”) of the
Company’s Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share;
WHEREAS,
the Sponsor has agreed to transfer an aggregate of 225,000 Founder Shares to the other Holders;
WHEREAS,
up to an aggregate of 937,500 Founder Shares are subject to forfeiture by the Sponsor if the over-allotment option in connection
with the Company’s initial public offering is not exercised in full;
WHEREAS,
the Founder Shares are convertible into shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the
“Common Stock”), at the time of the initial Business Combination (as defined below) on a one-for-one
basis, subject to adjustment, on the terms and conditions provided in the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation,
as may be amended from time to time;
WHEREAS,
on [●], 2021, the Company and the Sponsor entered into that certain Private Placement Warrant Purchase Agreement, pursuant
to which the Sponsor agreed to purchase 5,000,000 warrants (or up to 5,500,000 warrants if the over-allotment option in connection
with the Company’s initial public offering is exercised in full) (together with all other warrants issued by the Company
to the Sponsor on substantially the same terms, the “Private Placement Warrants”), in a private placement
transaction occurring simultaneously with the closing of the Company’s initial public offering, each Private Placement Warrant
entitling the holder to purchase one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share; and
WHEREAS,
the Company and the Holders desire to enter into this Agreement, pursuant to which the Company shall grant the Holders certain
registration rights with respect to certain securities of the Company, as set forth in this Agreement.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual representations, covenants and agreements contained herein, and certain other
good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to
be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
1.1 Definitions. The terms defined
in this Article I shall, for all purposes of this Agreement, have the respective meanings set forth below:
“Adverse Disclosure”
shall mean any public disclosure of material non-public information, which disclosure, in the good faith judgment of the Chief
Executive Officer or any principal financial officer of the Company, after consultation with counsel to the Company, (i) would
be required to be made in any Registration Statement or Prospectus in order for the applicable Registration Statement or Prospectus
not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained
therein (in the case of any prospectus and any preliminary prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made) not misleading, (ii) would not be required to be made at such time if the Registration Statement were not being filed,
and (iii) the Company has a bona fide business purpose for not making such information public.
“Agreement” shall
have the meaning given in the Preamble.
“Board” shall
mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
“Block Trade”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5.
“Business Combination”
shall mean any merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or other similar business combination
with one or more businesses, involving the Company.
“Commission” shall
mean the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Common Stock”
shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Company” shall
have the meaning given in the Preamble.
“Demand Registration”
shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.
“Demanding Holder”
shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.
“Exchange Act”
shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Form S-1”
shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.
“Form S-3”
shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.3.
“Founder Shares”
shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto and shall be deemed to include the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion
thereof.
“Founder Shares Lock-Up Period”
shall mean, with respect to the Founder Shares, the period ending on the earlier of (A) one year after the completion of the
Company’s initial Business Combination or (B) subsequent to the Business Combination, (x) if the last reported
sale price of the Common Stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations,
recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the
Company’s initial Business Combination or (y) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, capital
stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the
right to exchange their shares of Common Stock for cash, securities or other property.
“Holders” shall
have the meaning given in the Preamble.
“Insider Letter”
shall mean that certain letter agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Company, the Sponsor, and each of the Company’s
officers, directors and director nominees.
“Maximum Number of Securities”
shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.4.
“Misstatement”
shall mean an untrue statement of a material fact or an omission to state a material fact required to be stated in a Registration
Statement or Prospectus, or necessary to make the statements in a Registration Statement not misleading or, in the case of a Prospectus,
not misleading in the light of the circumstances under which they were made.
“Nominee” shall
have the meaning given in subsection 5.1.1.
“Permitted Transferees”
shall mean any person or entity to whom a Holder of Registrable Securities is permitted to transfer such Registrable Securities
prior to the expiration of the Founder Shares Lock-Up Period or Private Placement Lock-Up Period, as the case may be, under the
Insider Letter and any other applicable agreement between such Holder and the Company, and to any transferee thereafter.
“Piggyback Registration”
shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.2.1.
“Private Placement Lock-Up Period”
shall mean, with respect to Private Placement Warrants that are held by the initial purchasers of such Private Placement Warrants
or their Permitted Transferees, and any of the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise or conversion of the
Private Placement Warrants and that are held by the initial purchasers of the Private Placement Warrants or their Permitted Transferees,
the period ending 30 days after the completion of the Company’s initial Business Combination.
“Private Placement Warrants”
shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Pro Rata” shall
have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.4.
“Prospectus” shall
mean the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, as supplemented by any and all prospectus supplements and as amended
by any and all post-effective amendments and including all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus.
“Registrable Security”
shall mean (a) the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the conversion of any Founder Shares, (b) the Private
Placement Warrants (including any shares of the Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any such Private Placement
Warrants), (c) any outstanding shares of Common Stock or any other equity security (including the shares of Common Stock issued
or issuable upon the exercise of any other equity security) of the Company held by a Holder as of the date of this Agreement or
purchased in the IPO or at any time thereafter, (d) any equity securities (including the shares of Common Stock issued or
issuable upon the exercise of any such equity security) of the Company issuable upon conversion of any working capital loans in
an amount up to $2,000,000 made to the Company by a Holder, and (e) any other equity security of the Company issued or issuable
with respect to any such shares of Common Stock by way of a stock dividend or stock split or in connection with a combination of
shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or reorganization; provided, however, that, as to any particular
Registrable Security, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when: (A) a Registration Statement with respect
to the sale of such securities shall have become effective under the Securities Act and such securities shall have been sold, transferred,
disposed of or exchanged in accordance with such Registration Statement; (B) such securities shall have been otherwise transferred,
new certificates for such securities not bearing a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by the Company
and subsequent public distribution of such securities shall not require registration under the Securities Act; (C) such securities
shall have ceased to be outstanding; (D) such securities may be sold without registration pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated
under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission) (but with no volume or other restrictions
or limitations); or (E) such securities have been sold to, or through, a broker, dealer or underwriter in a public distribution
or other public securities transaction.
“Registration”
shall mean a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement or similar document in compliance with the
requirements of the Securities Act, and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and such registration
statement becoming effective.
“Registration Expenses”
shall mean the out-of-pocket expenses of a Registration, including, without limitation, the following:
(A) all registration and filing fees
(including fees with respect to filings required to be made with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.) and any
securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed;
(B) fees and expenses of compliance
with securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with
blue sky qualifications of Registrable Securities);
(C) printing, messenger, telephone
and delivery expenses;
(D) reasonable fees and disbursements
of counsel for the Company;
(E) reasonable fees and disbursements
of all independent registered public accountants of the Company incurred specifically in connection with such Registration; and
(F) reasonable fees and expenses of
one (1) legal counsel selected by the Demanding Holder initiating a Demand Registration to be registered for offer and sale
in the applicable Registration.
“Registration Statement”
shall mean any registration statement that covers the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including
the Prospectus included in such registration statement, amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such
registration statement, and all exhibits to and all material incorporated by reference in such registration statement.
“Requesting Holder”
shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.
“Securities Act”
shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Sponsor” shall
have the meaning given in the Preamble.
“Sponsor Director”
means an individual elected to the Board that has been nominated pursuant to Section 5.1.
“Underwriter”
shall mean a securities dealer who purchases any Registrable Securities as principal in an Underwritten Offering or Block Trade
and not as part of such dealer’s market-making activities.
“Underwritten Registration”
or “Underwritten Offering” shall mean a Registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an
Underwriter in a firm commitment underwriting for distribution to the public.
ARTICLE II
REGISTRATIONS
2.1 Demand Registration.
2.1.1 Request for Registration. Subject
to the provisions of subsection 2.1.4 and Section 2.4 hereof, at any time and from time to time on or after
the date the Company consummates the Business Combination, any Holder that together with its affiliates owns at least a majority
in interest of the then-outstanding number of Registrable Securities (the “Demanding Holder”) may make
a written demand for Registration of all or part of their Registrable Securities, which written demand shall describe the amount
and type of securities to be included in such Registration and the intended method(s) of distribution thereof (such written
demand a “Demand Registration”). The Company shall, within ten (10) days of the Company’s
receipt of the Demand Registration, notify, in writing, all other Holders of Registrable Securities of such demand, and each Holder
of Registrable Securities who thereafter wishes to include all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in a
Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration (each such Holder that includes all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable
Securities in such Registration, a “Requesting Holder”) shall so notify the Company, in writing, within
five (5) days after the receipt by the Holder of the notice from the Company. Upon receipt by the Company of any such written
notification from a Requesting Holder(s) to the Company, such Requesting Holder(s) shall be entitled to have their Registrable
Securities included in a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration and the Company shall effect, as soon thereafter as practicable,
but not more than forty five (45) days immediately after the Company’s receipt of the Demand Registration, the Registration
of all Registrable Securities requested by the Demanding Holder and Requesting Holders pursuant to such Demand Registration. Under
no circumstances shall the Company be obligated to effect more than three (3) Registrations per eligible Holder pursuant to
a Demand Registration under this subsection 2.1.1; provided, however, that a Registration shall not be counted
for such purposes unless a Form S-1 or any similar long-form registration statement that may be available at such time (“Form S-1”)
has become effective and all of the Registrable Securities requested by the Requesting Holders to be registered on behalf of the
Requesting Holders in such Form S-1 Registration have been sold, in accordance with Section 3.1 of this Agreement.
2.1.2 Effective Registration. Notwithstanding
the provisions of subsection 2.1.1 above or any other part of this Agreement, a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration
shall not count as a Registration unless and until (i) the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to
a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration has been declared effective by the Commission and (ii) the Company has complied
with all of its obligations under this Agreement with respect thereto; provided, further, that if, after such Registration
Statement has been declared effective, an offering of Registrable Securities in a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration
is subsequently interfered with by any stop order or injunction of the Commission, federal or state court or any other governmental
agency the Registration Statement with respect to such Registration shall be deemed not to have been declared effective, unless
and until, (i) such stop order or injunction is removed, rescinded or otherwise terminated and (ii) the Demanding Holder
initiating such Demand Registration thereafter affirmatively elects within five (5) days to continue with such Registration
and accordingly notifies the Company in writing of such election within such five (5)-day period; provided, further,
that the Company shall not be obligated or required to file another Registration Statement until the Registration Statement that
has been previously filed with respect to a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration becomes effective or is subsequently
terminated.
2.1.3 Underwritten Offering. Subject
to the provisions of subsection 2.1.4 and Section 2.4 hereof, if the Demanding Holder so advises the Company
as part of its Demand Registration that the offering of the Registrable Securities pursuant to such Demand Registration shall be
in the form of an Underwritten Offering, then the right of such Demanding Holder or Requesting Holder (if any) to include its Registrable
Securities in such Registration shall be conditioned upon such Holder’s participation in such Underwritten Offering and the
inclusion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Underwritten Offering to the extent provided herein. All such Holders
proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through an Underwritten Offering under this subsection 2.1.3 shall
enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by
the Demanding Holder initiating the Demand Registration.
2.1.4 Reduction of Underwritten Offering.
If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration, in good faith, advises
the Company, the Demanding Holder and the Requesting Holders (if any) in writing that the dollar amount or number of Registrable
Securities that the Demanding Holder and the Requesting Holders (if any) desire to sell, taken together with all other Common Stock
or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell and the Common Stock, if any, as to which a Registration has been requested
pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights held by any other stockholders who desire to sell, exceeds
the maximum dollar amount or maximum number of equity securities that can be sold in the Underwritten Offering without adversely
affecting the proposed offering price, the timing, the distribution method, or the probability of success of such offering (such
maximum dollar amount or maximum number of such securities, as applicable, the “Maximum Number of Securities”),
then the Company shall include in such Underwritten Offering, as follows: (i) first, the Registrable Securities of the Demanding
Holder and the Requesting Holders (if any) (pro rata based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Demanding
Holder and Requesting Holder (if any) has requested be included in such Underwritten Registration and the aggregate number of Registrable
Securities that the Demanding Holder and Requesting Holders have requested be included in such Underwritten Registration (such
proportion is referred to herein as “Pro Rata”)) that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number
of Securities; (ii) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause
(i), the Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum
Number of Securities; and (iii) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the
foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), the Common Stock or other equity securities of other persons or entities that the Company
is obligated to register in a Registration pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with such persons and that can
be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.
2.1.5 Demand Registration Withdrawal.
The Demanding Holder initiating a Demand Registration or a majority-in-interest of the Requesting Holders (if any), pursuant to
a Registration under subsection 2.1.1 shall have the right to withdraw from a Registration pursuant to such Demand Registration
for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of their
intention to withdraw from such Registration prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission
with respect to the Registration of their Registrable Securities pursuant to such Demand Registration. Notwithstanding anything
to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with a
Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration prior to its withdrawal under this subsection 2.1.5.
2.2 Piggyback Registration.
2.2.1 Piggyback Rights. If, at any
time on or after the date the Company consummates a Business Combination, the Company proposes to file a Registration Statement
under the Securities Act with respect to an offering of equity securities, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable
for, or convertible into equity securities, for its own account or for the account of stockholders of the Company (or by the Company
and by the stockholders of the Company including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof), other than a
Registration Statement (i) filed in connection with any employee stock option or other benefit plan, (ii) for an exchange
offer or offering of securities solely to the Company’s existing stockholders, (iii) for an offering of debt that is
convertible into equity securities of the Company, (iv) for a dividend reinvestment plan, or (v) a Block Trade, then
the Company shall give written notice of such proposed filing to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities as soon as practicable
but not less than ten (10) days before the anticipated filing date of such Registration Statement, which notice shall (A) describe
the amount and type of securities to be included in such offering, the intended method(s) of distribution, and the name of
the proposed managing Underwriter or Underwriters, if any, in such offering, and (B) offer to all of the Holders of Registrable
Securities the opportunity to register the sale of such number of Registrable Securities as such Holders may request in writing
within five (5) days after receipt of such written notice (such Registration, a “Piggyback Registration”).
The Company shall, in good faith, cause such Registrable Securities to be included in such Piggyback Registration and shall use
its best efforts to cause the managing Underwriter or Underwriters of a proposed Underwritten Offering to permit the Registrable
Securities requested by the Holders pursuant to this subsection 2.2.1 to be included in a Piggyback Registration on the
same terms and conditions as any similar securities of the Company included in such Registration and to permit the sale or other
disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. All such Holders
proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through an Underwritten Offering under this subsection 2.2.1 shall
enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by
the Company.
2.2.2 Reduction of Piggyback Registration.
If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Registration that is to be a Piggyback Registration, in good faith,
advises the Company and the Holders of Registrable Securities participating in the Piggyback Registration in writing that the dollar
amount or number of the shares of Common Stock that the Company desires to sell, taken together with (i) the Common Stock,
if any, as to which Registration has been demanded pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with persons or entities
other than the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder, (ii) the Registrable Securities as to which registration has been
requested pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof, and (iii) the Common Stock, if any, as to which Registration has been
requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other stockholders of the Company, exceeds
the Maximum Number of Securities, then:
(a) If the Registration is undertaken
for the Company’s account, the Company shall include in any such Registration (A) first, the Common Stock or other equity
securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (B) second,
to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Registrable Securities
of Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to subsection 2.2.1 hereof, Pro Rata,
which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number
of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the Common Stock, if any, as to which Registration
has been requested pursuant to written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other stockholders of the Company, which can
be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities;
(b) If the Registration is pursuant
to a request by persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities, then the Company shall include in any such
Registration (A) first, the Common Stock or other equity securities, if any, of such requesting persons or entities, other
than the Holders of Registrable Securities, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (B) second,
to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Registrable Securities
of Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to subsection 2.2.1, Pro Rata, which
can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities
has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company
desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (D) fourth, to the extent that
the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A), (B) and (C), the Common Stock or other
equity securities for the account of other persons or entities that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to separate written
contractual arrangements with such persons or entities, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.
2.2.3 Piggyback Registration Withdrawal.
Any Holder of Registrable Securities shall have the right to withdraw from a Piggyback Registration for any or no reason whatsoever
upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of his, her or its intention to withdraw
from such Piggyback Registration prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect
to such Piggyback Registration. The Company (whether on its own good faith determination or as the result of a request for withdrawal
by persons pursuant to separate written contractual obligations) may withdraw a Registration Statement filed with the Commission
in connection with a Piggyback Registration at any time prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection
with the Piggyback Registration prior to its withdrawal under this subsection 2.2.3.
2.2.4 Unlimited Piggyback Registration
Rights. For purposes of clarity, any Registration effected pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof shall not be counted
as a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration effected under Section 2.1 hereof.
2.3 Registrations on Form S-3.
The Holders of Registrable Securities may at any time, and from time to time, request in writing that the Company, pursuant to
Rule 415 under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission), register the resale
of any or all of their Registrable Securities on Form S-3 or any similar short form registration statement that may be available
at such time (“Form S-3”); provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to effect
such request through an Underwritten Offering. Within five (5) days of the Company’s receipt of a written request from
a Holder or Holders of Registrable Securities for a Registration on Form S-3, the Company shall promptly give written notice
of the proposed Registration on Form S-3 to all other Holders of Registrable Securities, and each Holder of Registrable Securities
who thereafter wishes to include all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Registration on Form S-3
shall so notify the Company, in writing, within ten (10) days after the receipt by the Holder of the notice from the Company.
As soon as practicable thereafter, but not more than twelve (12) days after the Company’s initial receipt of such written
request for a Registration on Form S-3, the Company shall register all or such portion of such Holder’s Registrable
Securities as are specified in such written request, together with all or such portion of Registrable Securities of any other Holder
or Holders joining in such request as are specified in the written notification given by such Holder or Holders; provided, however,
that the Company shall not be obligated to effect any such Registration pursuant to this Section 2.3 if (i) a
Form S-3 is not available for such offering; or (ii) the Holders of Registrable Securities, together with the Holders
of any other equity securities of the Company entitled to inclusion in such Registration, propose to sell the Registrable Securities
and such other equity securities (if any) at any aggregate price to the public of less than $10,000,000.
2.4 Restrictions on Registration Rights.
If (A) during the period starting with the date sixty (60) days prior to the Company’s good faith estimate of the date
of the filing of, and ending on a date one hundred and twenty (120) days after the effective date of, a Company initiated Registration
and provided that the Company has delivered written notice to the Holders prior to receipt of a Demand Registration pursuant to
subsection 2.1.1 and it continues to actively employ, in good faith, all reasonable efforts to cause the applicable Registration
Statement to become effective; (B) the Holders have requested an Underwritten Registration and the Company and the Holders
are unable to obtain the commitment of underwriters to firmly underwrite the offer; or (C) in the good faith judgment of the
Board such Registration would be seriously detrimental to the Company and the Board concludes as a result that it is essential
to defer the filing of such Registration Statement at such time, then in each case the Company shall furnish to such Holders a
certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board stating that in the good faith judgment of the Board it would be seriously detrimental
to the Company for such Registration Statement to be filed in the near future and that it is therefore essential to defer the filing
of such Registration Statement. In such event, the Company shall have the right to defer such filing for a period of not more than
thirty (30) days; provided, however, that the Company shall not defer its obligation in this manner more than once in any 12-month
period. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, no Registration shall be effected or permitted and
no Registration Statement shall become effective, with respect to any Registrable Securities held by any Holder, until after the
expiration of the Founder Shares Lock-Up Period or the Private Placement Lock-Up Period, as the case may be.
2.5 Block Trades.
2.5.1 Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Article II, but subject to Section 3.4, at any time and from time to time when an effective
Form S-3 is on file with the Commission, if a Demanding Holder wishes to engage in an underwritten registered offering
not involving a “roadshow,” an offer commonly known as a “block trade” (a “Block
Trade”), with a total offering price reasonably expected to exceed, in the aggregate, either (x) $10
million or (y) all remaining Registrable Securities held by the Demanding Holder, then such Demanding Holder only needs
to notify the Company of the Block Trade at least five (5) business days prior to the day such offering is to commence
and the Company shall as expeditiously as possible use its commercially reasonable efforts to facilitate such Block Trade;
provided that the Demanding Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities wishing to engage in the Block
Trade shall use commercially reasonable efforts to work with the Company and any Underwriters prior to making such request in
order to facilitate preparation of the registration statement, prospectus and other offering documentation related to the
Block Trade.
2.5.2 Prior to the filing of the applicable
“red herring” prospectus or prospectus supplement used in connection with a Block Trade, any Demanding Holder initiating
such Block Trade shall have the right to submit a written notification to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if
any) of their intention to withdraw from such Block Trade. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company
shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with a block trade prior to its withdrawal under this
subsection 2.5.2.
2.5.3 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
in this Agreement, Section 2.2 shall not apply to a Block Trade initiated by a Demanding Holder pursuant to this Agreement.
2.5.4 The Demanding Holder in a Block
Trade shall have the right to select the Underwriters for such Block Trade (which shall consist of one or more reputable
nationally recognized investment banks).
ARTICLE III
COMPANY PROCEDURES
3.1 General Procedures. If at any
time on or after the date the Company consummates a Business Combination the Company is required to effect the Registration of
Registrable Securities, the Company shall use its best efforts to effect such Registration to permit the sale of such Registrable
Securities in accordance with the intended plan of distribution thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company shall, as expeditiously
as possible:
3.1.1 prepare and file with the Commission
as soon as practicable a Registration Statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its reasonable best efforts
to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such
Registration Statement have been sold;
3.1.2 prepare and file with the Commission
such amendments and post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement, and such supplements to the Prospectus, as may be
reasonably requested by the Holders or any Underwriter of Registrable Securities or as may be required by the rules, regulations
or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company or by the Securities Act or rules and regulations
thereunder to keep the Registration Statement effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement
are sold in accordance with the intended plan of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;
3.1.3 prior to filing a Registration Statement
or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, furnish without charge to the Underwriters, if any, and the Holders of Registrable
Securities included in such Registration, and such Holders’ legal counsel, copies of such Registration Statement as proposed
to be filed, each amendment and supplement to such Registration Statement (in each case including all exhibits thereto and documents
incorporated by reference therein), the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary Prospectus),
and such other documents as the Underwriters and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration or the legal
counsel for any such Holders may request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holders;
3.1.4 prior to any public offering of Registrable
Securities, use its best efforts to (i) register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement
under such securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the Holders of Registrable Securities
included in such Registration Statement (in light of their intended plan of distribution) may request and (ii) take such action
necessary to cause such Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such
other governmental authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company and do any and all other
acts and things that may be necessary or advisable to enable the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration
Statement to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in such jurisdictions; provided, however,
that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be
required to qualify or take any action to which it would be subject to general service of process or taxation in any such jurisdiction
where it is not then otherwise so subject;
3.1.5 cause all such Registrable Securities
to be listed on each securities exchange or automated quotation system on which similar securities issued by the Company are then
listed;
3.1.6 provide a transfer agent or warrant
agent, as applicable, and registrar for all such Registrable Securities no later than the effective date of such Registration Statement;
3.1.7 advise each seller of such Registrable
Securities, promptly after it shall receive notice or obtain knowledge thereof, of the issuance of any stop order by the Commission
suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose
and promptly use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such stop
order should be issued;
3.1.8 at least five (5) days prior to
the filing of any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or Prospectus
or any document that is to be incorporated by reference into such Registration Statement or Prospectus, furnish a copy thereof
to each seller of such Registrable Securities or its counsel;
3.1.9 notify the Holders at any time when
a Prospectus relating to such Registration Statement is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of
any event as a result of which the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes a Misstatement,
and then to correct such Misstatement as set forth in Section 3.4 hereof;
3.1.10 permit a representative of the Holders,
the Underwriters, if any, and any attorney or accountant retained by such Holders or Underwriter to participate, at each such person’s
own expense, in the preparation of the Registration Statement, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees
to supply all information reasonably requested by any such representative, Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with
the Registration; provided, however, that such representatives or Underwriters enter into a confidentiality agreement,
in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, prior to the release or disclosure of any such information;
3.1.11 in connection with such Registration,
including in the event of (i) an Underwritten Offering, (ii) a Block Trade, or (iii) a sale by a broker, placement
agent or sales agent (subject to broker, placement agent or sales agent providing such certification or representation reasonably
requested by the Company’s independent registered public accounts and the Company’s counsel), obtain a “cold
comfort” letter from the Company’s independent registered public accountants, in customary form and covering such matters
of the type customarily covered by “cold comfort” letters and reasonably satisfactory to a majority-in-interest of
the participating Holders and the managing Underwriter, if any, and the applicable broker, placement agent or sales agent, if any,
and;
3.1.12 in connection with such Registration,
including in the event of (i) an Underwritten Offering, (ii) a Block Trade, or (iii) a sale by a broker, placement
agent or sales agent, on the date the Registrable Securities are delivered for sale pursuant to such Registration, obtain an opinion
and negative assurance letter, dated such date, of counsel representing the Company for the purposes of such Registration, addressed
to the Holders, the broker, placement agent or sales agent, if any, and the Underwriters, if any, covering such legal matters with
respect to the Registration in respect of which such opinion is being given as the Holders, broker, placement agent, sales agent,
or Underwriter may reasonably request and as are customarily included in such opinions and negative assurance letters, and reasonably
satisfactory to a majority in interest of the participating Holders;
3.1.13 in the event of any Underwritten Offering,
enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, with the managing Underwriter
of such offering;
3.1.14 make available to its security holders,
as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least twelve (12) months beginning with the
first day of the Company’s first full calendar quarter after the effective date of the Registration Statement which satisfies
the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any successor rule promulgated
thereafter by the Commission);
3.1.15 if the Registration involves the Registration
of Registrable Securities involving gross proceeds in excess of $50,000,000, use its reasonable efforts to make available senior
executives of the Company to participate in customary “road show” presentations that may be reasonably requested by
the Underwriter in any Underwritten Offering;
3.1.16 otherwise, in good faith, cooperate
reasonably with, and take such customary actions as may reasonably be requested by the Holders, in connection with such Registration;
and
3.1.17 upon request of a Holder, the Company
shall (i) authorize the Company’s transfer agent to remove any legend on share certificates of such Holder’s Common
Stock restricting further transfer (or any similar restriction in book entry positions of such Holder) if such restrictions are
no longer required by the Securities Act or any applicable state securities laws or any agreement with the Company to which such
Holder is a party, including if such shares subject to such a restriction have been sold on a Registration Statement, (ii) request
the Company’s transfer agent to issue in lieu thereof shares of Common Stock without such restrictions to the Holder upon,
as applicable, surrender of any stock certificates evidencing such shares of Common Stock, or to update the applicable book entry
position of such Holder so that it no longer is subject to such a restriction, and (iii) use commercially reasonable efforts
to cooperate with such Holder to have such Holder’s shares of Common Stock transferred into a book-entry position at The
Depository Trust Company, in each case, subject to delivery of customary documentation, including any documentation required by
such restrictive legend or book-entry notation.
3.2 Registration Expenses. The Registration
Expenses of all Registrations shall be borne by the Company. It is acknowledged by the Holders that the Holders shall bear all
incremental selling expenses relating to the sale of Registrable Securities, such as Underwriters’ commissions and discounts,
brokerage fees, Underwriter marketing costs and, other than as set forth in the definition of “Registration Expenses,”
all reasonable fees and expenses of any legal counsel representing the Holders.
3.3 Requirements for Participation in
Underwritten Offerings. No person may participate in any Underwritten Offering for equity securities of the Company pursuant
to a Registration initiated by the Company hereunder unless such person (i) agrees to sell such person’s securities
on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Company and (ii) completes and executes all customary
questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, lock-up agreements, underwriting agreements and other customary documents as may
be reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.
3.4 Suspension of Sales; Adverse Disclosure.
Upon receipt of written notice from the Company that a Registration Statement or Prospectus contains a Misstatement, each of the
Holders shall forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities until he, she or it has received copies of a supplemented
or amended Prospectus correcting the Misstatement (it being understood that the Company hereby covenants to prepare and file such
supplement or amendment as soon as practicable after the time of such notice), or until he, she or it is advised in writing by
the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed. If the filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of a Registration
Statement in respect of any Registration at any time would require the Company to make an Adverse Disclosure or would require the
inclusion in such Registration Statement of financial statements that are unavailable to the Company for reasons beyond the Company’s
control, the Company may, upon giving prompt written notice of such action to the Holders, delay the filing or initial effectiveness
of, or suspend use of, such Registration Statement for the shortest period of time, but in no event more than thirty (30) days,
determined in good faith by the Company to be necessary for such purpose. In the event the Company exercises its rights under the
preceding sentence, the Holders agree to suspend, immediately upon their receipt of the notice referred to above, their use of
the Prospectus relating to any Registration in connection with any sale or offer to sell Registrable Securities. The Company shall
immediately notify the Holders of the expiration of any period during which it exercised its rights under this Section 3.4.
3.5 Reporting Obligations. As long
as any Holder shall own Registrable Securities, the Company, at all times while it shall be a reporting company under the Exchange
Act, covenants to file timely (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports
required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and
to promptly furnish the Holders with true and complete copies of all such filings. The Company further covenants that it shall
take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder
to sell shares of the Common Stock held by such Holder without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the
exemptions provided by Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by
the Commission), including providing any legal opinions, to the extent such exemption is available to Holders at such time. Upon
the request of any Holder, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written certification of a duly authorized officer as to
whether it has complied with such requirements.
ARTICLE IV
INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION
4.1 Indemnification.
4.1.1 The Company agrees to indemnify, to
the extent permitted by law, each Holder of Registrable Securities, its officers and directors and each person who controls such
Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including attorneys’
fees) caused by any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or
preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as the same are caused by or contained
in any information furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein. The Company shall indemnify the
Underwriters, their officers and directors and each person who controls such Underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities
Act) to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to the indemnification of the Holder.
4.1.2 In connection with any Registration
Statement in which a Holder of Registrable Securities is participating, such Holder shall furnish to the Company in writing such
information and affidavits as the Company reasonably requests for use in connection with any such Registration Statement or Prospectus
and, to the extent permitted by law, shall indemnify the Company, its directors and officers and agents and each person who controls
the Company (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including
without limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees) resulting from any untrue statement of material fact contained in the Registration
Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission of a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but only to the extent that such untrue
statement or omission is contained in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing by such Holder expressly for use therein;
provided, however, that the obligation to indemnify shall be several, not joint and several, among such Holders of
Registrable Securities, and the liability of each such Holder of Registrable Securities shall be in proportion to and limited to
the net proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. The Holders
of Registrable Securities shall indemnify the Underwriters, their officers, directors and each person who controls such Underwriters
(within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to indemnification of the
Company.
4.1.3 Any person entitled to indemnification
herein shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification
(provided that the failure to give prompt notice shall not impair any person’s right to indemnification hereunder to the
extent such failure has not materially prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (ii) unless in such indemnified party’s
reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim,
permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party.
If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified
party without its consent (but such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld). An indemnifying party who is not entitled to,
or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for
all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified
party a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to
such claim. No indemnifying party shall, without the consent of the indemnified party, consent to the entry of any judgment or
enter into any settlement which cannot be settled in all respects by the payment of money (and such money is so paid by the indemnifying
party pursuant to the terms of such settlement) or which settlement does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving
by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.
4.1.4 The indemnification provided for under
this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party
or any officer, director or controlling person of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of securities. The Company
and each Holder of Registrable Securities participating in an offering also agrees to make such provisions as are reasonably requested
by any indemnified party for contribution to such party in the event the Company’s or such Holder’s indemnification
is unavailable for any reason.
4.1.5 If the indemnification provided under
this Section 4.1 hereof from the indemnifying party is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified
party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to herein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu
of indemnifying the indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such
losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying
party and the indemnified party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying
party and indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including
any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, was made by,
or relates to information supplied by, such indemnifying party or indemnified party, and the indemnifying party’s and indemnified
party’s relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action; provided,
however, that the liability of any Holder under this subsection 4.1.5 shall be limited to the amount of the net proceeds
received by such Holder in such offering giving rise to such liability. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the
losses or other liabilities referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in subsections
4.1.1, 4.1.2 and 4.1.3 above, any legal or other fees, charges or expenses reasonably incurred by such party
in connection with any investigation or proceeding. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution
pursuant to this subsection 4.1.5 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation, which does
not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this subsection 4.1.5. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
(within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution pursuant to this subsection
4.1.5 from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
ARTICLE V
STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS
5.1 Subject to the terms and conditions
of this Agreement, at any time and from time to time on or after the date that the Company consummates a Business Combination and
for so long as the Sponsor or the future holders of the Founder Shares (or securities into which the Founder Shares convert), as
applicable, holds any Registrable Securities:
5.1.1 The Sponsor and the future holders of
the Founder Shares (or securities into which the Founder Shares convert) held by the Sponsor as of the date hereof shall have the
right, but not the obligation, to designate three (3) individuals to be appointed or nominated, as the case may be, for election
to the Board (including any successor, each, a “Nominee”) by giving written notice to the Company on
or before the time such information is reasonably requested by the Board, for inclusion in a proxy statement for a meeting of stockholders.
5.1.2 The Company will, as promptly as practicable,
use its best efforts to take all necessary and desirable actions (including, without limitation, calling special meetings of the
Board and the stockholders and recommending, supporting and soliciting proxies) so that the applicable number of Sponsor Directors
is serving on the Board at all times during which the nomination rights provided in Section 5.1.1 are applicable.
5.1.3 The Company shall, to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law, use its best efforts to take all actions necessary to ensure that: (i) each Nominee is included
in the Board’s slate of nominees to the stockholders of the Company for each election of directors; and (ii) each Nominee
is included in the proxy statement prepared by management of the Company in connection with soliciting proxies for every meeting
of the stockholders of the Company called with respect to the election of members of the Board, and at every adjournment or postponement
thereof, and on every action or approval by written consent of the stockholders of the Company or the Board with respect to the
election of members of the Board.
5.1.4 If a vacancy occurs because of the death,
disability, disqualification, resignation, or removal of a Sponsor Director or for any other reason during the period in which
rights provided in Section 5.1.1 are applicable, the Sponsor or the future holders of the Founder Shares (or securities into
which the Founder Shares convert), as the case may be, shall be entitled to designate such person’s successor, and the Company
will, as promptly as practicable following such designation, use its best efforts to take all necessary and desirable actions,
to the fullest extent permitted by law, within its control such that such vacancy shall be filled with such successor Nominee.
5.1.5 If a Nominee is not elected because
of such Nominee’s death, disability, disqualification, withdrawal as a nominee or for any other reason, the Sponsor or the
future holders of the Founder Shares (or securities into which the Founder Shares convert), as the case may be, shall be entitled
to designate promptly another Nominee and the Company will take all necessary and desirable actions within its control such that
the director position for which such Nominee was nominated shall not be filled pending such designation.
5.1.6 As promptly as reasonably practicable
following the request of any Sponsor Director, the Company shall enter into an indemnification agreement with such Sponsor Director,
in the form entered into with the other members of the Board. The Company shall pay the reasonable, documented out-of-pocket expenses
incurred by the Sponsor Director in connection with his or her services provided to or on behalf of the Company, including attending
meetings or events attended explicitly on behalf of the Company at the Company’s request.
5.1.7 The Company shall (i) purchase
directors’ and officers’ liability insurance in an amount determined by the Board to be reasonable and customary and
(ii) for so long as a Sponsor Director serves as a Director of the Company, maintain such coverage with respect to such Sponsor
Director; provided that upon removal or resignation of such Sponsor Director for any reason, the Company shall take all
actions reasonably necessary to extend such directors’ and officers’ liability insurance coverage for a period of not
less than six years from any such event in respect of any act or omission occurring at or prior to such event.
5.1.8 For so long as a Sponsor Director serves
as a director of the Company, the Company shall not amend, alter or repeal any right to indemnification or exculpation covering
or benefiting any director nominated pursuant to this Agreement as and to the extent consistent with applicable law, whether such
right is contained in the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, each as amended, or another document (except
to the extent such amendment or alteration permits the Company to provide broader indemnification or exculpation rights on a retroactive
basis than permitted prior thereto).
5.1.9 Any Nominee will be subject to the Company’s
customary due diligence process, including its review of a completed questionnaire and a background check. Based on the foregoing,
the Company may object to any Nominee provided (a) it does so in good faith, and (b) such objection is based upon any
of the following: (i) such Nominee was convicted in a criminal proceeding or is a named subject of a pending criminal proceeding
(excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses), (ii) such Nominee was the subject of any order, judgment, or decree
not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated of any court of competent jurisdiction, permanently or temporarily enjoining such
proposed director from, or otherwise limiting, the following activities: (A) engaging in any type of business practice, or
(B) engaging in any activity in connection with the purchase or sale of any security or in connection with any violation of
federal or state securities laws, (iii) such Nominee was the subject of any order, judgment or decree, not subsequently reversed,
suspended or vacated, of any federal or state authority barring, suspending or otherwise limiting for more than 60 days the right
of such person to engage in any activity described in clause (ii)(B), or to be associated with persons engaged in such activity,
(iv) such proposed director was found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by the Commission to have
violated any federal or state securities law, and the judgment in such civil action or finding by the Commission has not been subsequently
reversed, suspended or vacated, or (v) such proposed director was the subject of, or a party to any federal or state judicial
or administrative order, judgment, decree, or finding, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, relating to a violation
of any federal or state securities laws or regulations. In the event the Board reasonably finds the Nominee to be unsuitable based
upon one or more of the foregoing clauses (i) through (v) and reasonably objects to the identified director, the Sponsor
or the future holders of the Founder Shares (or securities into which the Founder Shares convert), as applicable, shall be entitled
to propose a different nominee to the Board within 30 calendar days of the Company’s notice to Sponsor or the future holders
of the Founder Shares (or securities into which the Founder Shares convert), as applicable, of its objection to the Nominee and
such replacement Nominee shall be subject to the review process outlined above.
5.1.10 The Company shall take all necessary
action to cause a Sponsor Director chosen by the Sponsor or the future holders of the Founder Shares (or securities into which
the Founder Shares convert), as the case may be, to be elected to the board of directors (or similar governing body) of each material
operating subsidiary of the Company to the extent requested by the Sponsor or the future holders of the Founder Shares (or securities
into which the Founder Shares convert), as applicable. Such Sponsor Director shall have the right to attend (in person or remotely)
any meetings of the board of directors (or similar governing body or committee thereof) of each subsidiary of the Company.
ARTICLE VI
MISCELLANEOUS
6.1 Notices. Any notice or communication
under this Agreement must be in writing and given by (i) deposit in the United States mail, addressed to the party to be notified,
postage prepaid and registered or certified with return receipt requested, (ii) delivery in person or by courier service providing
evidence of delivery, or (iii) transmission by hand delivery or electronic mail. Each notice or communication that is mailed,
delivered, or transmitted in the manner described above shall be deemed sufficiently given, served, sent, and received, in the
case of mailed notices, on the third business day following the date on which it is mailed and, in the case of notices delivered
by courier service, hand delivery or electronic mail, at such time as it is delivered to the addressee (with the delivery receipt
or the affidavit of messenger) or at such time as delivery is refused by the addressee upon presentation. Any notice or communication
under this Agreement must be addressed, if to the Company, to: 10485 NE 6th Street, Unit 3930, Bellevue, WA 98004, Attention: Kevin
Nazemi, with copy to: Paul Hastings LLP, 515 South Flower St, Twenty-Fifth Floor, Los Angeles, California 90071, Attn: Jonathan
Ko, and, if to any Holder, at such Holder’s address as set forth in the Company’s books and records. Any party may
change its address for notice at any time and from time to time by written notice to the other parties hereto, and such change
of address shall become effective thirty (30) days after delivery of such notice as provided in this Section 6.1.
6.2 Assignment; No Third Party Beneficiaries.
6.2.1 This Agreement and the rights, duties
and obligations of the Company hereunder may not be assigned or delegated by the Company in whole or in part.
6.2.2 Prior to the expiration of the Founder
Shares Lock-Up Period or the Private Placement Lock-Up Period, as the case may be, no Holder may assign or delegate such Holder’s
rights, duties or obligations under this Agreement, in whole or in part, except in connection with a transfer of Registrable Securities
by such Holder to a Permitted Transferee, but only if such Permitted Transferee agrees to become bound by the transfer restrictions
set forth in this Agreement and other applicable agreements.
6.2.3 This Agreement and the provisions hereof
shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of each of the parties and its successors and the permitted assigns of the
Holders, which shall include Permitted Transferees.
6.2.4 This Agreement shall not confer any
rights or benefits on any persons that are not parties hereto, other than as expressly set forth in this Agreement and Section 6.2
hereof.
6.2.5 No assignment by any party hereto of
such party’s rights, duties and obligations hereunder shall be binding upon or obligate the Company unless and until the
Company shall have received (i) written notice of such assignment as provided in Section 6.1 hereof and (ii) the
written agreement of the assignee, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to be bound by the terms and provisions of
this Agreement (which may be accomplished by executing and delivering an additional counterpart signature page to this Agreement).
Any transfer or assignment made other than as provided in this Section 6.2 shall be null and void.
6.3 Severability. This Agreement
shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity
or enforceability of this Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable
term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Agreement a provision as similar in terms
to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible that is valid and enforceable.
6.4 Counterparts. This Agreement
may be executed in multiple counterparts (including electronic or PDF counterparts), each of which shall be deemed an original,
and all of which together shall constitute the same instrument, but only one of which need be produced. A signed copy of this Agreement
delivered by e-mail or other means of electronic transmission shall be deemed to have the same legal effect as delivery of an original
signed copy of this Agreement.
6.5 Entire Agreement. This Agreement
(including all agreements entered into pursuant hereto and all certificates and instruments delivered pursuant hereto and thereto)
constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior and contemporaneous
agreements, representations, understandings, negotiations and discussions between the parties, whether oral or written.
6.6 Governing Law; Venue. NOTWITHSTANDING
THE PLACE WHERE THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE EXECUTED BY ANY OF THE PARTIES HERETO, THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT (I) THIS
AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AS APPLIED TO AGREEMENTS AMONG NEW YORK RESIDENTS
ENTERED INTO AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION
AND (II) THE VENUE FOR ANY ACTION TAKEN WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT IN NEW YORK COUNTY
IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
6.7 Waiver of Trial by Jury. Each
party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives the right to a trial by jury in any action, suit, counterclaim or other proceeding
(whether based on contract, tort or otherwise) arising out of, connected with or relating to this Agreement, the transactions contemplated
hereby, or the actions of the Sponsor in the negotiation, administration, performance or enforcement hereof.
6.8 Amendments and Modifications.
Upon the written consent of the Company and the Holders of at least a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities at the
time in question, compliance with any of the provisions, covenants and conditions set forth in this Agreement may be waived, or
any of such provisions, covenants or conditions may be amended or modified; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing,
any amendment hereto or waiver hereof that adversely affects one Holder, solely in his, her or its capacity as a holder of the
shares of capital stock of the Company, in a manner that is materially different from the other Holders (in such capacity) shall
require the consent of the Holder so affected. No course of dealing between any Holder or the Company and any other party hereto
or any failure or delay on the part of a Holder or the Company in exercising any rights or remedies under this Agreement shall
operate as a waiver of any rights or remedies of any Holder or the Company. No single or partial exercise of any rights or remedies
under this Agreement by a party shall operate as a waiver or preclude the exercise of any other rights or remedies hereunder or
thereunder by such party.
6.9 Titles and Headings. Titles and
headings of sections of this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction of any provision of this
Agreement.
6.10 Remedies Cumulative. In the
event that the Company fails to observe or perform any covenant or agreement to be observed or performed under this Agreement,
the Holders may proceed to protect and enforce its rights by suit in equity or action at law, whether for specific performance
of any term contained in this Agreement or for an injunction against the breach of any such term or in aid of the exercise of any
power granted in this Agreement or to enforce any other legal or equitable right, or to take any one or more of such actions, without
being required to post a bond. None of the rights, powers or remedies conferred under this Agreement shall be mutually exclusive,
and each such right, power or remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to any other right, power or remedy, whether conferred
by this Agreement or now or hereafter available at law, in equity, by statute or otherwise.
6.11 Other Registration Rights. The
Company represents and warrants that no person, other than a Holder of Registrable Securities, has any right to require the Company
to register any securities of the Company for sale or to include such securities of the Company in any Registration filed by the
Company for the sale of securities for its own account or for the account of any other person. Further, the Company represents
and warrants that this Agreement supersedes any other registration rights agreement or agreement with similar terms and conditions
and in the event of a conflict between any such agreement or agreements and this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail.
6.12 Term. This Agreement shall terminate
upon the earlier of (i) the tenth anniversary of the date of this Agreement or (ii) the date as of which (A) all
of the Registrable Securities have been sold pursuant to a Registration Statement (but in no event prior to the applicable period
referred to in Section 4(a)(3) of the Securities Act and Rule 174 thereunder (or any successor rule promulgated
thereafter by the Commission)) or (B) the Holders of all of the Registrable Securities are permitted to sell the Registrable
Securities under Rule 144 (or any similar provision) under the Securities Act without limitation on the amount of securities
sold or the manner of sale. The provisions of Section 3.5 and Article IV shall survive any termination.
[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
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COMPANY: |
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DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OPPORTUNITIES CORP., |
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a Delaware corporation |
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By: |
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Name: |
Kyle Francis |
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Title: |
Chief Financial Officer |
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HOLDERS: |
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DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION SPONSOR LLC, |
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a Delaware limited liability company |
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By: |
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Name: |
Kevin Nazemi |
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Title: |
Manager |
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OTHER HOLDERS: |
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Kyle
Francis |
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Bradley Fluegel |
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Heather Zynczak |
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Jim Moffatt |
[Signature Page to Registration
and Stockholder Rights Agreement]
Exhibit 10.6
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
This
Indemnification Agreement (“Agreement”) is made and entered into as of [●], 2021, by and between
Digital Transformation Opportunities Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and
(“Indemnitee”).
WHEREAS, in light of the litigation costs
and risks to directors and officers resulting from their service to companies, and the desire of the Company to attract and retain
qualified individuals to serve as directors and officers, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company to indemnify
and advance expenses on behalf of its directors and/or officers to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law so that they
will serve or continue to serve the Company free from undue concern regarding such risks;
WHEREAS, the Company has requested that
Indemnitee serve or continue to serve as a director and/or an officer of the Company and may have requested or may in the future
request that Indemnitee serve in other capacities;
WHEREAS, one of the conditions that Indemnitee
requires in order to serve as a director and/or an officer of the Company is that Indemnitee be so indemnified; and
WHEREAS, Indemnitee does not regard
the advancement or indemnification protections provided for in the Bylaws or the Certificate of Incorporation to be adequate protection
against personal liability; and
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the
premises and the covenants contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:
1. Services
by Indemnitee. Indemnitee agrees to serve as a director and/or an officer of the Company. Indemnitee may at any time and for
any reason resign from such position (subject to any contractual obligation the Indemnitee may have under any other agreement).
2. Indemnification
- General. On the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted
by law, indemnify Indemnitee with respect to, and hold Indemnitee harmless from and against, all losses, liabilities, judgments,
fines, penalties, costs, amounts paid in settlement, Expenses (as hereinafter defined) and other amounts that Indemnitee incurs
and that result from, arise in connection with or are by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status (as hereinafter defined)
and shall advance Expenses to Indemnitee. The obligations of the Company under this Agreement (a) shall continue after such
time as Indemnitee ceases to serve as a director or an officer of the Company or in any other Corporate Status, and (b) include,
without limitation, claims for monetary damages against Indemnitee in respect of any actual or alleged liability or other loss
of Indemnitee, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law (including, if applicable, Section 145 of the Delaware
General Corporation Law) as in existence on the date hereof and as amended from time to time.
3. Proceedings
Other Than Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. If in connection with or by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate
Status, Indemnitee was, is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding (as hereinafter defined)
other than a Proceeding by or in the right of any of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor, the Company shall, to the
fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify Indemnitee with respect to, and hold Indemnitee harmless from and against, all Expenses,
liabilities, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges
paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such liabilities, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement)
incurred by Indemnitee or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein.
4. Proceedings
by or in the Right of the Company. If in connection with or by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, Indemnitee
was, is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding by or in the right of any of the Company to
procure a judgment in the Company’s favor, the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify Indemnitee
with respect to, and hold Indemnitee harmless from and against, all Expenses incurred by Indemnitee or on behalf of Indemnitee
in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein.
5. Mandatory
Indemnification in Case of Successful Defense. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee
is a party to (or a participant in) and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in defense of any Proceeding or any claim, issue
or matter therein (including, without limitation, any Proceeding brought by or in the right of the Company), the Company shall,
to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify Indemnitee with respect to, and hold Indemnitee harmless from and against, all
Expenses incurred by Indemnitee or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in defense
of such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters
in such Proceeding, the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses incurred
by Indemnitee or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter. For purposes of
this Section 5 and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal,
with or without prejudice, on substantive or procedural grounds, or settlement of any such claim prior to a final judgment by a
court of competent jurisdiction with respect to such Proceeding, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue
or matter.
6. Partial
Indemnification. If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement or otherwise to indemnification by the Company
for some or a portion of the Expenses, liabilities, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest,
assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of such liabilities, judgments, penalties, fines
and amounts paid in settlement) incurred by Indemnitee or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with a Proceeding or any claim,
issue or matter therein, in whole or in part, the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify Indemnitee to
the fullest extent to which Indemnitee is entitled to such indemnification.
7. Indemnification
for Additional Expenses Incurred to Secure Recovery or as Witness.
(a) The
Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify Indemnitee with respect to, and hold Indemnitee harmless from
and against, any and all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall advance on an as-incurred basis (as provided in Section 8
of this Agreement) such Expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any action or proceeding or
part thereof brought by Indemnitee for (i) indemnification or advance payment of Expenses by the Company under this Agreement,
any other agreement, the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company as now or hereafter in effect; or (ii) recovery
under any director and officer liability insurance policies maintained by the Company.
(b) To
the extent that Indemnitee is a witness (or is forced or asked to respond to discovery requests) in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee
is not a party, the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify Indemnitee with respect to, and hold Indemnitee
harmless from and against, and the Company will advance on an as-incurred basis (as provided in Section 8 of this Agreement),
all Expenses incurred by Indemnitee or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection therewith.
8. Advancement
of Expenses. The Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, pay on a current and as-incurred basis all Expenses
incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding in any way connected with, resulting from or relating to Indemnitee’s
Corporate Status. Such Expenses shall be paid in advance of the final disposition of such Proceeding, without regard to whether
Indemnitee will ultimately be entitled to be indemnified for such Expenses and without regard to whether an Adverse Determination
(as hereinafter defined) has been or may be made, except as contemplated by the last sentence of Section 9(f) of
this Agreement. Upon submission of a request for advancement of Expenses pursuant to Section 9(c) of this Agreement, Indemnitee
shall be entitled to advancement of Expenses as provided in this Section 8, and such advancement of Expenses shall
continue until such time (if any) as there is a final non-appealable judicial determination that Indemnitee is not entitled to
indemnification. Indemnitee shall repay such amounts advanced if and to the extent that it shall ultimately be determined in a
decision by a court of competent jurisdiction from which no appeal can be taken that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified
by the Company for such Expenses. Such repayment obligation shall be unsecured and shall not bear interest. The Company shall not
impose on Indemnitee additional conditions to advancement or require from Indemnitee additional undertakings regarding repayment.
9. Indemnification
Procedures.
(a) Notice
of Proceeding. Indemnitee agrees to notify the Company promptly upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint,
indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter which may be subject to indemnification or advancement
of Expenses hereunder. Any failure by Indemnitee to notify the Company will relieve the Company of its advancement or indemnification
obligations under this Agreement only to the extent the Company can establish that such omission to notify resulted in actual
and material prejudice to it which cannot be reversed or otherwise eliminated without any material negative effect on the Company,
and the omission to notify the Company will, in any event, not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to indemnify
Indemnitee otherwise than under this Agreement. If, at the time of receipt of any such notice, the Company has director and officer
insurance policies in effect, the Company will promptly notify the relevant insurers in accordance with the procedures and requirements
of such policies.
(b) Defense;
Settlement. Indemnitee shall have the sole right and obligation to control the defense or conduct of any claim or Proceeding
with respect to Indemnitee. The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of Indemnitee, which may be provided or withheld
in Indemnitee’s sole discretion, effect any settlement of any Proceeding against Indemnitee or which could have been brought
against Indemnitee or which potentially or actually imposes any cost, liability, exposure or burden on Indemnitee unless (i) such
settlement solely involves the payment of money or performance of any obligation by persons other than Indemnitee and includes
an unconditional release of Indemnitee by all relevant parties from all liability on any matters that are the subject of such Proceeding
and an acknowledgment that Indemnitee denies all wrongdoing in connection with such matters and (ii) the Company has fully
indemnified the Indemnitee with respect to, and held Indemnitee harmless from and against, all Expenses incurred by Indemnitee
or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with such Proceeding. The Company shall not be obligated to indemnify Indemnitee against
amounts paid in settlement of a Proceeding against Indemnitee if such settlement is effected by Indemnitee without the Company’s
prior written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned, unless such settlement solely
involves the payment of money or performance of any obligation by persons other than the Company and includes an unconditional
release of the Company by any party to such Proceeding other than the Indemnitee from all liability on any matters that are the
subject of such Proceeding and an acknowledgment that the Company denies all wrongdoing in connection with such matters.
(c) Request
for Advancement; Request for Indemnification.
(i)
To obtain advancement of Expenses under this
Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request therefor, together with such invoices or other
supporting information as may be reasonably requested by the Company and reasonably available to Indemnitee, and, only to the
extent required by applicable law which cannot be waived, an unsecured written undertaking to repay amounts advanced. The
Company shall make advance payment of Expenses to Indemnitee no later than five (5) business days after receipt of the
written request for advancement (and each subsequent request for advancement) by Indemnitee. If, at the time of receipt of
any such written request for advancement of Expenses, the Company has director and officer insurance policies in effect, the
Company will promptly notify the relevant insurers in accordance with the procedures and requirements of such policies. The
Company shall thereafter keep such director and officer insurers informed of the status of the Proceeding or other claim and
take such other actions, as appropriate to secure coverage of Indemnitee for such claim.
(ii) To
obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee may submit a written request for indemnification hereunder. The time
at which Indemnitee submits a written request for indemnification shall be determined by the Indemnitee in the Indemnitee's sole
discretion. Once Indemnitee submits such a written request for indemnification (and only at such time that Indemnitee submits
such a written request for indemnification), a Determination (as hereinafter defined) shall thereafter be made, as provided in
and only to the extent required by Section 9(d) of this Agreement. In no event shall a Determination be made,
or required to be made, as a condition to or otherwise in connection with any advancement of Expenses pursuant to Section 8
and Section 9(c)(i) of this Agreement. If, at the time of receipt of any such request for indemnification,
the Company has director and officer insurance policies in effect, the Company will promptly notify the relevant insurers and
take such other actions as necessary or appropriate to secure coverage of Indemnitee for such claim in accordance with the procedures
and requirements of such policies.
(d) Determination.
The Company agrees that Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by law and that no Determination shall
be required in connection with such indemnification unless specifically required by applicable law which cannot be waived. In no
event shall a Determination be required in connection with indemnification for Expenses pursuant to Section 7 of this
Agreement or incurred in connection with any Proceeding or portion thereof with respect to which Indemnitee has been successful
on the merits or otherwise. Any decision that a Determination is required by law in connection with any other indemnification of
Indemnitee, and any such Determination, shall be made within twenty (20) days after receipt of Indemnitee’s written request
for indemnification pursuant to Section 9(c)(ii) and such Determination shall be made either (i) by the Disinterested
Directors (as hereinafter defined), even though less than a quorum, so long as Indemnitee does not request that such Determination
be made by Independent Counsel (as hereinafter defined), or (ii) if so requested by Indemnitee, in Indemnitee’s sole
discretion, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Company and Indemnitee. If a Determination is made that Indemnitee
is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within five (5) business days after such Determination.
Indemnitee shall reasonably cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s
entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation
or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and
reasonably necessary to such Determination. Any Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the Disinterested Directors
or Independent Counsel, as the case may be, making such determination shall be advanced and borne by the Company (irrespective
of the Determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company is liable to indemnify and hold Indemnitee
harmless therefrom. If the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 9(d) of this Agreement
to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within twenty (20) days after
receipt by the Company of the request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall, to the fullest
extent not prohibited by law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) a
misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement
not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification
under applicable law; provided, however, that such twenty (20) day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed
an additional twenty (20) days, if the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification
in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation and/or information relating thereto;
and provided, further, that the foregoing provisions of this Section 9(d) shall not apply if the determination
of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 9(e).
(e) Independent
Counsel. In the event Indemnitee requests that the Determination be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 9(d) of
this Agreement, the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 9(e). The Independent Counsel
shall be selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Board of Directors, in which
event the Board of Directors shall make such selection on behalf of the Company, subject to the remaining provisions of this Section 9(e)),
and Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, shall give written notice to the other, advising the Company or Indemnitee of
the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected. The Company or Indemnitee, as the case may be, may, within five (5) days
after such written notice of selection shall have been received, deliver to Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, a written
objection to such selection; provided, however, that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent
Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 15 of
this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely
objection, the person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If a written objection is so made and substantiated, the Independent
Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or a court of competent jurisdiction
has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within ten (10) days after submission by Indemnitee of a written
request for indemnification pursuant to Section 9(c)(ii) of this Agreement and after a request for the appointment
of Independent Counsel has been made, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to, either the Company or
Indemnitee may petition a court of competent jurisdiction for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by the Company
or Indemnitee to the other’s selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person
selected by the court or by such other person as the court shall designate, and the person with respect to whom all objections
are so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 9(d) of this Agreement.
Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 9(f) of this Agreement, Independent
Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of
professional conduct then prevailing). Any expenses incurred by or in connection with the appointment of Independent Counsel shall
be borne by the Company (irrespective of the Determination of Indemnitee's entitlement to indemnification) and not by Indemnitee.
(f) Consequences
of Determination; Remedies of Indemnitee. The Company shall be bound by and shall have no right to challenge a Favorable Determination.
If an Adverse Determination is made, or if for any other reason the Company does not make timely indemnification payments or advances
of Expenses, Indemnitee shall have the right to commence a Proceeding before a court of competent jurisdiction to challenge
such Adverse Determination and/or to require the Company to make such payments or advances (and the Company shall have the right
to defend its position in such Proceeding and to appeal any adverse judgment in such Proceeding). Indemnitee shall be entitled
to be indemnified for all Expenses incurred in connection with such a Proceeding and to have such Expenses advanced by the Company
in accordance with Section 8 of this Agreement. If Indemnitee fails to challenge an Adverse Determination within fifteen
(15) business days, or if Indemnitee challenges an Adverse Determination and such Adverse Determination has been upheld by a final
judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction from which no appeal can be taken, then, to the extent and only to the extent required
by such Adverse Determination or final judgment, the Company shall not be obligated to indemnify or advance Expenses to Indemnitee
under this Agreement.
(g) Presumptions;
Burden and Standard of Proof. The parties intend and agree that, to the extent permitted by law, in connection with any Determination
with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification hereunder by any person, including a court:
(i) it
will be presumed that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement (notwithstanding any Adverse Determination),
and the Company or any other person or entity challenging such right will have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption
in connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption;
(ii) the
termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere
or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which Indemnitee
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding,
had reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful;
(iii) Indemnitee
will be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Company,
including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the officers, employees, or committees of the board
of directors of the Company, or on the advice of legal counsel or other advisors (including financial advisors and accountants)
for the Company or on information or records given in reports made to the Company by an independent certified public accountant
or by an appraiser or other expert or advisor selected by the Company; and
(iv) the
knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any director, officer, agent or employee of the Company or relevant enterprises
will not be imputed to Indemnitee in a manner that limits or otherwise adversely affects Indemnitee’s rights hereunder.
The provisions of this Section 9(g) shall
not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which Indemnitee may be deemed to have met the
applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement.
10. Remedies
of Indemnitee.
(a) Subject
to Section 10(e), in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 9(d) of
this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not
timely made pursuant to Section 9(c) of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification
shall have been made pursuant to Section 9(d) of this Agreement within twenty (20) days after receipt by the
Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 5,
6 or 7 of this Agreement within five (5) business days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor,
(v) payment of indemnification pursuant to Section 3, 4 or 7 of this Agreement is not made within
five (5) business days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, or (vi) in
the event that the Company or any other person takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable,
or institutes any litigation or other action or Proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, the Indemnitee the benefits provided
or intended to be provided to the Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by a court of his
entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of Expenses. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at his option, may seek an award
in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration
Association. Indemnitee shall commence such proceeding seeking an adjudication or an award in arbitration within one hundred eighty
(180) days following the date on which Indemnitee first has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this Section 10(a);
provided, however, that the foregoing clause shall not apply in respect of a proceeding brought by Indemnitee to
enforce his rights under Section 5 of this Agreement. The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek
any such adjudication or award in arbitration.
(b) In
the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 9(d) of this Agreement that Indemnitee
is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 10 shall
be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits, in which (i) Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced
by reason of that adverse determination, and (ii) the Company shall bear the burden of establishing that Indemnitee is not
entitled to indemnification.
(c) If
a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 9(d) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant
to this Section 10, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact
necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or
(ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.
(d) The
Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration
commenced pursuant to this Section 10 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding
and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions
of this Agreement.
(e) Notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no determination as to entitlement of Indemnitee to indemnification under this Agreement
shall be required to be made prior to the final disposition of the Proceeding.
11. Insurance;
Subrogation; Other Rights of Recovery, etc.
(a) The
Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to purchase and maintain a policy or policies of insurance with reputable
insurance companies, providing Indemnitee with coverage for any liability asserted against, and incurred by, Indemnitee or
on Indemnitee’s behalf by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, or arising out of Indemnitee’s status as
such, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify Indemnitee against such liability. Such insurance policies
shall have coverage terms and policy limits at least as favorable to Indemnitee as the insurance coverage provided to any other
director or officer of the Company. If the Company has such insurance in effect at the time it receives from Indemnitee any notice
of the commencement of an action, suit, proceeding or other claim, the Company shall give prompt notice of the commencement of
such action, suit, proceeding or other claim to the insurers and take such other actions in accordance with the procedures set
forth in the policy as required or appropriate to secure coverage of Indemnitee for such action, suit, proceeding or other claim.
The Company shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of Indemnitee, all
amounts payable as a result of such action, suit, proceeding or other claim in accordance with the terms of such policy. The Company
shall continue to provide such insurance coverage to Indemnitee for a period of at least ten (10) years after Indemnitee
ceases to serve as a director or an officer or in any other Corporate Status.
(b) The
Company shall not be liable to pay or advance to Indemnitee any amounts otherwise indemnifiable under this Agreement or under any
other indemnification agreement if and to the extent that Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under any insurance
policy, contract, agreement or otherwise; provided, however, that (i) the Company hereby agrees that it is the
indemnitor of first resort under this Agreement and under any other indemnification agreement (i.e., its obligations to Indemnitee
under this Agreement or any other agreement or undertaking to provide advancement and/or indemnification to Indemnitee are primary.
(c) Except
as provided in Sections 11(b) and 11(c) of this Agreement, the rights to indemnification and advancement
of Expenses as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time,
whenever conferred or arising, be entitled under applicable law, under the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, or under any
other agreement, or otherwise. Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement are present contractual rights that fully vest upon
Indemnitee’s first service as a director or an officer of the Company. The Parties hereby agree that Sections 11(b) and
11(c) of this Agreement shall be deemed exclusive and shall be deemed to modify, amend and clarify any right to indemnification
or advancement provided to Indemnitee under any other contract, agreement or document with the Company.
(d) No
amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under
this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in Indemnitee’s Corporate Status prior to such
amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent that a change in the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (or other
applicable law), whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification or advancement of Expenses than would
be afforded currently under the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws and this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto
that Indemnitee enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change. The assertion or employment of any right
or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.
12. Employment
Rights; Successors; Third Party Beneficiaries.
(a) This
Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Company and Indemnitee. This Agreement shall continue in force
as provided above after Indemnitee has ceased to serve as a director and/or an officer of the Company or any other Corporate Status.
(b) This
Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitee’s
heirs, executors and administrators. If the Company or any of its successors or assigns shall (i) consolidate with or merge
into any other corporation or entity and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or
merger or (ii) transfer all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any individual, corporation or other entity,
then, and in each such case, proper provisions shall be made so that the successors and assigns of the Company shall assume all
of the obligations set forth in this Agreement.
13. Severability.
If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever:
(a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including without limitation,
each portion of any section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that
is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby; (b) such provision
or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the
intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without
limitation, each portion of any section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable,
that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.
14. Definitions.
For purposes of this Agreement:
(a) “Board
of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company.
(b) “Bylaws”
means (i) in the case of the Company, its Bylaws and (ii) in the case of any other entity, its bylaws or similar governing
document.
(c) “Certificate
of Incorporation” means (i) in the case of the Company, its Amended & Restated Certificate of Incorporation
and (ii) in the case of any other entity, its certificate of incorporation, articles of incorporation or similar constituting
document.
(d) “Corporate
Status” describes the status of a person by reason of such person’s past, present or future service as a director,
officer, employee, fiduciary, trustee, or agent of any of the Company (including, without limitation, one who serves at the request
of the Company as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary, trustee or agent of any other entity).
(e) “Determination”
means a determination that either (x) there is a reasonable basis for the conclusion that indemnification of Indemnitee is
proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee met a particular standard of conduct (a “Favorable Determination”)
or (y) there is no reasonable basis for the conclusion that indemnification of Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances
because Indemnitee met a particular standard of conduct (an “Adverse Determination”). An Adverse Determination
shall include the decision that a Determination was required in connection with indemnification and the decision as to the applicable
standard of conduct.
(f) “Disinterested
Director” means a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification
is sought by Indemnitee and does not otherwise have an interest materially adverse to any interest of the Indemnitee.
(g) “Expenses”
shall mean all direct and indirect costs, fees and expenses of any type or nature whatsoever and shall specifically include, without
limitation, all reasonable attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees and costs of experts, witness
fees and costs, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees,
any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on Indemnitee as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under
this Agreement, ERISA excise taxes and penalties, and all other disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred in
connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness, in,
or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding or an appeal resulting from a Proceeding, including, but not limited to, the premium
for appeal bonds, attachment bonds or similar bonds and all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection
with or in respect of any such Expenses, and shall also specifically include, without limitation, all reasonable attorneys’
fees and all other expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with preparing and submitting any requests or
statements for indemnification, advancement, contribution or any other right provided by this Agreement. Expenses, however, shall
not include amounts of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.
(h) “Independent
Counsel” means, at any time, any law firm, or a member of a law firm, that (a) is experienced in matters of corporation
law and (b) is not, at such time, or has not been in the five years prior to such time, retained to represent: (i) the
Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning Indemnitee under
this Agreement, or of other indemnities under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding
giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel”
shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict
of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.
The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of the Independent Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify
such counsel against any and all Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its
engagement pursuant hereto and to be jointly and severally liable therefor.
(i) “Proceeding”
includes any actual, threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation
(formal or informal), inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened, pending or completed proceeding, whether
brought by or in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative in nature,
in which Indemnitee was, is, may be or will be involved as a party, witness or otherwise, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate
Status or by reason of any action taken by Indemnitee or of any inaction on Indemnitee’s part while acting as director,
officer, employees, fiduciary, trustee or agent of the Company (in each case whether or not he is acting or serving in any such
capacity or has such status at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification or advancement of Expenses
can be provided under this Agreement). If the Indemnitee believes in good faith that a given situation may lead to or culminate
in the institution of a Proceeding, this shall be considered a Proceeding under this paragraph.
(j) “Sponsor”
means, Digital Transformation Sponsor LLC.
15. Construction.
Whenever required by the context, as used in this Agreement the singular number shall include the plural, the plural shall include
the singular, and all words herein in any gender shall be deemed to include (as appropriate) all genders.
16. Reliance.
The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby
in order to induce Indemnitee to serve as a director and/or an officer of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee
is relying upon this Agreement in serving as a director and/or an officer of the Company.
17. Modification
and Waiver. No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in a writing identified
as such by all of the parties hereto. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the rights of a party hereunder (including
the right to enforce the obligations hereunder of the other parties) may be waived only with the written consent of such party,
and no waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof
(whether or not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.
18. Notice
Mechanics. All notices, requests, demands or other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
been duly given if (i) delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have
been directed, or (ii) mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date
on which it is so mailed:
(a) If
to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee shall
provide in writing to the Company.
(b) If
to the Company, to:
Digital Transformation Opportunities
Corp.
10485 NE 6th Street, Unit 3930
Bellevue, WA 98004
Attn: Kevin Nazemi
Email: kevin@dtocorp.com
with a copy, which shall not constitute notice,
to:
Paul Hastings LLP
515 South Flower Street
Twenty-Fifth Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90071
Attn: Jonathan Ko
Email: jonathanko@paulhastings.com
or to such other address as may have been furnished (in the
manner prescribed above) as follows: (a) in the case of a change in address for notices to Indemnitee, furnished by Indemnitee
to the Company and (b) in the case of a change in address for notices to the Company, furnished by the Company to Indemnitee.
19. Contribution.
To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to
Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, shall contribute to the amount incurred
by Indemnitee, whether for judgments, fines, penalties, excise taxes, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and/or for reasonably
incurred Expenses, in connection with any claim relating to an indemnifiable event under this Agreement, in such proportion as
is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances of such Proceeding in order to reflect (i) the relative
benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee as a result of the event(s) and/or transaction(s) giving cause to such
Proceeding; and/or (ii) the relative fault of the Company (and its other directors, officers, employees and agents) and Indemnitee
in connection with such event(s) and/or transaction(s).
20. Governing
Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Appointment of Agent for Service of Process. This Agreement and the legal relations among
the parties shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws
of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules. The Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally
(i) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Court
of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “Delaware Court”), and not in any other state or federal court in the United
States of America or any court in any other country, (ii) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware
Court for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (iii) waive any objection
to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (iv) waive, and agree not to plead or to
make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or otherwise inconvenient
forum.
21. Headings.
The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part
of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.
22. Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but
all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally
Blank]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have
executed this Agreement on the day and year first above written.
Company: |
Digital Transformation Opportunities Corp. |
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By: |
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Name: Kevin Nazemi |
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Title: Chief Executive Officer |
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Indemnitee: |
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Name: |
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Address: |
[Signature Page to Indemnification Agreement]
Exhibit 10.7
THIS PROMISSORY NOTE (THIS “NOTE”) HAS NOT
BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”). THIS NOTE HAS BEEN ACQUIRED
FOR INVESTMENT ONLY AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED IN THE ABSENCE OF REGISTRATION OF THE RESALE THEREOF UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL REASONABLY SATISFACTORY IN FORM, SCOPE AND SUBSTANCE TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH REGISTRATION
IS NOT REQUIRED.
PROMISSORY NOTE
Principal Amount: Up to $300,000 |
Dated as of January 8, 2021 |
Digital Transformation Opportunities Corp., a Delaware corporation
(“Maker”), promises to pay to the order of Digital Transformation Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company, or its registered assigns or successors in interest (collectively, “Payee”), or order, the principal
sum of Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000) or such lesser amount as shall have been advanced by Payee to Maker and shall
remain unpaid under this Note on the Maturity Date (as defined below) in lawful money of the United States of America, on the terms
and conditions described below. All payments on this Note shall be made by check or wire transfer of immediately available funds
or as otherwise determined by Maker to such account as Payee may from time to time designate by written notice in accordance with
the provisions of this Note.
1.
Principal. The entire unpaid principal balance of this Note shall be due and payable on the earlier of: (i) December
31, 2021, and (ii) the date on which Maker consummates an initial public offering of its securities (such earlier date of (i) and
(ii), the “Maturity Date”) unless accelerated upon the occurrence of an Event of Default (as defined below).
The principal balance may be prepaid at any time by Maker, at its election and without penalty. Under no circumstances shall any
individual, including but not limited to any officer, director, employee or shareholder of Maker, be obligated personally for any
obligations or liabilities of Maker hereunder.
2.
Drawdown Requests. Maker and Payee agree that Maker may request, from time to time, up to Three Hundred Thousand Dollars
($300,000) in drawdowns under this Note to be used for costs and expenses related to Maker’s proposed initial public offering
of its securities (the “IPO”), including its formation. The principal of this Note may be drawn down from time
to time prior to the Maturity Date upon request from Maker to Payee (each, a “Drawdown Request”). Each Drawdown
Request must state the amount to be drawn down, and must not be an amount less than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) unless agreed
upon by Maker and Payee. Payee shall fund each Drawdown Request no later than three (3) business days after receipt of a Drawdown
Request; provided, however, that the maximum amount of drawdowns outstanding under this Note at any time may not
exceed Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000). No fees, payments or other amounts shall be due to Payee in connection with,
or as a result of, any Drawdown Request by Maker.
3.
Interest. No interest shall accrue on the unpaid principal balance of this Note.
4.
Application of Payments. All payments shall be applied first to payment in full of any costs incurred in the collection
of any sum due under this Note, including (without limitation) reasonable attorney’s fees, then to the payment in full of
any late charges and finally to the reduction of the unpaid principal balance of this Note.
5.
Events of Default. The following shall constitute an event of default (“Event of Default”):
(a)
Failure to Make Required Payments. Failure by Maker to pay the principal amount due pursuant to this Note on the
Maturity Date.
(b)
Voluntary Bankruptcy, Etc. The commencement by Maker of a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, rehabilitation or other similar law, or the consent by it to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver,
liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator (or other similar official) of Maker or for any substantial part of its
property, or the making by it of any assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the failure of Maker generally to pay its debts
as such debts become due, or the taking of corporate action by Maker in furtherance of any of the foregoing.
(c)
Involuntary Bankruptcy, Etc. The entry of a decree or order for relief by a court having jurisdiction in the premises
in respect of Maker in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law, or appointing a receiver,
liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of Maker or for any substantial part of its property,
or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order unstayed and in effect
for a period of sixty (60) consecutive days.
6.
Remedies.
(a)
Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in Section 5(a) hereof, Payee may, by written notice to Maker, declare
this Note to be due immediately and payable, whereupon the unpaid principal amount of this Note, and all other amounts payable
thereunder, shall become immediately due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which
are hereby expressly waived, anything contained herein or in the documents evidencing the same to the contrary notwithstanding.
(b)
Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in Sections 5(b) or 5(c), the unpaid principal balance of this Note,
and all other sums payable with regard to this Note, shall automatically and immediately become due and payable, in all cases without
any action on the part of Payee.
7.
Waivers. Maker and all endorsers and guarantors of, and sureties for, this Note waive presentment for payment, demand,
notice of dishonor, protest, and notice of protest with regard to the Note, all errors, defects and imperfections in any proceedings
instituted by Payee under the terms of this Note, and all benefits that might accrue to Maker by virtue of any present or future
laws exempting any property, real or personal, or any part of the proceeds arising from any sale of any such property, from attachment,
levy or sale under execution, or providing for any stay of execution, exemption from civil process, or extension of time for payment;
and Maker agrees that any real estate that may be levied upon pursuant to a judgment obtained by virtue hereof, on any writ of
execution issued hereon, may be sold upon any such writ in whole or in part in any order desired by Payee.
8.
Unconditional Liability. Maker hereby waives all notices in connection with the delivery, acceptance, performance, default,
or enforcement of the payment of this Note, and agrees that its liability shall be unconditional, without regard to the liability
of any other party, and shall not be affected in any manner by any indulgence, extension of time, renewal, waiver or modification
granted or consented to by Payee, and consents to any and all extensions of time, renewals, waivers, or modifications that may
be granted by Payee with respect to the payment or other provisions of this Note, and agrees that additional makers, endorsers,
guarantors, or sureties may become parties hereto without notice to Maker or affecting Maker’s liability hereunder.
9.
Notices. All notices, statements or other documents which are required or contemplated by this Note shall be: (i) in
writing and delivered personally or sent by first class registered or certified mail, overnight courier service or facsimile or
electronic transmission to the address designated in writing by such party, (ii) by facsimile to the number most recently provided
to such party or such other address or fax number as may be designated in writing by such party or (iii) by electronic mail, to
the electronic mail address most recently provided to such party or such other electronic mail address as may be designated in
writing by such party. Any notice or other communication so transmitted shall be deemed to have been given on the day of delivery,
if delivered personally, on the business day following receipt of written confirmation, if sent by facsimile or electronic transmission,
one (1) business day after delivery to an overnight courier service or five (5) days after mailing if sent by mail.
10.
Construction. THIS NOTE SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT
OF LAW PROVISIONS THEREOF.
11.
Severability. Any provision contained in this Note which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as
to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions
hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision
in any other jurisdiction.
12.
Trust Waiver. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Payee hereby waives any and all right, title, interest
or claim of any kind (“Claim”) in or to any distribution of or from the trust account to be established in which
proceeds of the IPO (including the deferred underwriting discounts and commissions) and proceeds of the sale of the warrants issued
in a private placement to occur in connection with the consummation of the IPO are to be deposited, as described in greater detail
in the registration statement and prospectus to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the IPO,
and hereby agrees not to seek recourse, reimbursement, payment or satisfaction for any Claim against the trust account for any
reason whatsoever.
13.
Amendment; Waiver. Any amendment hereto or waiver of any provision hereof may be made with, and only with, the written
consent of Maker and Payee.
14.
Assignment. No assignment or transfer of this Note or any rights or obligations hereunder may be made by any party hereto
(by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other party hereto and any attempted assignment without
the required consent shall be void.
[Signature page follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Maker, intending to be legally bound
hereby, has caused this Note to be duly executed by the undersigned as of the day and year first above written.
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DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OPPORTUNITIES CORP. |
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By: |
/s/ Kevin Nazemi |
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Name: |
Kevin Nazemi |
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Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION SPONSOR LLC |
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By: |
/s/ Kevin Nazemi |
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Name: |
Kevin Nazemi |
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Title: |
Manager |
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[Signature Page
to Promissory Note]
Exhibit 23.1
Independent
Registered Public Accounting Firm’s Consent
We consent to the inclusion in this Registration
Statement of Digital Transformation Opportunities Corp. on Amendment No. 1 to Form S-1 (Filing No. 333-253079) of our report dated
January 29, 2021, which includes an explanatory paragraph as to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, with
respect to our audit of the financial statements of Digital Transformation Opportunities Corp. as of
January 8, 2021 and December 31, 2020, and for the period from January 1, 2021 through January 8, 2021 and the period from
November 17, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020, which report appears in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration
Statement. We also consent to the reference to our Firm under the heading “Experts” in such Prospectus.
/s/ Marcum llp
Marcum llp
Houston, Texas
February 26, 2021