0001213900-21-038905.txt : 20210727 0001213900-21-038905.hdr.sgml : 20210727 20210727164616 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001213900-21-038905 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: S-1/A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 29 FILED AS OF DATE: 20210727 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20210727 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Aquarius I Acquisition Corp. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001863976 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: BLANK CHECKS [6770] IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: E9 FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-1/A SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-257706 FILM NUMBER: 211118186 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: UNIT A-C, 33/F, TOWER A, BILLION CENTRE STREET 2: 1 WANG KWONG ROAD CITY: KOWLOON BAY STATE: K3 ZIP: 0000 BUSINESS PHONE: 852 2820 9000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: UNIT A-C, 33/F, TOWER A, BILLION CENTRE STREET 2: 1 WANG KWONG ROAD CITY: KOWLOON BAY STATE: K3 ZIP: 0000 S-1/A 1 fs12021a1_aquarius1acq.htm REGISTRATION STATEMENT

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 2021.

Registration No. 333-257706

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

___________________________

FORM S-1/A
(AMENDMENT NO. 1)
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

___________________________

AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its constitutional documents)

___________________________

Cayman Islands

 

6770

 

n/a

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

 

(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)

Unit A-C, 33/F, Tower A, Billion Centre
1 Wang Kwong Road
Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong
Tel: (+852) 2820
-9000
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

___________________________

c/o Cogency Global Inc.
122 East 42
nd Street, 18th Floor
New York, NY 10168
(212) 947
-7200
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

___________________________

Copies to:

Lawrence S. Venick, Esq.
Loeb & Loeb LLP
2206
-19 Jardine House
1 Connaught Place
Central
Hong Kong SAR
Telephone: 852
-3923-1111
Fax: 852-3923-1100

 

Barry I. Grossman, Esq.
Wei Wang, Esq.
Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP
1345 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10105
Telephone: (212) 370
-1300

___________________________

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. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer

 

 

Accelerated filer

 

Non-accelerated filer

 

 

Smaller reporting company

 

       

Emerging growth company

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.

 

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CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

Title of each Class of Security being registered

 

Amount
to be
Registered

 

Proposed
maximum
offering
price per
Unit

 

Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering
Price
(1)

 

Amount of
Registration
Fee
(4)

Units, each consisting of one Ordinary Share, $0.0001 par value, one Redeemable Warrant to acquire one-half (1/2) of one Ordinary Share, and one Right to acquire one-tenth of an Ordinary
Share(2)

 

5,750,000

 

$

10.00

 

$

57,500,000.00

 

$

6,273.25

 

Ordinary Shares included as part of the Units(2)

 

5,750,000

 

$

 

$

 

$

(3)

Redeemable Warrants included as part of the Units(2)

 

5,750,000

 

$

 

$

 

$

(3)

Rights included as part of the Units

 

5,750,000

 

$

 

$

 

$

(3)

Ordinary Shares underlying Warrants included as part of the Units

 

2,875,000

 

$

11.50

 

$

33,062,500.00

 

$

3,607.12

 

Ordinary Shares underlying Rights included as part of Units(2)

 

575,000

 

$

10.00

 

$

5,750,000.00

 

$

627.33

 

Representative’s Unit Purchase Option

 

1

 

$

100.00

 

$

100.00

 

 

0.01

 

Units underlying the Representative’s Unit Purchase Option

 

287,500

 

$

11.00

 

$

3,162,500.00

 

$

345.03

 

Ordinary Shares underlying the Representative’s Unit Purchase Option

 

287,500

 

$

 

$

 

$

(3)

Warrants underlying the Representative’s Unit Purchase Option

 

287,500

 

$

 

$

 

$

(3)

Rights underlying the Representative’s Unit Purchase

 

287,500

 

$

 

$

 

$

(3)

Ordinary Shares underlying Warrants included as part of the Representative’s Unit Purchase Option

 

143,750

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

Ordinary Shares underlying the Rights underlying the Representative’s Unit Purchase Option

 

28,750

 

$

11.00

 

$

316,250.00

 

$

34.50

 

Total

     

 

   

$

99,791,350.00

 

$

10,887.24

 

____________

(1)      Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o).

(2)      Includes (i) Units, (ii) Ordinary Shares, Redeemable Warrants and Rights underlying such Units and (iii) Ordinary Shares underlying the Rights included in such Units which may be issued on exercise of a 45-day option granted to the Underwriters to cover over-allotments, if any.

(3)      No fee pursuant to Rule 457(g).

(4)      Amount of registration fee is calculated based on proposed maximum aggregate offering price multiplied by 0.0001091 based on the filing fee rate issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission for the period between October 1, 2020 and September 30, 2021.

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.

 

 

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The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JULY 27, 2021

$50,000,000
AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.
5,000,000 UNITS

Aquarius I Acquisition Corp. is a Cayman Islands company incorporated as a blank check company for the purpose of entering into a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities. Our efforts to identify a prospective target business will not be limited to a particular industry or geographic location. We do not have any specific business combination under consideration and we have not (nor has anyone on our behalf), directly or indirectly, contacted any prospective target business or had any substantive discussions, formal or otherwise, with respect to such a transaction.

This is an initial public offering of our securities. Each unit that we are offering has a price of $10.00 and consists of one ordinary share, one redeemable warrant, and one right to receive one-tenth (1/10) of an ordinary share upon the consummation of an initial business combination, as described in more detail in this prospectus. Each redeemable warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one-half (1/2) of one ordinary share, and each ten rights entitle the holder thereof to receive one ordinary share at the closing of a business combination. We will not issue fractional shares. As a result, you must (1) exercise warrants in multiples of two warrants, at a price of $11.50 per full share, subject to adjustment as described in this prospectus, to validly exercise your warrants; and (2) hold rights in multiples of 10 in order to receive shares for all of your rights upon closing of a business combination. Each warrant will become exercisable on the later of 30 days after the completion of an initial business combination and 12 months from the date that the registration statement (of which this prospectus forms a part) is declared effective by the SEC, and will expire five years after the completion of our initial business combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation, as described in this prospectus. The exercise price of the warrants is $11.50 per full share.

We have granted Maxim Group LLC, the representative of the underwriters, a 45-day option to purchase up to 750,000 units (over and above the 5,000,000 units referred to above) solely to cover over-allotments, if any.

Our sponsor has committed to purchase from us an aggregate of 310,000 units (332,500 units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), or “private units,” at $10.00 per private unit (for a total purchase price of $3,100,000, or $3,325,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full). These purchases will take place on a private placement basis simultaneously with the consummation of this offering. These private units are identical to the units sold as part of the units in this offering, subject to limited exceptions as further described herein. A portion of the proceeds we receive from these purchases will be placed in the trust account described below.

There is presently no public market for our units, ordinary shares, warrants or rights. We have applied to have our units listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, or Nasdaq, under the symbol “AIACU” on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. We cannot guarantee that our securities will be approved for listing on Nasdaq. The ordinary shares, warrants and rights comprising the units will begin separate trading on the 52nd business day after the date of this prospectus unless the representative determines that an earlier date is acceptable, subject to our filing a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, containing an audited balance sheet reflecting our receipt of the gross proceeds of this offering and issuing a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. Once the securities comprising the units begin separate trading, the ordinary shares, warrants and rights will be traded on Nasdaq under the symbols “AIAC,” “AIACW,” and “AIACR,” respectively. We cannot assure you that our securities will continue to be listed on Nasdaq after this offering.

We are an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 and have elected to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements.

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 23 of this prospectus for a discussion of information that should be considered in connection with an investment in our securities.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission 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.

No offer or invitation to subscribe for units may be made to the public in the Cayman Islands.

 

Price to
Public

 

Underwriting
Discounts and
Commissions
(1)

 

Proceeds,
before
Expenses,
to us

Per Unit

 

$

10.00

 

$

0.55

(2)

 

$

9.45

Total

 

$

50,000,000

 

$

2,750,000

 

 

$

47,250,000

____________

(1)      For further information relating to the underwriters’ compensation, please refer to the section entitled “Underwriting” on page 112 of this prospectus.

(2)      Includes $1,750,000, or $0.35 per unit, equal to 3.5% of the gross proceeds of this offering (or $2,012,500 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) payable to the underwriters as deferred underwriting discounts and commissions from the funds to be placed in the trust account described in this prospectus. The deferred underwriting discounts and commissions will be released to the underwriters upon consummation of an initial business combination, as described in this prospectus. If the business combination is not consummated, such deferred underwriting discounts and commissions will be forfeited by the underwriters. The underwriters will not be entitled to any interest accrued on the deferred underwriting discounts and commissions

Upon consummation of the offering, $10.00 per unit sold to the public in this offering (whether or not the underwriters’ over-allotment option has been exercised in full or part) will be deposited into a United States-based account at Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas maintained by American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC acting as trustee. Such amount includes $1,750,000, or $0.35 per unit (or $2,012,500 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), payable to the underwriters as deferred underwriting discounts and commissions. Except as described in this prospectus, these funds will not be released to us until the earlier of the completion of our initial business combination and our liquidation upon our failure to consummate a business combination within the required time period.

We are offering the units for sale on a firm-commitment basis. Maxim Group LLC, acting as sole book-running manager and representative of the underwriters, expects to deliver our securities to investors in the offering on or about __________, 2021.

Sole Book-Running Manager

Maxim Group LLC

_______________, 2021

 

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Table of Contents

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

This summary highlights certain information appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. For a more complete understanding of this offering, you should read the entire prospectus carefully, including the risk factors and the financial statements. Unless otherwise stated in this prospectus:

•        “we,” “us” or “our company” refers to Aquarius I Acquisition Corp.;

•        “initial shareholders” refer to all of our shareholders immediately prior to the date of this prospectus, including all of our officers and directors to the extent they hold such shares;

•        “insider shares” refer to the 1,437,500 ordinary shares held by our initial shareholders prior to this offering (including up to an aggregate of 187,500 ordinary shares subject to forfeiture to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part);

•        “sponsor” refers to Aquarius Sponsor Ltd, a British Virgin Islands Company;

•        “private rights” refer to the rights underlying the private units;

•        “private shares” refer to the shares issued as part of the units we are selling privately to our sponsor upon consummation of this offering;

•        “private units” refer to the units issued in a private placement simultaneously with the closing of this offering;

•        “private warrants” refer to the warrants underlying the private units;

•        “representative” refers to Maxim Group LLC, who is the representative of the underwriters in this offering;

•        “US Dollars” and “$” refer to the legal currency of the United States;

•        “Companies Act” refers to the Companies Act (2021 Revision) of the Cayman Islands, as may be amended from time to time; and

•        “public shareholders” means the holders of the ordinary shares which are being sold as part of the units in this public offering, or “public shares,” whether they are purchased in the public offering or in the aftermarket, including any of our initial shareholders to the extent that they purchase such public shares (except that our initial shareholders will not have redemption or tender rights with respect to any public shares they own).

Unless we tell you otherwise, the information in this prospectus assumes that the underwriters will not exercise their over-allotment option.

All references in this prospectus to shares of the Company being forfeited shall take effect as surrenders for no consideration of such shares as a matter of the Cayman Islands law. All references to the conversion of ordinary shares into pro-rata share of the trust account shall take effect as a redemption of ordinary shares as a matter of Cayman Islands law.

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer of these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted.

General

We are a blank check company incorporated in the Cayman Islands on April 15, 2021 as an exempted company with limited liability (meaning that our public shareholders have no liability, as shareholders of our company, for the liabilities of our company over and above the amount paid for their shares). We were formed for the purpose of entering into a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities, which we refer to as a “target business.” Our efforts to identify a prospective target business will not be limited to a particular industry or geographic location. We do not have any specific business combination under consideration and we have not (nor has anyone on our behalf), directly

1

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or indirectly, contacted any prospective target business or had any substantive discussions, formal or otherwise, with respect to such a transaction. Additionally, we have not engaged or retained any agent or other representative to identify or locate any suitable acquisition candidate, to conduct any research or take any measures, directly or indirectly, to locate or contact a target business.

Background and Competitive Strengths

We will seek to capitalize on the comprehensive experience and contacts of our executive officers and the board of directors in consummating an initial business combination. Our management team is comprised of Mr. Sze Hau Lee, our Chief Executive Officer, and Ms. Di Wu, our Chief Financial Officer, and our board of directors is comprised of Mr. Chunning Wang, Mr. Ngai Wong, Mr. Walter R. Cook, Mr. Chi Fai Choi, Mr. Boyu Xu and Mr. Feng Wu. Our management team brings a wealth of experience in identifying, negotiating with and conducting due diligence on potential candidates for acquisition. We believe our management team is well positioned to identify attractive risk-adjusted returns in the marketplace and that their professional contacts and transaction sources, ranging from industry executives, private owners, private equity funds, family offices, commercial and investment bankers, lawyers and other financial sector service providers and participants, in addition to the geographical reach of their affiliates, will enable us to pursue a broad range of opportunities. Upon the closing of this offering, members of our management team will communicate with these networks of relationships to articulate the parameters for our search for a target business and a potential business combination and begin the process of pursuing and reviewing promising leads. We believe we can source attractive deals and find compelling investment opportunities from private and public sources to create value for shareholders.

Leadership of an Experienced Management Team

Sze Hau Lee has been our Director and Chief Executive Officer since April 2021. Since June 2020, Mr. Lee has served as the Chief Financial Officer of Lion Group Holding Ltd. (Nasdaq: LGHL), or Lion, an online trading platform company. Prior thereto, he served as corporate finance director of Lion. From September 2017 to February 2019, Mr. Lee served as corporate finance director of Carnival Group International Holdings Limited (0996.HK), or Carnival, one of China’s leading operators of large-scale integrated tourism, hospitality and retail attractions. While working at Carnival, Mr. Lee was primarily responsible for leading, originating, structuring and executing financing transaction and providing investment advice to the management. From February 2017 to September 2017, Mr. Lee served as a manager of syndicated finance department at China Minsheng Banking Corporation Hong Kong Branch, or China Minsheng Hong Kong, a banking corporation. From April 2016 to February 2017, Mr. Lee served as a vice president of structured and leveraged finance department in Hengfeng Bank Shanghai Branch, or Hengfeng Bank Shanghai, a banking corporation. From January 2014 to April 2016, Mr. Lee served as an assistant manager of structured and leveraged finance department in China Minsheng Hong Kong. While working at China Minsheng Hong Kong and Hengfeng Bank Shanghai, Mr. Lee was primarily responsible for the origination, structure and execution of syndicated facilities as well as financing arrangements in large transactions. Some of Mr. Lee’s notable recent experience in creating value for shareholders include but are not limited to Mr. Lee’s involvement with Lion’s business combination with Proficient Alpha Acquisition Corporation. in May 2020 (“Lion’s Business Combination”), Lion’s entry into a securities purchase agreement as the seller and issuer with ATW Opportunities Master Fund, L.P as the purchaser for the issuance of debenture and warrants in December 2020 (“Lion’s 2020 ATW Transaction”), Lion’s entry into a securities purchase agreement as the seller and issuer with ATW Opportunities Master Fund, L.P as the purchaser for the issuance of preferred shares and warrants in December 2021 (“Lion’s 2021 ATW Transaction”), and Lion’s entry into a share subscription agreement as the subscriber with Grandshores Technology Group Limited as the issuer in March 2021 (“Lion’s Grandshores Transaction”). Mr. Lee received his bachelor’s degree in professional accountancy from The Chinese University of Hong Kong in August 2007. He has been a member of Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants since 2011.

Di Wu has been our chief financial officer since April 2021. Ms. Wu also joined Aquarius II Acquisition Corp. in May 2021 and has served as its chief financial officer since then. Since April 2021, Ms. Wu has served as the financial controller of Lion, and has been in charge of the accounting functions. From 2017 to 2021, Ms. Wu served as a manager of Albeck Financial Services Inc., a financial services company. From 2014 to 2016, Ms. Wu served as a senior auditor of Ernst & Young LLP, a public accounting company. From 2010 to 2014, Ms. Wu served as a senior auditor of GBH CPAs, a public accounting company. Ms. Wu received her bachelor’s degree in business administration and accounting and finance from Texas A&M University in 2010. Ms. Wu holds a CPA license issued by the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy since February 2017.

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Chunning Wang has been our Director since April 2021. Mr. Wang also joined Aquarius II Acquisition Corp. in May 2021 and has served as its director since then. Since May 2019, Mr. Wang has served as the director and chief executive officer of Lion, and has been responsible for Lion’s fund raising activities. From October 2017 to March 2019, Mr. Wang served as the chief executive officer, director and vice chairman of the board at Carnival. From January 2016 to September 2017, Mr. Wang served as an assistant chief executive officer at Hengfeng Bank Shanghai, where he was responsible for corporate business. From October 2006 to December 2015, Mr. Wang served as a product manager in the head office of China Minsheng Banking Corporation Limited, a banking corporation, and was subsequently promoted to general manger in China Minsheng Hong Kong. While working at China Minsheng Hong Kong, he was primarily responsible for the bank’s overseas mergers and acquisition and other large-scale projects. Some of Mr. Wang’s notable recent experience in creating value for shareholders include but are not limited to Mr. Wang’s involvement with Lion’s Business Combination. Lion’s 2020 ATW Transaction, Lion’s 2021 ATW Transaction, and Lion’s Grandshores Transaction. Mr. Wang received his bachelor’s degree in Industrial Foreign Trade from International Business School of Hunan University in 2000, and obtained a master’s degree in management from The Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration of The University of British Columbia in 2005.

Ngai Wong has been our Director since April 2021. Mr. Wong also joined Aquarius II Acquisition Corp. in May 2021 and has served as its director since then. Mr. Wong has approximately 18 years of experience in finance. Mr. Wong is currently serving as the chief financial officer and the company secretary of Grandshroes Technology Group Limited (01647.HK), or Grandshores, a company engaged in integrated building services business and blockchain technology development and application business. Mr. Wong joined Grandshores as group financial controller in June 2018 and was promoted to chief financial officer and has served in that position since September 2019. From February 2017 to January 2018, Mr. Wong served as an associate director for the Group Internal Audit of Chiho Environmental Group Limited (00976.HK), a company engaged in the collecting, recycling, disassembling, sorting and processing of mixed metal scraps to recover reusable resources. From May 2014 to February 2017, Mr. Wong served as the Asia Pacific regional financial controller for international logistic business of G4S PLC (GFS.LON), a security and logistic services company. From 2011 to 2014, Mr. Wong served as the financial controller for the global sourcing office of ODP Corporation (Nasdaq: ODP), an office supply retail company. From 2009 to 2011, Mr. Wong served as the group financial controller of Adicon Clinical Laboratories Inc., a health care testing services company. Mr. Wong received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (Accounting) from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in 2003, and obtained a master’s degree in Corporate Governance from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 2016. Mr. Wong has been a fellow of The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants since June 2012 and a member of The Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants since March 2009. He is also an associate member of both The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators in the United Kingdom since August 2017 and The Hong Kong Institute of Chartered Secretaries since March 2017. Mr. Wong also obtained his estate agent’s license from Estate Agents Authority since January 2019.

Chi Fai Choi has been our independent director since April 2021. Mr. Choi also joined Aquarius II Acquisition Corp. in May 2021 and has served as its independent director since then. Since May 2020, Mr. Choi has served as an independent director of Lion. Since November 2018, Mr. Choi has served as the investment management department consultant of OCI International Holdings Limited (0329.HK), or OCI, an investment holding company principally engaged in securities trading and investments, trading of wines and provision of financial advisory services in the PRC. Mr. Choi is responsible for fund raising for general corporate purposes, setting up fund, and originating new potential investment opportunities to OCI. From March 2015 to December 2017, Mr. Choi served as an executive director of Rentian Technology Holdings Limited (0885.HK), a Hong Kong-based investment holding company principally engaged in Internet of Things (IoT) businesses. From May 2012 to March 2018, Mr. Choi served as the chief investment officer of Carnival. From July 2011 to July 2014, Mr. Choi served an independent non-executive director of Energy International Investments Holdings Limited (0353.HK), a company engaged in the leasing of port and storage facilities, insurance brokerage service and the oil production. From November 2007 to May 2012, Mr. Choi served as an associate director of CCB International Asset Management Limited, or CCBIAM, an asset management company. CCBIAM is ultimately controlled by China Construction Bank Corporation (0939.HK and CH.601939), a banking corporation. From April 2004 to October 2007, Mr. Choi served as a senior officer of Hutchison Whampoa Limited, an investment holding company. Mr. Choi received his bachelor’s degree of business administration in accounting from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in August 2000. Mr. Choi is a member of Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants since July 2004 and a fellow member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants since March 2009.

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Walter R. Cook has been our independent director since April 2021. Since July 2020, Mr. Cook has been an independent director of Lion. From June 2019 to June 2020, Mr. Cook served as a director of Proficient Alpha Acquisition Corporation. He has extensive experience in turnarounds, acquisitions, and start-up financial institutions. Since August 2016, Mr. Cook has been a Managing Director at Tangent Capital Partners, LLC, an investment bank serving investment advisors and asset managers, and provided critical expertise in roll out of The Community Development Fund (CDCDX), a CRA-qualified mutual fund for commercial banks to Dr. Kenneth H. Thomas, CDCDX’s adviser. From January 2015 to July 2016, he was an independent consultant. From January 2014 to December 2015, he was an expert witness providing expert opinions and trial testimony on lending and banking practices in Florida State Court and Federal bankruptcy Court in Boston, Massachusetts. From 2003 to 2010, Mr. Cook served as the chief executive officer and the chairman of the board of the Republic Federal Bancorp, Inc.. Mr. Cook received a master’s degree in business administration specializing in finance and marketing from Harvard University in 1982, a master’s degree in law and diplomacy from Tufts University in 1978 and a bachelor’s degree in political science & psychology from Duke University.

Boyu Xu has been our independent director since April 2021. Since June 2020, Mr. Xu served in the investment department of the Tsinghua Yangtze River Delta Research Institute. From February 2019 to June 2019, Mr. Xu served in the cross-border e-commerce department of NetEase Kaola, a company under Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE: BABA and 9988.HK), a technology company. From September 2017 to February 2019, Mr. Xu served as the general manager assistant of Guangxi Yixing Agricultural Science and Technology Development Co. Ltd, a company engaged in researching, developing, and manufacturing agriculture products. Mr. Xu received his bachelor’s degree in management science from The University of California San Diego in July 2017, and obtained a master’s degree in project management from Georgetown University in May2020.

Feng Wu has been our independent director since April 2021. Mr. Wu also joined Aquarius II Acquisition Corp. in May 2021 and has served as its independent director since then. Since 2011, Mr. Wu has been general manager and a co-founder of Guangzhou Jianyi Investment Management Co., Ltd, an investment management company. From 2008 to 2010, Mr. Wu served as a client manager of Orient Securities Company Limited (600958.SH, 3958.HK and OS9.F), an investment bank and brokerage firm. From 2005 to 2007, Mr. Wu served as a client manager of GF Securities Co., Ltd. (000776.SZ and 1776.HK), a financial services company. Mr. Wu received his bachelor’s degree in international business English from Guangdong University of Foreign Studies in 2005.

See the section titled “Management” for complete information on the experience of our officers and directors.

In addition, the past performance of our management team or of their affiliates is not a guarantee either (i) that we will be able to locate a suitable candidate for our initial business combination or (ii) of success with respect to any business combination we may consummate. You should not rely on the historical record of our management team’s or their affiliates’ performance as indicative of our future performance. Furthermore, the members of the management team may not remain with us subsequent to the consummation of a business combination.

Competitive Advantages

Status as a Publicly Listed Company

We believe our structure will make us an attractive business combination partner to prospective target businesses. As a publicly listed company, we will offer a target business an alternative to the traditional initial public offering. We believe that target businesses will favor this alternative, which we believe is less expensive, while offering greater certainty of execution than the traditional initial public offering. During an initial public offering, there are typically expenses incurred in marketing, which would be costlier than a business combination with us. Furthermore, once a proposed business combination is approved by our shareholders (if applicable) and the transaction is consummated, the target business will have effectively become public, whereas an initial public offering is always subject to the underwriters’ ability to complete the offering, as well as general market conditions that could prevent the offering from occurring. Once public, we believe the target business would have greater access to capital and additional means of creating management incentives that are better aligned with shareholders’ interests than it would as a private company. It can offer further benefits by augmenting a company’s profile among potential new customers and vendors and aid in attracting talented management staffs.

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Strong Financial Position and Flexibility

With the funds held in our trust account, we can offer a target business a variety of options to facilitate a business combination and fund future expansion and growth of its business. Because we are able to consummate a business combination using the cash proceeds from this offering, our share capital, debt or a combination of the foregoing, we have the flexibility to use an efficient structure allowing us to tailor the consideration to be paid to the target business to address the needs of the parties. However, if a business combination requires us to use substantially all of our cash to pay for the purchase price, we may need to arrange third party financing to help fund our business combination. Since we have no specific business combination under consideration, we have not taken any steps to secure third party financing.

Acquisition Strategy and Investment Criteria

Our acquisition strategy will seek to capitalize on M&A and operational expertise and relationship of both our management team and our board of directors, to identify attractive businesses that have capacity to grow rapidly by utilizing a public vehicle. There is no restriction in the industry or geographic location of targets that we can pursue, as our officers and directors consist of successful entrepreneurs and senior executives with decades of operating and M&A experiences in the region.

The focus of our management team is to create shareholder value by leveraging its experience to improve the efficiency of the business while implementing strategies to grow revenue and profits organically and/or through acquisitions. Consistent with our strategy, we have identified the following general criteria and guidelines that we believe are important in evaluating prospective target businesses. While we intend to use these criteria and guidelines in evaluating prospective businesses, we may deviate from these criteria and guidelines should we see fit to do so:

•        Niche Deal Size

         We intend to acquire companies with enterprise values of between $150 million and $300 million that are preferably already revenue-generating. We believe we have greater access to companies within this range and the negotiation process is generally less time consuming than companies that are much larger.

•        Strong and defensible market position

         We intend to favor targets that have a strong competitive advantage or are advanced in their penetration of new and emerging markets. We will target companies that have strong intellectual property, technology, or brand equity within their respective sectors and that can be further monetized on a global basis.

•        Current and potential capacity for revenue and earnings growth

         We expect to target companies that have the potential for significant revenue and earnings growth through a combination of improved production or service capacity, cost reduction and synergistic follow-on acquisitions, which could result in an operating leverage for stronger revenue and earnings growth in the future.

•        Resilient Business Model

         We intend to select a target that has operating models to respond quickly to sudden changes in the market. In these disruptive times, we believe critical for companies to address these concerns so that they can stay afloat and continue to grow even when unexpected challenges occur.

•        Experienced and motivated management team

         We will seek target businesses with a management team that shows dedication, strategic vision and whose interests and goals are aligned with investors and our management team. We intend to seek to acquire a capable team that has a broad network, seasoned and is here for the long-term.

•        History of Cash Flow Generation

         We intend to seek a target company that is profitable with stable cash flow.

•        Long-term Revenue Visibility with Defensible Market Position

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         We intend to seek target companies that are at an inflection point, such as those requiring additional management expertise, are able to innovate by developing new products or services, or where we believe we can drive improved financial performance and where an acquisition may help facilitate growth.

•        Value Creation and Marketing Opportunities

         We intend to seek target companies that should offer attractive risk-adjusted equity returns for our shareholders. We intend to seek to acquire a target on terms and in a manner that leverages our experience. We expect to evaluate financial returns based on (i) the potential for organic growth in cash flows, (ii) the ability to achieve cost savings, (iii) the ability to accelerate growth, including through the opportunity for follow-on acquisitions and (iv) the prospects for creating value through other value creation initiatives. Potential upside from growth in the target business’ earnings and an improved capital structure will be weighed against any identified downside risks.

These criteria are not intended to be exhaustive. Any evaluation relating to the merits of a particular initial business combination may be based, to the extent relevant, on these general guidelines as well as other considerations, factors and criteria that our management may deem relevant.

While we intend to use these criteria in evaluating the attractiveness of potential business combination opportunities, we may ultimately decide to enter into an initial business combination with a target business that does not meet these criteria. In the event that we decide to enter into our initial business combination with a target business that does not meet the above criteria and guidelines, we will disclose that the target business does not meet the above criteria and guidelines in our stockholders communications related to our initial business combination, which, as discussed in this prospectus, would be in the form of tender offer documents or proxy solicitation materials that we would file with the SEC.

In evaluating a prospective target business, we expect to conduct a thorough due diligence review that will encompass, among other things, meetings with incumbent management and employees, document reviews, interviews of customers and suppliers, inspection of facilities, as well as reviewing financial and other information which will be made available to us. We will also utilize our operational and capital allocation experience. Our acquisition criteria, due diligence processes and value creation methods are not intended to be exhaustive. Any evaluation relating to the merits of a particular initial business combination may be based, to the extent relevant, on these general guidelines as well as other considerations, factors and criteria that our management may deem relevant.

Other Acquisition Considerations

We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers or directors. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers or directors, we, or a committee of independent directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent firm that commonly renders valuation opinions for the type of company we are seeking to acquire or an independent accounting firm that our initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view.

Members of our management team and our independent directors and their affiliates will directly or indirectly own ordinary shares, private units, private warrants and private rights following this offering, and, accordingly, may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination. Further, each of our officers and directors may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination if the retention or resignation of any such officers and directors was included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination. Additionally, each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional fiduciary or contractual obligations to another entity, including other blank check companies similar to our company, pursuant to which such officer or director may be required to present a business combination opportunity to such entity. Specifically, our executive officers are affiliated with our sponsor and other entities that make, or are looking to make, investments in companies. Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for an entity to which he or she has fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she will honor his or her fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such business combination opportunity to such entity, and only present it to us if such entity rejects the opportunity. We do not believe, however, that the fiduciary

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duties or contractual obligations of our executive officers will materially affect our ability to complete our business combination. For additional information regarding our executive officers’ and directors’ business affiliations and potential conflicts of interest, see “Management — Directors and Executive Officers” and “Management — Conflicts of Interest.” Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provides that, subject to fiduciary duties under Cayman Islands law, 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.

Effecting a Business Combination

We will either (1) seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination at a meeting called for such purpose at which public shareholders may seek to convert their public shares, regardless of whether they vote for or against the proposed business combination, into their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable and deferred underwriting fees) or (2) provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to sell their public shares to us by means of a tender offer (and thereby avoid the need for a shareholder vote) for an amount equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable and deferred underwriting fees), in each case subject to the limitations described herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, our initial shareholders and directors and officers have agreed, pursuant to written letter agreements with us, not to convert any public shares held by them into their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account. The decision as to whether we will seek shareholder approval of our proposed business combination or allow shareholders to sell their shares to us in a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would otherwise require us to seek shareholder approval. If we so choose and we are legally permitted to do so, we will have the flexibility to avoid a shareholder vote and allow our shareholders to sell their shares pursuant to the tender offer rules of the SEC. In that case, we will file tender offer documents with the SEC which will contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination as is required under the SEC’s proxy rules. We will consummate our initial business combination only if we have net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 upon such consummation and, solely if we seek shareholder approval, a majority of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares voted are voted in favor of the business combination.

We will have until 12 months from the date that the registration statement is declared effective to consummate our initial business combination. However, if we anticipate that we may not be able to consummate our initial business combination within 12 months, our sponsor may, but is not obligated to cause our Company to extend the period of time to consummate a business combination three times by an additional three months each time (for a total of up to 21 months to complete a business combination). Pursuant to the terms of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and the trust agreement to be entered into between us and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC on the date of this prospectus, in order to extend the time available for us to consummate our initial business combination, our sponsor, upon five days advance notice prior to the applicable deadline, must deposit into the trust account for each three-month extension, $500,000, or $575,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full ($0.10 per share in either case), on or prior to the date of the applicable deadline. The insiders or their affiliates or designees will receive a non-interest bearing, unsecured promissory note equal to the amount of any such deposit that will not be repaid in the event that we are unable to close a business combination unless there are funds available outside the trust account to do so. Such notes would either be paid upon consummation of our initial business combination, or, at the lender’s discretion, converted upon consummation of our business combination into additional private units at a price of $10.00 per unit. In the event that we receive notice from our insiders five days prior to the applicable deadline of their intent to effect an extension, we intend to issue a press release announcing such intention at least three days prior to the applicable deadline. In addition, we intend to issue a press release the day after the applicable deadline announcing whether or not the funds had been timely deposited. Our insiders and their affiliates or designees are not obligated to fund the trust account to extend the time for us to complete our initial business combination. To the extent that some, but not all, of our insiders, decide to extend the period of time to consummate our initial business combination, such insiders (or their affiliates or designees) may deposit the entire amount required. If we are unable to consummate our initial business combination within such time period, we will, as promptly as possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of our outstanding public shares for a pro rata portion of the funds held in the trust account, including a pro rata portion of any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us or necessary to pay our taxes, and then seek to liquidate and dissolve.

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However, we may not be able to distribute such amounts as a result of claims of creditors which may take priority over the claims of our public shareholders. In the event of our liquidation and subsequent dissolution, the public rights will expire and will be worthless.

If we are unable to consummate our initial business combination within this time period, we will liquidate the trust account and distribute the proceeds held therein to our public shareholders and dissolve. If we are forced to liquidate, we anticipate that we would distribute to our public shareholders the amount in the trust account calculated as of the date that is two days prior to the distribution date (including any accrued interest). Prior to such distribution, we would be required to assess all claims that may be potentially brought against us by our creditors for amounts they are actually owed and make provision for such amounts, as creditors take priority over our public shareholders with respect to amounts that are owed to them. We cannot assure you that we will properly assess all claims that may be potentially brought against us. As such, our shareholders could potentially be liable for any claims of creditors to the extent of distributions received by them as an unlawful payment in the event we enter an insolvent liquidation.

Pursuant to the Nasdaq listing rules, our initial business combination must be with a target business or businesses whose collective fair market value is at least equal to 80% of the balance in the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting discounts and commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for such business combination, although this may entail simultaneous acquisitions of several target businesses. The fair market value of the target will be determined by our board of directors based upon one or more standards generally accepted by the financial community (such as actual and potential sales, earnings, cash flow and/or book value). Our board of directors will have broad discretion in choosing the standard used to establish the fair market value of any prospective target business. The target business or businesses that we acquire may have a collective fair market value substantially in excess of 80% of the trust account balance. We will not be required to comply with the 80% fair market value requirement if we are delisted from Nasdaq.

We are not required to obtain an opinion from an unaffiliated third party that the target business we select has a fair market value in excess of at least 80% of the balance of the trust account unless our board of directors cannot make such determination on its own. We are also not required to obtain an opinion from an unaffiliated third party indicating that the price we are paying is fair to our shareholders from a financial point of view unless the target is affiliated with our officers, directors, initial shareholders or their affiliates.

We currently anticipate structuring our initial business combination to acquire 100% of the equity interests or assets of the target business or businesses. We may, however, structure our initial business combination where we merge directly with the target business or where we acquire less than 100% of such interests or assets of the target business in order to meet certain objectives of the target management team or shareholders or for other reasons, but we will only complete such business combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or the Investment Company Act. Even if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our shareholders prior to the business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post-transaction company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the business combination transaction. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock of a target. In this case, we could acquire a 100% controlling interest in the target; however, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares, our shareholders immediately prior to our initial business combination could own less than a majority of our issued and outstanding shares subsequent to our initial business combination. If less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-transaction company, only the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired is what will be valued for purposes of the 80% fair market value test. Until the 80% fair market value test is satisfied, pursuant to Nasdaq listing rules, any business combination must be approved by a majority of the board, including a majority of the independent directors.

Emerging Growth Company Status, Smaller Reporting Company Status and Other Information

We are an emerging growth company as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (which we refer to herein as the JOBS Act). As such, we are eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are

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applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the prices of our securities may be more volatile.

In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act 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, or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our ordinary shares that are held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30, and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt during the prior three year period. Additionally, we are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K. Smaller reporting companies may take advantage of certain reduced disclosure obligations, including, among other things, providing only two years of audited financial statements. We will remain a smaller reporting company until the last day of the fiscal year in which (1) the market value of our ordinary shares held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $250 million as of the prior June 30, or (2) our annual revenues equaled or exceeded $100 million during such completed fiscal year and the market value of our ordinary shares held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30.

Private Placement

In April 2021, the Company issued 1,437,500 ordinary shares resulting in an aggregate of 1,437,500 ordinary shares outstanding, which we refer to throughout this prospectus as the “insider shares”, for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or approximately $0.017 per share. The insider shares held by our initial shareholders include an aggregate of up to 187,500 shares subject to forfeiture to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part, so that our initial shareholders will collectively own 20.0% of our issued and outstanding shares after this offering (excluding the sale of the private units and assuming our initial shareholders do not purchase units in this offering). None of our initial shareholders has indicated any intention to purchase units in this offering.

The insider shares are identical to the ordinary shares included in the units being sold in this offering. However, our initial shareholders and directors and officers have agreed, pursuant written letter agreements with us, (A) to vote their insider shares in favor of any proposed business combination, and (B) to vote their ordinary shares which they have acquired in the open market following the consummation of this offering in favor of any proposed business combination. Additionally, our initial shareholders have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the insider shares (except to certain permitted transferees) until the earlier of (1) six month after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination; or (2) after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination, and subsequently, we consummate a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property. Further, our initial shareholders have also agreed to place the private units and underlying securities the private units into escrow with American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as escrow agent, until the date of the consummation of our initial business combination.

In addition, our sponsor has committed to purchase from us an aggregate of 310,000 private units (332,500 private units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), at $10.00 per private unit (for a total purchase price of $3,100,000, or $3,325,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full). These purchases will take place on a private placement basis simultaneously with the consummation of this offering. All of the proceeds we receive from these purchases will be placed in a trust account in the United States maintained by American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as trustee.

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The private units have terms and provisions that are identical to the units sold in this offering. Additionally, because the private units will be issued in a private transaction, our sponsor and its permitted transferees will be allowed to exercise the private warrants if a registration statement covering the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of such warrants is not effective and receive unregistered ordinary shares within 90 days after the closing of the initial business combination, in such event, each holder would surrendering such warrants for that number of ordinary shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of ordinary shares underlying the warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “fair market value” (defined below) over the warrant price by (y) the fair market value; provided, however, that no cashless exercise shall be permitted unless the fair market value is equal to or higher than the warrant price. The “fair market value” shall mean the average reported last sale price of the ordinary shares for the 10 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date of exercise.

Furthermore, our sponsor has agreed (A) to vote their ordinary shares included in the private units in favor of any proposed business combination, and (B) to vote their ordinary shares which they have acquired in the open market following the consummation of this offering in favor of any proposed business combination. Our sponsor has also agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the private units or underlying securities (except to the same permitted transferees as the insider shares and provided the transferees agree to the same terms and restrictions as the permitted transferees of the insider shares must agree to, each as described above) until the earlier of (1) six months after the completion of our initial business combination; or (2) after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination, and subsequently, we consummate a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property. Further, our sponsor has also agreed to place the private units and securities underlying the private units into escrow with American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as escrow agent, until the date of the consummation of our initial business combination.

The warrant agreement provides that the terms of the warrants may be amended without the consent of any shareholder or warrant holder to cure any ambiguity, including to conform the provisions to the description of the terms of the warrants and the warrant agreement set forth in this prospectus, or curing, correct or supplementing any defective provision or adding or changing any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the warrant agreement as the parties to the warrant agreement may deem necessary or desirable and that the parties deem shall not adversely affect the interest of the registered warrant holders. All other modifications or amendments, including any amendment to increase the warrant price or shorten the exercise period, shall require the written consent or vote of the registered holders of a majority of the then outstanding warrants. Notwithstanding the foregoing, we may lower the warrant price or extend the duration of the exercise period pursuant to provisions within the warrant agreement, without the consent of the registered holders.

If public units or shares are purchased by any of our directors, officers or initial shareholders, they will be entitled to funds from the trust account to the same extent as any public shareholder upon our liquidation but will not have redemption rights related thereto in the case of a business combination.

Corporate Information

Our principal executive office is located at Unit A-C, 33/F, Tower A, Billion Centre, 1 Wang Kwong Road, Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong, and our telephone number is +852 2820-9000.

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The Offering

In making your decision on whether to invest in our securities, you should take into account not only the backgrounds of the members of our management team, but also the special risks we face as a blank check company and the fact that this offering is not being conducted in compliance with Rule 419 promulgated under the Securities Act. You will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors in Rule 419 blank check offerings. You should carefully consider these and the other risks set forth in the section below entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 23 of this prospectus.

Securities offered

 

5,000,000 units, at $10.00 per unit, each unit consisting of one ordinary share, one redeemable warrant, and one right. Each redeemable warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one-half (1/2) of one ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per full share. Because the warrants may only be exercised for whole numbers of shares, only an even number of warrants may be exercised at any given time. Every ten rights entitles the holder to receive one ordinary share upon consummation of our initial business combination.

Listing of our securities and proposed symbols

 


We anticipate the units, and the ordinary shares, warrants and rights, once they begin separate trading, will be listed on Nasdaq under the symbols “AIACU,” “AIAC,” “AIACW,” and “AIACR,” respectively.

   

Each of the ordinary shares, warrants and rights may trade separately on the 52nd business day after the date of this prospectus unless the representative determines that an earlier date is acceptable (based upon, among other things, its assessment of the relative strengths of the securities markets and small capitalization and blank check companies in general, and the trading pattern of, and demand for, our securities in particular). In no event will the representative allow separate trading of the ordinary shares, warrants and rights until we file an audited balance sheet reflecting our receipt of the gross proceeds of this offering.

   

Once the ordinary shares, warrants and rights commence separate trading, holders will have the option to continue to hold units or separate their units into the component pieces. Holders will need to have their brokers contact our transfer agent in order to separate the units into separately trading ordinary shares, warrants and rights.

   

We will file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the SEC, including an audited balance sheet, promptly upon the consummation of this offering, which is anticipated to take place three business days from the date the units commence trading. The audited balance sheet will reflect our receipt of the proceeds from the exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised on the date of this prospectus. If the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised after the date of this prospectus, we will file an amendment to the Form 8-K or a new Form 8-K to provide updated financial information to reflect the exercise of the over-allotment option. We will also include in the Form 8-K, or amendment thereto, or in a subsequent Form 8-K, information indicating if the representative has allowed separate trading of the ordinary shares, warrants and rights prior to the 52nd business day after the date of this prospectus.

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Ordinary shares:

   

Number issued and outstanding
before this offering and the
private 
placement

 



1,437,500 shares(1)

Number to be issued and
outstanding after this
offering and sale of private
units

 




6,560,000 shares(2)

Redeemable Warrants:

   

Number issued and outstanding
before this offering and the
private placement

 



0 warrants

Number to be issued and
outstanding after this
offering and sale of private
units

 




5,310,000 warrants(3)

Exercisability

 

Each redeemable warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one-half (1/2) of one ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per full 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. This means that only an even number of warrants may be exercised at any given time by a warrant holder.

____________

(1)      This number includes an aggregate of up to 187,500 ordinary shares held by our initial shareholders that are subject to forfeiture if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised by the underwriters in full.

(2)      Assumes the underwriters’ over-allotment option has not been exercised and an aggregate of 187,500 ordinary shares held by our initial shareholders have been forfeited. If the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full, there will be a total of 7,520,000 ordinary shares issued and outstanding.

(3)      Assumes the underwriters’ over-allotment option has not been exercised. If the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full, there will be a total of 6,082,500 warrants, including an aggregate of 332,500 private warrants.

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Exercise price

 

$11.50 per whole share. No warrants will be exercisable for cash unless we have an effective and current registration statement covering the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants and a current prospectus relating to such ordinary shares. It is our current intention to have an effective and current registration statement covering the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants and a current prospectus relating to such ordinary shares in effect promptly following consummation of an initial business combination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a registration statement covering the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the public warrants is not effective within 90 days following the consummation of our initial business combination, public warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when we shall have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise warrants on a cashless basis pursuant to an available exemption from registration under the Securities Act. In such event, each holder would pay the exercise price by surrendering the warrants for that number of ordinary shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of ordinary shares underlying the warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “fair market value” (defined below) over the exercise price of the warrants by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” shall mean the average reported last sale price of the ordinary shares for the 10 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of warrants. For example, if a holder held 300 warrants to purchase 150 shares and the fair market value on the date prior to exercise was $15.00, that holder would receive 35 shares without the payment of any additional cash consideration. If an exemption from registration is not available, holders will not be able to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis.

In addition, if (x) we issue additional ordinary shares 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), (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, and (z) the volume weighted average trading price of our ordinary shares 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 Price”) 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 Market Price, and the $18.00 per share redemption trigger price described above will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the Market Price.

Exercise period

 

The warrants will become exercisable on the later of 30 days after the completion of an initial business combination and 12 months from the date that the registration statement (of which this prospectus forms a part) is declared effective by the SEC. The warrants will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the fifth anniversary of the closing date of the initial business combination, or earlier upon redemption.

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Redemption

 

We may redeem the outstanding warrants, in whole and not in part, at a price of $0.01 per warrant:

   

•   at any time while the warrants are exercisable,

   

•   upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption, and

   

•   if, and only if, the last sales price of our ordinary shares equals or exceeds $18.00 per share for any 20 trading days within a 30 trading day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date we send the notice of redemption.

   

If the foregoing conditions are satisfied and we issue a notice of redemption, each warrant holder can exercise his, her or its warrant prior to the scheduled redemption date. However, the price of the ordinary shares may fall below the $18.00 trigger price as well as the $11.50 warrant exercise price per full share after the redemption notice is issued and not limit our ability to complete the redemption.

   

The redemption criteria for our warrants have been established at a price which is intended to provide warrant holders a reasonable premium to the initial exercise price and provide a sufficient differential between the then-prevailing share price and the warrant exercise price so that if the share price declines as a result of our redemption call, the redemption will not cause the share price to drop below the exercise price of the warrants.

   

If we call the warrants for redemption as described above, our management will have the option to require all holders that wish to exercise warrants to do so on a “cashless basis.” In such event, each holder would pay the exercise price by surrendering the whole warrants for that number of ordinary shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of ordinary shares underlying the warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “fair market value” (defined below) over the exercise price of the warrants by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” shall mean the average reported last sale price of the ordinary shares for the 10 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of warrants. Whether we will exercise our option to require all holders to exercise their warrants on a “cashless basis” will depend on a variety of factors including the price of our ordinary shares at the time the warrants are called for redemption, our cash needs at such time and concerns regarding dilutive share issuances.

Rights:

   

Number issued and outstanding
before this offering and the
private placement

 



0 rights

Number to be issued and
outstanding after this
offering and sale of private
units

 




5,310,000 rights(4)

____________

(4)      Assumes the underwriters’ over-allotment option has not been exercised. If the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full, there will be a total of 6,082,500 rights, including an aggregate 332,500 private rights.

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Terms of Rights

 

Except in cases where we are not the surviving company in a business combination, each holder of a right will automatically receive one-tenth (1/10) of an ordinary share upon consummation of our initial business combination. In the event we will not be the surviving company upon completion of our initial business combination, each holder of a right will be required to affirmatively convert his, her or its rights in order to receive the one-tenth (1/10) of a share underlying each right upon consummation of the business combination. We will not issue fractional shares in connection with an exchange of rights. Fractional shares will either be rounded down to the nearest whole share or otherwise addressed in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Cayman Islands law. As a result, you must hold rights in multiples of 10 in order to receive shares for all of your rights upon closing of a business combination. If we are unable to complete an initial business combination within the required time period and we redeem the public shares for the funds held in the trust account, holders of rights will not receive any of such funds for their rights and the rights will expire worthless.

Offering proceeds to be held in trust

 


Of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units, $50,500,000, or $10.10 per unit ($58,075,000, or $10.10 per unit, if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), will be placed in a trust account at Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas in the United States, maintained by American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, acting as trustee pursuant to an agreement to be signed on the date of this prospectus. Such amount includes $1,750,000, or up to $0.35 per unit (or $2,012,500 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), payable to the underwriters as deferred underwriting discounts and commissions. Pursuant to the investment management trust agreement that will govern the investment of such funds, the trustee, upon our written instructions, will direct Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas to invest the funds as set forth in such written instructions and to custody the funds while invested and until otherwise instructed in accordance with the investment management trust agreement. The remaining $700,000 of net proceeds of this offering will not be held in the trust account.

   

Except as set forth below, the proceeds held in the trust account will not be released until the earlier of: (1) the completion of our initial business combination within the required time period and (2) our redemption of 100% of the outstanding public shares if we have not completed a business combination in the required time period. Therefore, unless and until our initial business combination is consummated, the proceeds held in the trust account will not be available for our use for any expenses related to this offering or expenses which we may incur related to the investigation and selection of a target business and the negotiation of an agreement in connection with our initial business combination.

   

Notwithstanding the foregoing, there will be released to us from the trust account any interest earned on the funds in the trust account that we need to pay our income or other tax obligations. With these exceptions, expenses incurred by us may be paid prior to a business combination only from the net proceeds of this offering not held in the trust account (estimated to initially be $1,750,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised); provided, however, that in order to meet our working capital needs following the consummation of this offering if the funds not held in the trust account are insufficient, our initial shareholders, officers and directors or their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds, from time to time or at any time, in whatever amount they deem reasonable in their sole discretion. Each loan would be evidenced by a promissory note. The notes would either be paid upon consummation of our initial business combination, without interest, or, at the lender’s discretion, up to $1,000,000 of the notes may be converted upon consummation of our business combination into private units at a price of $10.00 per unit (which, for example,

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would result in the holders being issued units to acquire 110,000 ordinary shares (which includes 10,000 ordinary shares issuable underlying rights) and warrants to purchase 50,000 ordinary shares if $1,000,000 of notes were so converted). If we do not complete a business combination, the loans would be repaid out of funds not held in the trust account, and only to the extent available.

Limited payments to insiders

 

Prior to the consummation of a business combination, there will be no fees, reimbursements or other cash payments paid to our initial shareholders, officers, directors or their affiliates prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate, the consummation of a business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is) other than:

   

•   repayment of up to an aggregate of $300,000 in loans made to us by our sponsor to cover offering-related and organizational expenses;

   

•   payment to an affiliate of our sponsor of $10,000 per month, for up to 12 months (or up to 21 months, as applicable), for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support;

   

•   repayment at the closing of this offering of loans which may be made by our insiders, officers, directors or any of its or their affiliates to finance transaction costs in connection with this initial public offering, the terms of which have not been determined; and

   

•   reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with certain activities on our behalf, such as identifying and investigating possible business targets and business combinations.

   

There is no limit on the amount of out-of-pocket expenses reimbursable by us; provided, however, that to the extent such expenses exceed the available proceeds not deposited in the trust account, such expenses would not be reimbursed by us unless we consummate an initial business combination. Our audit committee will review and approve all reimbursements and payments made to any initial shareholder or member of our management team, or their respective affiliates, and any reimbursements and payments made to members of our audit committee will be reviewed and approved by our board of directors, with any interested director abstaining from such review and approval.

Shareholder approval of, or tender offer in connection with, initial business combination

 




In connection with any proposed initial business combination, we will either (1) seek shareholder approval of such initial business combination at a meeting called for such purpose at which public shareholders may seek to convert their public shares, regardless of whether they vote for or against the proposed business combination, into their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable and deferred underwriting fees) or (2) provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to sell their public shares to us by means of a tender offer (and thereby avoid the need for a shareholder vote) for an amount equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable and  deferred underwriting fees), in each case subject to the limitations described herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, our initial shareholders and directors and officers have agreed, pursuant to written letter agreements with us, not to convert any public shares held by them into their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account. If we determine to engage in a tender offer, such tender offer will be structured so that each public shareholder may tender any or all of his, her or its public shares rather than some pro rata portion of his, her or its shares. If enough shareholders tender their shares so that we are unable to satisfy any applicable closing condition set forth in the definitive agreement related to our

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initial business combination, or we are unable to maintain net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001, either immediately prior to or upon consummation of our initial business combination and after payment of underwriters’ fees and commissions (so that we are not subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules), we will not consummate such initial business combination. The decision as to whether we will seek shareholder approval of a proposed business combination or will allow shareholders to sell their shares to us in a tender offer will be made by us based on a variety of factors such as the timing of the transaction, or whether the terms of the transaction would otherwise require us to seek shareholder approval. If we so choose and we are legally permitted to do so, we will have the flexibility to avoid a shareholder vote and allow our shareholders to sell their shares pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, which regulate issuer tender offers. In that case, we will file tender offer documents with the SEC which will contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination as is required under the SEC’s proxy rules. We will consummate our initial business combination only if we have net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 upon such consummation and, solely if we seek shareholder approval, a majority of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares voted are voted in favor of the business combination.

   

We have determined not to consummate any business combination unless we have net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 upon such consummation in order to avoid being subject to Rule 419 promulgated under the Securities Act. The $5,000,001 net tangible asset value would be determined once a target business is located and we can assess all of the assets and liabilities of the combined company.

   

However, if we seek to consummate a business combination with a target business that imposes any type of working capital closing condition or requires us to have a minimum amount of funds available from the trust account upon consummation of such business combination, the net tangible asset requirement may limit our ability to consummate such a business combination and may force us to seek third party financing which may not be available on terms acceptable to us or at all. As a result, we may not be able to consummate such business combination and we may not be able to locate another suitable target within the applicable time period, if at all.

   

Our initial shareholders, officers and directors, have agreed (i) to vote their insider shares, private shares and any public shares purchased in or after this offering in favor of any proposed business combination, (ii) not to convert any shares (including the insider shares) in connection with a shareholder vote to approve, or (iii) sell their shares to us in any tender offer in connection with, a proposed initial business combination. As a result, if we sought shareholder approval of a proposed transaction we could need as little as 80,001 of our public shares (or approximately 1.60% of our public shares) to be voted in favor of an initial business combination (assuming that only the minimum number of issued and outstanding shares representing a quorum is present in person or by proxy at a meeting, the over-allotment option is not exercised and the initial shareholders do not purchase any units in this offering or units or shares in the after market) in order to have our initial business combination approved. None of our officers, directors, initial shareholders or their affiliates has indicated any intention to purchase units in this offering or any units or ordinary shares in the open market or in private transactions (other than the private units). However, if a significant number of shareholders vote, or indicate an intention to vote, against a proposed business combination, our officers, directors, initial shareholders or their affiliates could make such purchases in the open market or in private transactions in order to influence the vote. There is no limit on the number of shares that may be purchased by the insiders. Any purchases would be made in compliance with federal securities laws, including the fact that all material information will be made public prior to such purchase, and no purchases would be made if such purchases would violate Section 9(a)(2) of, or Rule 10b-5 under, the Exchange Act, which are rules designed to stop potential manipulation of a company’s stock.

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Redemption rights

 

In connection with any shareholder meeting called to approve a proposed initial business combination, each public shareholder will have the right, regardless of whether he, she or it is voting for or against such proposed business combination, to demand that we convert his, her or its public shares into a pro rata share of the trust account (through redemption of their public shares) upon consummation of the business combination.

   

Whether we elect to effectuate our initial business combination via shareholder vote or tender offer, we may require public shareholders wishing to exercise redemption rights, whether they are a record holder or hold their shares in “street name,” to either tender the certificates they are seeking to convert to our transfer agent or to deliver the shares they are seeking to convert to the transfer agent electronically using Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System, at the holder’s option, at any time at or prior to the vote on the business combination. There is a nominal cost associated with this tendering process and the act of certificating the shares or delivering them through the DWAC System. The transfer agent will typically charge the tendering broker $45 and it would be up to the broker whether or not to pass this cost on to the converting holder. The foregoing is different from the procedures used by traditional blank check companies. In order to perfect redemption rights in connection with their business combinations, many traditional blank check companies would distribute proxy materials for the shareholders’ vote on an initial business combination, and a holder could simply vote against a proposed business combination and check a box on the proxy card indicating such holder was seeking to exercise its redemption rights. After the business combination was approved, the company would contact such shareholder to arrange for it to deliver its certificate to verify ownership. As a result, the shareholder then had an “option window” after the consummation of the business combination during which it could monitor the price of the company’s stock in the market. If the price rose above the redemption price, it could sell its shares in the open market before actually delivering his shares to the company for cancellation. As a result, the redemption rights, to which shareholders were aware they needed to commit before the shareholder meeting, would become an “option” right surviving past the consummation of the business combination until the converting holder delivered its certificate. The requirement for physical or electronic delivery prior to the closing of the shareholder meeting ensures that a holder’s election to convert is irrevocable once the business combination is completed.

   

Pursuant to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, we are required to give a minimum of only ten days’ notice for each general meeting. As a result, if we require public shareholders who wish to convert their ordinary shares into the right to receive a pro rata portion of the funds in the trust account to comply with the foregoing delivery requirements, holders may not have sufficient time to receive the notice and deliver their shares for redemption. Accordingly, investors may not be able to exercise their redemption rights and may be forced to retain our securities when they otherwise would not want to.

   

If we require public shareholders who wish to convert their ordinary shares to comply with specific delivery requirements for redemption described above and such proposed business combination is not consummated, we will promptly return such certificates to the tendering public shareholders.

   

Please see the Risk Factors titled “In connection with any shareholder meeting called to approve a proposed initial business combination, we may require shareholders who wish to convert their public shares to comply with specific requirements for conversion that may make it more difficult for them to exercise their redemption rights prior to the deadline for exercising their rights” and “If we require public shareholders who wish to convert their public shares to comply with the delivery requirements for redemption, such converting shareholders may be unable to sell their securities when they wish to in the event that the proposed business combination is not approved.”

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Once the shares are converted by the holder, and effectively redeemed by us under the Cayman Islands law, our Register of Members will then be updated to reflect all redemptions.

Redemption of Public Shares and Liquidation if no business combination

 



As described above, if we fail to consummate a business combination within 12 months (or up to 21 months, if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus) from the date that the registration statement is declared effective, our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provides that 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 income taxes, divided by the number of the then-outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any); and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining shareholders and our board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), to our obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. However, if we anticipate that we may not be able to consummate our initial business combination within 12 months, our sponsor may, but tis not obligated to, extend the period of time to consummate a business combination up to three times by an additional three months each time (for a total of up to 21 months to complete a business combination). Pursuant to the terms of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association  and the trust agreement to be entered into between us and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC on the date of this prospectus, in order to extend the time available for us to consummate our initial business combination, our sponsor, upon five days advance notice prior to the applicable deadline, must deposit into the trust account for each three-month extension $500,000, or $575,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full ($0.10 per share in either case), on or prior to the date of the applicable deadline. The insiders or their affiliates or designees will receive a non-interest bearing, unsecured promissory note equal to the amount of any such deposit that will not be repaid in the event that we are unable to close a business combination unless there are funds available outside the trust account to do so. Such notes would either be paid upon consummation of our initial business combination, or, at the lender’s discretion, converted upon consummation of our business combination into additional private units at a price of $10.00 per unit. In the event that we receive notice from our insiders five days prior to the applicable deadline of their intent to effect an extension, we intend to issue a press release announcing such intention at least three days prior to the applicable deadline.

   

If we are forced to liquidate, we anticipate that we would distribute to our public shareholders the amount in the trust account calculated as of the date that is two days prior to the distribution date (including any accrued interest).

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Prior to such distribution, we would be required to assess all claims that may be potentially brought against us by our creditors for amounts they are actually owed and make provision for such amounts, as creditors take priority over our public shareholders with respect to amounts that are owed to them. We cannot assure you that we will properly assess all claims that may be potentially brought against us. As such, our shareholders could potentially be liable for any claims of creditors to the extent of distributions received by them as voidable transaction in the event we enter an insolvent liquidation. Furthermore, while we will seek to have all vendors and service providers (which would include any third parties we engaged to assist us in any way in connection with our search for a target business) and prospective target businesses execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind they may have in or to any monies held in the trust account, there is no guarantee that they will execute such agreements. Nor is there any guarantee that, even if such entities execute such agreements with us, they will not seek recourse against the trust account or that a court would conclude that such agreements are legally enforceable.

   

The holders of the insider shares and private units will not participate in any liquidation distribution with respect to such securities.

   

We will pay the costs of liquidating the trust account from our remaining assets outside of the trust account. If such funds are insufficient, our sponsor has contractually agreed to advance us the funds necessary to complete such liquidation (currently anticipated to be no more than approximately $50,000) and has contractually agreed not to seek repayment for such expenses.

   

The underwriters have agreed to waive their rights to the deferred underwriting discounts and commissions held in the trust account in the event we do not consummate a business combination within 12 months from the date that the registration statement is declared effective (or up to 21 months, as applicable) and in such event, such amounts will be included with the funds held in the trust account that will be available to fund the redemption of our public shares.

Indemnity

 

Our sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold to us, or a prospective target business with which we have entered into a written letter of intent, confidentiality or similar agreement or business combination agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the trust account to below the lesser of (i) $10.00 per public share and (ii) the actual amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account, if less than $10.00 per share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, less taxes payable, provided that such liability will not apply to any claims by a third party or prospective target business who executed a waiver of any and all rights to the monies held in the trust account (whether or not such waiver is enforceable) nor will it apply to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Accordingly, if a claim brought by a target business or vendor did not exceed the amount of funds available to us outside of the trust account, our sponsor would not have any obligation to indemnify such claims as they would be paid from such available funds. However, if a claim exceeded such amounts, the only exceptions to our sponsor’s obligations to pay such claim would be if the party executed an agreement waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind it has in or to any monies held in the trust account. We have not asked our sponsor to reserve for such indemnification obligations, nor have we independently verified whether our sponsor has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations and believe that our sponsor’s only assets are securities of our company. Therefore, we cannot assure you that our sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. None of our officers or directors will indemnify us for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses. As a result, we cannot assure you that the per-share distribution from the trust account, if we liquidate the trust account because we have not completed a business combination within the required time period, will not be less than $10.00.

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RISKS

We are a blank check company that has conducted no operations and has generated no revenues. Until we complete our initial business combination, we will have no operations and will generate no operating revenues. In making your decision on whether to invest in our securities, you should take into account not only the background of our management team, but also the special risks we face as a blank check company, as well as the fact that this offering is not being conducted in compliance with Rule 419 promulgated under the Securities Act and, therefore, you will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors in Rule 419 blank check offerings. For additional information concerning how Rule 419 blank check offerings differ from this offering, please see “Proposed Business — Comparison to offerings of blank check companies subject to Rule 419.” You should carefully consider these and the other risks set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 23 of this prospectus.

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SUMMARY FINANCIAL DATA

The following table summarizes the relevant financial data for our business and should be read with our financial statements, which are included in this prospectus. We have not had any significant operations to date, so only balance sheet data are presented.

 

As of April 22, 2021

   

Actual

 

As
Adjusted
(1)

   

(Unaudited)

 

(Unaudited)

Balance Sheet Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Working capital (deficit)

 

$

(52,307

)

 

$

49,471,123

 

Total assets

 

$

73,330

 

 

$

51,221,123

 

Total liabilities

 

$

52,307

 

 

$

1,750,000

(2)

Value of ordinary shares subject to possible redemption

 

$

 

 

$

44,471,119

 

Shareholders’ equity

 

$

21,023

 

 

$

5,000,004

 

____________

(1)      Includes the $3,100,000 we will receive from the sale of the private units and assumes the underwriters’ over-allotment option has not been exercised.

(2)      The “as adjusted” total liabilities represents $1,750,000 of deferred underwriting discounts and commissions that would be payable in the event that the maximum number of shareholders redeemed their shares. The actual liabilities of $52,307 at April 22, 2021 represents $28,977 of accrued expenses and $23,330 of a related party loan from our sponsor, which will be repaid using the proceeds received from the offering on the date the offering is consummated. The $1,750,000 of deferred underwriting discounts is not due until an initial business combination is consummated, for which we have until 12 months from the date that the registration statement is declared effective to consummate (or up to 21 months if our time to complete a business combination is extended as described herein).

The “as adjusted” information gives effect to the sale of the units we are offering, including the application of the related gross proceeds and the payment of the estimated remaining costs from such sale and the repayment of the accrued and other liabilities required to be repaid.

The “as adjusted” working capital amount includes the $50,500,000 to be held in the trust account, plus approximately $700,000 in cash held outside the trust account, plus $21,023 of actual shareholders’ equity at April 22, 2021, plus $100 for the sale of the unit purchase option, and less the deferred underwriting discounts and commissions of $1,750,000 that would be payable in the event that the maximum number of shareholders redeemed their shares, which, except for limited situations described in this prospectus, will be available to us only upon the consummation of our initial business combination within the time period described in this prospectus.

The “as adjusted” total assets amount includes the $50,500,000 to be held in the trust account, plus approximately $700,000 in cash held outside the trust account, plus $21,023 of actual shareholders’ equity at April 22, 2021, and plus $100 for the sale of the unit purchase option. If our initial business combination is not consummated, the trust account, less amounts we are permitted to withdraw as described in this prospectus, will be distributed solely to our public shareholders (subject to our obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors). The actual deferred offering costs of $2,750,000 will be reclassified as a charge to additional paid-in capital from the gross proceeds in connection with the consummation of the offering. Any additional offering costs will also be charged to additional paid-in capital.

We will consummate our initial business combination only if we have net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 upon such consummation and, solely if we seek shareholder approval, a majority of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares voted are voted in favor of the business combination.

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RISK FACTORS

An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should consider carefully the material risks described below, which we believe represent the material risks related to the offering, together with the other information contained in this prospectus, before making a decision to invest in our units. This prospectus also contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a result of specific factors, including the risks described below.

Risks Associated with Our Business

We are a blank check company with no operating history and, accordingly, you will not have any basis on which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective.

We are a blank check company with no operating results to date. Therefore, our ability to commence operations is dependent upon obtaining financing through the public offering of our securities. Since we do not have an operating history, you will have no basis upon which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective, which is to acquire an operating business. We have not conducted any discussions and we have no plans, arrangements or understandings with any prospective acquisition candidates. We will not generate any revenues until, at the earliest, after the consummation of a business combination.

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 April 22, 2021, we had $0 in cash and a working capital deficit of $52,307. Further, we have incurred and expect to continue to incur significant costs in pursuit of our acquisition plans. Management’s plans to address this need for capital through this offering are discussed in the section of this prospectus titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” Our plans to raise capital and to consummate our initial business combination may not be successful. The report of our independent registered public accountants on our financial statements includes an explanatory paragraph stating that our ability to continue as a going concern is dependent on the consummation of this offering. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from our inability to consummate this offering or our ability to continue as a going concern. Moreover, there is no assurance that we will consummate our initial business combination. These factors raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. 

If we are unable to consummate a business combination, our public shareholders may be forced to wait more than 12 months (or up to 21 months if we have extended the period of time as described in this prospectus) before receiving liquidation distributions.

We have 12 months from the date that the registration statement is declared effective in which to complete a business combination (or up to 21 months if we have extended the period of time as described in this prospectus). We have no obligation to return funds to investors prior to such date unless we consummate a business combination prior thereto and only then in cases where investors have sought to convert their shares. Only after the expiration of this full time period will public shareholders be entitled to liquidation distributions if we are unable to complete a business combination. Accordingly, investors’ funds may be unavailable to them until after such date and to liquidate your investment, you may be forced to sell your securities potentially at a loss.

The requirement that we complete an initial business combination within a specific period of time may give potential target businesses leverage over us in negotiating our initial business combination and may limit the amount of time we have to conduct due diligence on potential business combination targets as we approach our dissolution deadline, which could undermine our ability to consummate our initial business combination on terms that would produce value for our shareholders.

We have 12 months from the date that the registration statement is declared effective to complete an initial business combination (or up to 21 months if we have extended the period of time as described in this prospectus). Any potential target business with which we enter into negotiations concerning a business combination will be aware of this requirement. Consequently, such target business may obtain leverage over us in negotiating a business combination,

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knowing that if we do not complete a business combination with that particular target business, we may be unable to complete a business combination with any other target business. This risk will increase as we get closer to the time limits referenced above. In addition, we may have limited time to conduct due diligence and may enter into our initial business combination on terms that we would have rejected upon a more comprehensive investigation.

You will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors of blank check companies.

Since the net proceeds of this offering are intended to be used to complete a business combination with a target business that has not been identified, we may be deemed to be a “blank check” company under the United States securities laws. However, since we will have net tangible assets in excess of $5,000,000 upon the successful consummation of this offering and will file a Current Report on Form 8-K, including an audited balance sheet demonstrating this fact, we are exempt from rules promulgated by the SEC to protect investors of blank check companies such as Rule 419. Accordingly, investors will not be afforded the benefits or protections of those rules which would, for example, completely restrict the transferability of our securities, restrict the use of interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and require us to complete a business combination within 21 months from the date that the registration statement is declared effective. Because we are not subject to Rule 419, our units will be immediately tradable, we will be entitled to withdraw amounts from the funds held in the trust account prior to the completion of a business combination and we may have more time to complete an initial business combination.

We may issue additional ordinary or preferred shares or debt securities to complete a business combination, which would reduce the equity interest of our shareholders and likely cause a change in control of our ownership.

Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association currently authorize the issuance of 500,000,000 shares of a single class each with $0.0001 par value. Although we have no commitment as of the date of this offering, we may issue a substantial number of additional ordinary shares or preferred shares (if duly created), or a combination of ordinary shares and preferred shares (if duly created), to complete a business combination. The issuance of additional ordinary shares or preferred shares:

•        may significantly reduce the equity interest of investors in this offering;

•        may subordinate the rights of holders of ordinary shares if we issue preferred shares with rights senior to those afforded to our ordinary shares;

•        may cause a change in control if a substantial number of ordinary shares are issued, which may affect, among other things, our ability to use our net operating loss carry forwards, if any, and could result in the resignation or removal of our present officers and directors; and

•        may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our ordinary shares.

Similarly, if we issue debt securities, it could result in:

•        default and foreclosure on our assets if our operating revenues after a business combination are insufficient to repay our debt obligations;

•        acceleration of our obligations to repay the indebtedness even if we make all principal and interest payments when due if we breach certain covenants that require the maintenance of certain financial ratios or reserves without a waiver or renegotiation of that covenant;

•        our immediate payment of all principal and accrued interest, if any, if the debt security is payable on demand;

•        our inability to obtain necessary additional financing if the debt security contains covenants restricting our ability to obtain such financing while the debt security is outstanding.

•        our inability to pay dividends on our ordinary shares;

•        using a substantial portion of our cash flow to pay principal and interest on our debt, which will reduce the funds available for dividends on our ordinary shares if declared, expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes;

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•        limitations on our flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in our business and in the industry in which we operate;

•        increased vulnerability to adverse changes in general economic, industry and competitive conditions and adverse changes in government regulation; and

•        limitations on our ability to borrow additional amounts for expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions, debt service requirements, execution of our strategy and other purposes and other disadvantages compared to our competitors who have less debt. 

We may be unable to obtain additional financing, if required, to complete a business combination or to fund the operations and growth of the target business, which could compel us to restructure or abandon a particular business combination.

Since we have not yet identified any prospective target business, we cannot ascertain the capital requirements for any particular transaction. If the net proceeds of this offering prove to be insufficient, either because of the size of the business combination, the depletion of the available net proceeds in search of a target business, or the obligation to convert into cash (or purchase in any tender offer) a significant number of shares from dissenting shareholders, we will be required to seek additional financing. Such financing may not be available on acceptable terms, if at all. To the extent that additional financing proves to be unavailable when needed to consummate a particular business combination, we would be compelled to either restructure the transaction or abandon that particular business combination and seek an alternative target business candidate. In addition, if we consummate a business combination, we may require additional financing to fund the operations or growth of the target business. The failure to secure additional financing could have a material adverse effect on the continued development or growth of the target business. None of our officers, directors or shareholders is required to provide any financing to us in connection with or after a business combination.

If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in trust could be reduced and the per-share liquidation price received by shareholders may be less than $10.00.

Our placing of funds in trust may not protect those funds from third party claims against us. Although we will seek to have all vendors and service providers we engage and prospective target businesses we negotiate with execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the trust account for the benefit of our public shareholders, they may not execute such agreements. Furthermore, even if such entities execute such agreements with us, they may seek recourse against the monies held in the trust account. A court may not uphold the validity of such agreements. Accordingly, the proceeds held in trust could be subject to claims which could take priority over those of our public shareholders. If we liquidate the trust account before the completion of a business combination, our sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to ensure that the proceeds in the trust account are not reduced by the claims of target businesses or claims of vendors or other entities that are owed money by us for services rendered or contracted for or products sold to us and which have not executed a waiver agreement. However, they may not be able to meet such obligation. Therefore, the per-share distribution from the trust account in such a situation may be less than $10.00, plus interest, due to such claims.

Our shareholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against us to the extent of distributions received by them.

If we are forced to enter into an insolvent liquidation, any distributions received by shareholders could be viewed as an unlawful payment if it was proved that immediately following the date on which the distribution was made, we were unable to pay our debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business. As a result, a liquidator could seek to recover all amounts received by our shareholders. Furthermore, our directors may be viewed as having breached their fiduciary duties to us or our creditors and/or may have acted in bad faith, and thereby exposing themselves and our company to claims, by paying public shareholders from the trust account prior to addressing the claims of creditors. We cannot assure you that claims will not be brought against us for these reasons. We and our directors and officers who knowingly and willfully authorized or permitted any distribution to be paid out of our share premium account while we were unable to pay our debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business would be guilty of an offence and may be liable to a fine and to imprisonment for five years in the Cayman Islands.

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Holders of warrants and rights will not have redemption rights if we are unable to complete an initial business combination within the required time period.

If we are unable to complete an initial business combination within the required time period and we redeem and distribute the funds held in the trust account, the warrants and rights will expire and holders will not receive any of such proceeds with respect to the warrants or rights.

We have no obligation to net cash settle the warrants or rights.

In no event will we have any obligation to net cash settle the warrants or rights. Accordingly, the warrants and rights may expire worthless.

If we do not maintain a current and effective prospectus relating to the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the redeemable warrants, public holders will only be able to exercise such redeemable warrants on a “cashless basis” which would result in a fewer number of shares being issued to the holder had such holder exercised the redeemable warrants for cash.

Except as set forth below, if we do not maintain a current and effective prospectus relating to the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants at the time that holders wish to exercise such warrants, they will only be able to exercise them on a “cashless basis,” provided that an exemption from registration is available. As a result, the number of ordinary shares that a holder will receive upon exercise of its warrants will be fewer than it would have been had such holder exercised its warrant for cash. Further, if an exemption from registration is not available, holders would not be able to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis and would only be able to exercise their warrants on a “cashless basis” if a current and effective prospectus relating to the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants is available. Under the terms of the warrant agreement, we have agreed to use our best efforts to meet these conditions and to maintain a current and effective prospectus relating to the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants until the expiration of the warrants. However, we cannot assure you that we will be able to do so. If we are unable to do so, the potential “upside” of the holder’s investment in our company may be reduced or the warrants may expire worthless. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the private warrants may be exercisable for unregistered ordinary shares for cash even if the prospectus relating to the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants is not current and effective.

An investor will only be able to exercise warrants if the issuance of ordinary shares upon such exercise has been registered or qualified or is deemed exempt under the securities laws of the state of residence of the holder of the warrants.

No warrants will be exercisable for cash and we will not be obligated to issue ordinary shares unless the ordinary shares issuable upon such exercise have been registered or qualified or deemed to be exempt under the securities laws of the state of residence of the holder of the warrants. At the time that the warrants become exercisable, we expect to continue to be listed on a national securities exchange, which would provide an exemption from registration in every state. However, we cannot assure you of this fact. If the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants are not qualified or exempt from qualification in the jurisdictions in which the holders of the warrants reside, the warrants may be deprived of any value, the market for the warrants may be limited and they may expire worthless if they cannot be sold.

Our management’s ability to require holders of our redeemable warrants to exercise such redeemable warrants on a cashless basis will cause holders to receive fewer ordinary shares upon their exercise of the redeemable warrants than they would have received had they been able to exercise their redeemable warrants for cash.

If we call our warrants for redemption after the redemption criteria described elsewhere in this prospectus have been satisfied, our management will have the option to require any holder that wishes to exercise his warrants (including any warrants held by our initial shareholders or their permitted transferees) to do so on a “cashless basis.” If our management chooses to require holders to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis, the number of ordinary shares received by a holder upon exercise will be fewer than it would have been had such holder exercised his warrants for cash. This will have the effect of reducing the potential “upside” of the holder’s investment in our company.

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We may amend the terms of the warrants in a way that may be adverse to holders with the approval by the holders of a majority of the then outstanding warrants.

Our warrants will be issued in registered form under a warrant agreement between American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, 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, including to conform the provisions to the description of the terms of the warrants and the warrant agreement set forth in this prospectus, or curing, correct or supplementing any defective provision or adding or changing any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the warrant agreement as the parties to the warrant agreement may deem necessary or desirable and that the parties deem shall not adversely affect the interest of the registered warrant holders. The warrant agreement requires the approval by the holders of a majority of the then outstanding warrants (including the private warrants) in order to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders.

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 will provide that, subject to applicable law, (i) any action, proceeding or claim against us arising out of or relating in any way to the 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 the forum provisions of the 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, including by increasing the cost of such lawsuits to a warrant holder, 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.

Since we have not yet selected a particular industry or target business with which to complete a business combination, we are unable to currently ascertain the merits or risks of the industry or business in which we may ultimately operate.

We are not limited to those locations and may consummate a business combination with a company in any location or industry we choose. Accordingly, there is no current basis for you to evaluate the possible merits or risks of the particular industry in which we may ultimately operate or the target business which we may ultimately acquire. To the extent we complete a business combination with a company in its development stage, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in the business operations of those entities. If we complete a business combination with an entity in an industry characterized by a high level of risk, we may be affected by the currently unascertainable risks of that industry. Although our management will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular industry or target business, we

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cannot assure you that we will properly ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors. We also cannot assure you that an investment in our units will not ultimately prove to be less favorable to investors in this offering than a direct investment, if an opportunity were available, in a target business.

The requirement that the target business or businesses that we acquire must collectively have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the balance of the funds in the trust account (less any deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on interest earned and less any interest earned thereon that is released to us) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination may limit the type and number of companies that we may complete such a business combination with.

Pursuant to the Nasdaq listing rules, the target business or businesses that we acquire must collectively have a fair market value equal to at least 80%, or the 80% fair market value test, of the balance of the funds in the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting discounts and commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account and less any interest earned thereon that is released to us for our taxes) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination. Until the 80% fair market value test is satisfied, pursuant to Nasdaq listing rules, any business combination must be approved by a majority of the board, including a majority of the independent directors. This restriction may limit the type and number of companies with which we may complete a business combination. If we are unable to locate a target business or businesses that satisfy this fair market value test, we may be forced to liquidate and you will only be entitled to receive your pro rata portion of the funds in the trust account.

If Nasdaq delists our securities from trading on its exchange after this offering, we would not be required to satisfy the fair market value requirement described above and could complete a business combination with a target business having a fair market value substantially below 80% of the balance in the trust account.

Our ability to successfully effect a business combination and to be successful thereafter will be totally dependent upon the efforts of our key personnel, some of whom may join us following a business combination. While we intend to closely scrutinize any individuals we engage after a business combination, we cannot assure you that our assessment of these individuals will prove to be correct.

Our ability to successfully effect a business combination is dependent upon the efforts of our key personnel. We believe that our success depends on the continued service of our key personnel, at least until we have consummated our initial business combination. We cannot assure you that any of our key personnel will remain with us for the immediate or foreseeable future. In addition, none of our officers are required to commit any specified amount of time to our affairs and, accordingly, they will have conflicts of interest in allocating management time among various business activities, including identifying potential business combinations and monitoring the related due diligence. We do not have employment agreements with, or key-man insurance on the life of, any of our officers. The unexpected loss of the services of our key personnel could have a detrimental effect on us.

The role of our key personnel in the target business, however, cannot presently be ascertained. Although some of our key personnel may remain with the target business in senior management or advisory positions following a business combination, it is likely that some or all of the management of the target business will remain in place or be hired after consummation of the business combination. While we intend to closely scrutinize any individuals we engage after a business combination, we cannot assure you that our assessment of these individuals will prove to be correct. These individuals may be unfamiliar with the requirements of operating a public company which could cause us to have to expend time and resources helping them become familiar with such requirements. This could be expensive and time-consuming and could lead to various regulatory issues which may adversely affect our operations.

Our officers and directors may not have significant experience or knowledge regarding the jurisdiction or industry of the target business we may seek to acquire.

We may consummate a business combination with a target business in any geographic location or industry we choose. We cannot assure you that our officers and directors will have enough experience or have sufficient knowledge relating to the jurisdiction of the target or its industry to make an informed decision regarding a business combination. If we become aware of a potential business combination outside of the geographic location or industry where our officers and directors have the most experience, our management may retain consultants and advisors with experience in such industries to assist in the evaluation of such business combination and in our determination of whether or not

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to proceed with such a business combination. However, our management is not required to engage consultants or advisors in any situation. If they do not engage any consultants or advisors to assist them in the evaluation of a particular target business or business combination, our management may not properly analyze the risks attendant with such target business or business combination. Even if our management does engage consultants or advisors to assist in the evaluation of a particular target business or business combination, we cannot assure you that such consultants or advisors will properly analyze the risks attendant with such target business or business combination. As a result, we may enter into a business combination that is not in our shareholders’ best interests.

Our key personnel may negotiate employment or consulting agreements with a target business in connection with a particular business combination. These agreements may provide for them to receive compensation following a business combination and as a result, may cause them to have conflicts of interest in determining whether a particular business combination is the most advantageous.

Our key personnel will be able to remain with the company after the consummation of a business combination only if they are able to negotiate employment or consulting agreements or other arrangements in connection with the business combination. Such negotiations would take place simultaneously with the negotiation of the business combination and could provide for such individuals to receive compensation in the form of cash payments and/or our securities for services they would render to the company after the consummation of the business combination. The personal and financial interests of such individuals may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business.

Our officers and directors will allocate their time to other businesses thereby potentially limiting the amount of time they devote to our affairs. This conflict of interest could have a negative impact on our ability to consummate our initial business combination.

Our officers and directors are not required to commit their full time to our affairs, which could create a conflict of interest when allocating their time between our operations and their other commitments. We presently expect each of our executive officers to devote such amount of time as they reasonably believe is necessary to our business (which could range from only a few hours a week while we are trying to locate a potential target business to a majority of their time as we move into serious negotiations with a target business for a business combination). We do not intend to have any full time employees prior to the consummation of our initial business combination. All of our officers and directors are engaged in several other business endeavors and are not obligated to devote any specific number of hours to our affairs. If our officers’ and directors’ other business affairs require them to devote more substantial amounts of time to such affairs, it could limit their ability to devote time to our affairs and could have a negative impact on our ability to consummate our initial business combination. We cannot assure you these conflicts will be resolved in our favor.

We are the first company in a series of special purpose acquisition companies with affiliated sponsors and management competing for a business target. This conflict of interest could have a negative impact on our ability to determine to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented, and thus, consummate our initial business combination.

Aquarius I Acquisition Corp. is the first company in a series of special purpose acquisition companies with affiliated sponsors and management competing for a business target. As such, our Sponsor and our management team may have fiduciary and/or contractual obligations to other special purpose acquisition companies, which are engaged in business activities similar to or the same as those intended to be conducted by us. Accordingly, our Sponsor and our management team may participate in transactions and have obligations that may be in conflict or competition with our consummation of our initial business combination. For a more detailed description of the pre-existing fiduciary and contractual obligations of our management team, and the potential conflicts of interest that such obligations may present, see the section titled “Management — Conflicts of Interest.”

Our officers and directors have pre-existing fiduciary and contractual obligations and accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented.

Our officers and directors have pre-existing fiduciary and contractual obligations to other companies, including other companies that are engaged in business activities similar to those intended to be conducted by us. Accordingly, they may participate in transactions and have obligations that may be in conflict or competition with our consummation of our initial

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business combination. As a result, a potential target business may be presented by our management team to another entity prior to its presentation to us and we may not be afforded the opportunity to engage in a transaction with such target business. For a more detailed description of the pre-existing fiduciary and contractual obligations of our management team, and the potential conflicts of interest that such obligations may present, see the section titled “Management — Conflicts of Interest.”

Our officers’ and directors’ personal and financial interests may influence their motivation in determining whether a particular target business is appropriate for a business combination.

Our officers and directors have waived their right to convert (or sell to us in any tender offer) their insider shares or any other ordinary shares acquired in this offering or thereafter (although none of these insiders have indicated any intention to purchase units in this offering or thereafter), or to receive distributions with respect to their insider shares upon our liquidation if we are unable to consummate our initial business combination. Our sponsor has also waived its right to convert (or sell to us in any tender offer) its private shares or any other ordinary shares acquired in this offering or thereafter (although it has not indicated any intention to purchase units in this offering or thereafter), or to receive distributions with respect to their private shares upon our liquidation if we are unable to consummate our initial business combination. Accordingly, these securities will be worthless if we do not consummate our initial business combination. In addition, our officers and directors may loan funds to us after this offering and may be owed reimbursement for expenses incurred in connection with certain activities on our behalf which would only be repaid if we complete an initial business combination. The personal and financial interests of our directors and officers may influence their motivation in timely identifying and selecting a target business and completing a business combination. Consequently, our directors’ and officers’ discretion in identifying and selecting a suitable target business may result in a conflict of interest when determining whether the terms, conditions and timing of a particular business combination are appropriate and in our shareholders’ best interest. If this were the case, it would be a breach of their fiduciary duties to us as a matter of Cayman Islands law and we might have a claim against such individuals. However, we might not ultimately be successful in any claim we may make against them for such reason.

Nasdaq may delist our securities from trading on its exchange which could limit investors’ ability to make transactions in our securities and subject us to additional trading restrictions.

We anticipate that our securities will be listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, a national securities exchange, upon consummation of this offering. Although, after giving effect to this offering, we meet on a pro forma basis the minimum initial listing standards of Nasdaq, which generally only requires that we meet certain requirements relating to shareholders’ equity, market capitalization, aggregate market value of publicly held shares and distribution requirements, we cannot assure you that our securities will continue to be listed on Nasdaq in the future prior to an initial business combination. Additionally, in connection with our initial business combination, it is likely that Nasdaq will require us to file a new initial listing application and meet its initial listing requirements as opposed to its more lenient continued listing requirements. We cannot assure you that we will be able to meet those initial listing requirements at that time.

If Nasdaq delists our securities from trading on its exchange, we could face significant material adverse consequences, including:

•        a limited availability of market quotations for our securities;

•        reduced liquidity with respect to our securities;

•        a determination that our ordinary shares are “penny stock” which will require brokers trading in our ordinary shares to adhere to more stringent rules, possibly resulting in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for our ordinary shares;

•        a limited amount of news and analyst coverage for our company; and

•        a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future.

We may only be able to complete one business combination with the proceeds of this offering, which will cause us to be solely dependent on a single business which may have a limited number of products or services.

We may only be able to complete one business combination with the proceeds of this offering. By consummating a business combination with only a single entity, our lack of diversification may subject us to numerous economic, competitive and regulatory developments. Further, we would not be able to diversify our operations or benefit from

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the possible spreading of risks or offsetting of losses, unlike other entities which may have the resources to complete several business combinations in different industries or different areas of a single industry. Accordingly, the prospects for our success may be:

•        solely dependent upon the performance of a single business, or

•        dependent upon the development or market acceptance of a single or limited number of products, processes or services.

This lack of diversification may subject us to numerous economic, competitive and regulatory developments, any or all of which may have a substantial adverse impact upon the particular industry in which we may operate subsequent to a business combination.

Alternatively, if we determine to simultaneously acquire several businesses and such businesses are owned by different sellers, we will need for each of such sellers to agree that our purchase of its business is contingent on the simultaneous closings of the other business combinations, which may make it more difficult for us, and delay our ability, to complete the business combination. With multiple business combinations, we could also face additional risks, including additional burdens and costs with respect to possible multiple negotiations and due diligence investigations (if there are multiple sellers) and the additional risks associated with the subsequent assimilation of the operations and services or products of the acquired companies in a single operating business. If we are unable to adequately address these risks, it could negatively impact our profitability and results of operations.

The ability of our public shareholders to exercise their redemption rights or sell their public shares to us in a tender offer may not allow us to effectuate the most desirable business combination or optimize our capital structure.

If our business combination requires us to use substantially all of our cash to pay the purchase price, because we will not know how many public shareholders may exercise redemption rights or seek to sell their public shares to us in a tender offer, we may either need to reserve part of the trust account for possible payment upon such redemption, or we may need to arrange third party financing to help fund our business transaction. In the event that the business combination involves the issuance of our shares as consideration, we may be required to issue a higher percentage of our shares to make up for a shortfall in funds. Raising additional funds to cover any shortfall may involve dilutive equity financing or incurring indebtedness at higher than desirable levels. This may limit our ability to effectuate the most attractive business combination available to us.

We may be unable to consummate a business combination if a target business requires that we have cash in excess of the minimum amount we are required to have at closing and public shareholders may have to remain shareholders of our company and wait until our liquidation to receive a pro rata share of the trust account or attempt to sell their shares in the open market.

A potential target may make it a closing condition to our business combination that we have a certain amount of cash in excess of the $5,000,001, either immediately prior to or upon consummation of our initial business combination and after payment of underwriters’ fees and commissions (so that we are not subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules), of net tangible assets we are required to have pursuant to our organizational documents available at the time of closing. If the number of our shareholders electing to exercise their redemption rights or sell their shares to us in a tender offer has the effect of reducing the amount of money available to us to consummate a business combination below such minimum amount required by the target business and we are not able to locate an alternative source of funding, we will not be able to consummate such business combination and we may not be able to locate another suitable target within the applicable time period, if at all. In that case, public shareholders may have to remain shareholders of our company and wait the full 12 (or up to 21) months in order to be able to receive a pro rata portion of the trust account, or attempt to sell their shares in the open market prior to such time, in which case they may receive less than a pro rata share of the trust account for their shares.

Our public shareholders may not be afforded an opportunity to vote on our proposed business combination, which means we may consummate our initial business combination even though a majority of our public shareholders do not support such a combination.

We intend to hold a shareholder vote before we consummate our initial business combination. However, if a shareholder vote is not required, for business or legal reasons, we may conduct conversions via a tender offer and not offer our shareholders the opportunity to vote on a proposed business combination. Accordingly, we may consummate our initial business combination even if holders of a majority of our public shares do not approve of the business combination.

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In connection with any meeting held to approve an initial business combination, we will offer each public shareholder the option to vote in favor of a proposed business combination and still seek redemption of his, her or its public shares, which may make it more likely that we will consummate a business combination.

In connection with any meeting held to approve an initial business combination, we will offer each public shareholder the right to have his, her or its public shares converted to cash (subject to the limitations described elsewhere in this prospectus) regardless of whether such shareholder votes for or against such proposed business combination. Furthermore, we will consummate our initial business combination only if we have net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001, either immediately prior to or upon consummation of our initial business combination and after payment of underwriters’ fees and commissions (so that we are not subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules), upon such consummation and a majority of the issued and outstanding shares voted are voted in favor of the business combination. Accordingly, public shareholders owning shares sold in this offering may exercise their redemption rights and we could still consummate a proposed business combination so long as a majority of shares voted at the meeting are voted in favor of the proposed business combination. This is different than other similarly structured blank check companies where shareholders are offered the right to convert their shares only when they vote against a proposed business combination. This is also different than other similarly structured blank check companies where there is a specific number of shares sold in the offering which must not exercise redemption rights for the company to complete a business combination. The lack of such a threshold and the ability to seek redemption while voting in favor of a proposed business combination may make it more likely that we will consummate our initial business combination.

In connection with any shareholder meeting called to approve a proposed initial business combination, we may require shareholders who wish to convert their public shares to comply with specific requirements for conversion that may make it more difficult for them to exercise their redemption rights prior to the deadline for exercising their rights.

In connection with any shareholder meeting called to approve a proposed initial business combination, each public shareholder will have the right, regardless of whether it is voting for or against such proposed business combination, to demand that we convert its public shares into a share of the trust account. Such conversion will be effectuated under Cayman Islands law and our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association as a redemption of the shares, with the redemption price to be paid being the applicable pro rata portion of the monies held in the trust account. We may require public shareholders who wish to convert their public shares in connection with a proposed business combination to either tender their certificates (if any) to our transfer agent or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using the Depository Trust Company’s (“DTC”) DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System, at the holder’s option, at any time at or prior to the vote taken at the shareholder meeting relating to such business combination. In order to obtain a physical share certificate, a shareholder’s broker and/or clearing broker, DTC and our transfer agent will need to act to facilitate this request. It is our understanding that shareholders should generally allow at least two weeks to obtain physical certificates from the transfer agent. However, because we do not have any control over this process or over the brokers or DTC, it may take significantly longer than two weeks to obtain a physical share certificate. It is also our understanding that it takes a short time to deliver shares through the DWAC System. However, this too may not be the case. Accordingly, if it takes longer than we anticipate for shareholders to deliver their shares, shareholders who wish to convert may be unable to meet the deadline for exercising their redemption rights and thus may be unable to convert their shares.

Investors may not have sufficient time to comply with the delivery requirements for redemption.

Pursuant to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, we are required to give a minimum of only ten days’ notice for each general meeting. As a result, if we require public shareholders who wish to convert their public shares into the right to receive a pro rata portion of the funds in the trust account to comply with specific delivery requirements for redemption, holders may not have sufficient time to receive the notice and deliver their shares for redemption. Accordingly, investors may not be able to exercise their redemption rights and may be forced to retain our securities when they otherwise would not want to.

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If we require public shareholders who wish to convert their public shares to comply with the delivery requirements for redemption, such converting shareholders may be unable to sell their securities when they wish to in the event that the proposed business combination is not approved.

If we require public shareholders who wish to convert their public shares to comply with specific delivery requirements for redemption described above and such proposed business combination is not consummated, we will promptly return such certificates to the tendering public shareholders. Accordingly, investors who attempted to convert their shares in such a circumstance will be unable to sell their securities after the failed acquisition until we have returned their securities to them. The market price for our shares may decline during this time and you may not be able to sell your securities when you wish to, even while other shareholders that did not seek redemption may be able to sell their securities.

Because of our limited resources and structure, other companies may have a competitive advantage and we may not be able to consummate an attractive business combination.

We expect to encounter intense competition from entities other than blank check companies having a business objective similar to ours, including venture capital funds, leveraged buyout funds and operating businesses competing for acquisitions. Many of these entities are well established and have extensive experience in identifying and effecting business combinations directly or through affiliates. Many of these competitors possess greater technical, human and other resources than we do and our financial resources will be relatively limited when contrasted with those of many of these competitors. While we believe that there are numerous potential target businesses that we could acquire with the net proceeds of this offering, our ability to compete in acquiring certain sizable target businesses will be limited by our available financial resources. This inherent competitive limitation gives others an advantage in pursuing the acquisition of certain target businesses. Furthermore, seeking shareholder approval of a business combination may delay or prevent the consummation of a transaction, a risk a target business may not be willing to accept. Additionally, our outstanding warrants, rights and unit purchase options, and the future dilution they potentially represent, may not be viewed favorably by certain target businesses. Any of the foregoing may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating a business combination.

Our initial shareholders control a substantial interest in us and thus may influence certain actions requiring a shareholder vote, potentially in a manner that you do not support.

Upon consummation of our offering and the private placement, our initial shareholders will collectively own approximately 20% of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares (assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering). Accordingly, they may exert a substantial influence on actions requiring a shareholder vote, potentially in a manner that you do not support, including amendments to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. None of our officers, directors, initial shareholders or their affiliates has indicated any intention to purchase units in this offering or any units or ordinary shares from persons in the open market or in private transactions (other than the private units). However, if our initial shareholders purchase any units in this offering or if our officers, directors, initial shareholders or their affiliates determine in the future to make such purchases in the open market or in private transactions, to the extent permitted by law, in order to assist us in consummating our initial business combination, this would increase their control. Factors that would be considered in making such additional purchases would include consideration of the current trading price of our ordinary shares. In connection with any vote for a proposed business combination, all of our initial shareholders, as well as all of our officers and directors, have agreed to vote the ordinary shares owned by them immediately before this offering as well as any ordinary shares acquired in this offering or in the aftermarket in favor of such proposed business combination.

There is no requirement under the Companies Act for us to hold annual or general meetings to elect directors. Accordingly, shareholders would not have the right to such a meeting or election of directors, unless the holders of not less than 10% of the voting rights of our company request such a meeting. As a result, it is unlikely that there will be an annual general meeting to elect new directors prior to the consummation of a business combination, in which case all of the current directors will continue in office until at least the consummation of the business combination. Accordingly, you may not be able to exercise your voting rights for up to 21 months. If there is an annual general meeting, our initial shareholders, because of their ownership position, will have considerable influence regarding the outcome. Accordingly, our initial shareholders will continue to exert control at least until the consummation of a business combination.

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Our initial shareholders paid an aggregate of $25,000, or approximately $0.017 per share, for the insider shares and, accordingly, you will experience immediate and substantial dilution from the purchase of our ordinary shares. 

The difference between the public offering price per share and the pro forma net tangible book value per share after this offering constitutes the dilution to the investors in this offering. Our initial shareholders acquired their insider shares at a nominal price, significantly contributing to this dilution. Upon consummation of this offering, you and the other new investors will incur an immediate and substantial dilution of approximately 79.54% or $7.23 per share (the difference between the public offering price per share (including the ordinary shares issuable upon redemption of rights) and the pro forma net tangible book value per share of $1.86 per share). This is because investors in this offering will be contributing approximately 94.12% of the total amount paid to us for our outstanding securities after this offering but will only own approximately 77.56% of our outstanding securities (including the ordinary shares underlying the rights). Accordingly, the per-share purchase price you will be paying substantially exceeds our per share net tangible book value.

Our outstanding warrants, rights and unit purchase options may have an adverse effect on the market price of our ordinary shares and make it more difficult to effect a business combination.

We will be issuing warrants that will result in the issuance of up to 2,500,000 ordinary shares as part of the units offered by this prospectus and private warrants that will result in the issuance of an additional 155,000 ordinary shares. We will also be issuing rights that will result in the issuance of up to 500,000 ordinary shares as part of the units offered by this prospectus and private rights that will result in the issuance of an additional 31,000 ordinary shares. We will also issue unit purchase options to purchase 250,000 units to the representative of the underwriters which, if exercised, will result in the issuance of 275,000 ordinary shares (which includes 25,000 shares underlying rights) and warrants exercisable to purchase an additional 125,000 ordinary shares. The potential for the issuance of a substantial number of additional shares upon exercise of the warrants and redemption of the rights could make us a less attractive acquisition vehicle in the eyes of a target business. Such securities, when converted, will increase the number of issued and outstanding ordinary shares and reduce the value of the shares issued to complete the business combination. Accordingly, our warrants, rights and unit purchase options may make it more difficult to effectuate a business combination or increase the cost of acquiring the target business. Additionally, the sale, or even the possibility of sale, of the shares underlying the warrants, rights and unit purchase options could have an adverse effect on the market price for our securities or on our ability to obtain future financing. If and to the extent these warrants are exercised, you may experience dilution to your holdings.

If we are deemed to be an investment company, we may be required to institute burdensome compliance requirements and our activities may be restricted, which may make it difficult for us to complete a business combination.

A company that, among other things, is or holds itself out as being engaged primarily, or proposes to engage primarily, in the business of investing, reinvesting, owning, trading or holding certain types of securities would be deemed an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, or the Investment Company Act. Since we will invest the proceeds held in the trust account only in United States government treasury bills, notes or bonds having a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting the applicable conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act and that invest solely in United States treasuries, we believe that we will not be considered to be an investment company pursuant to the exemption provided in Rule 3a-1 promulgated under the Investment Company Act.

If we are nevertheless deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act, we may be subject to certain restrictions that may make it more difficult for us to complete a business combination, including:

•        restrictions on the nature of our investments; and

•        restrictions on the issuance of securities.

In addition, we may have imposed upon us certain burdensome requirements, including:

•        registration as an investment company;

•        adoption of a specific form of corporate structure; and

•        reporting, record keeping, voting, proxy, compliance policies and procedures and disclosure requirements and other rules and regulations.

Compliance with these additional regulatory burdens would require additional expense that we have not provided for.

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We may not seek an opinion from an unaffiliated third party as to the fair market value of the target business we acquire.

We are not required to obtain an opinion from an unaffiliated third party that the target business we select has a fair market value in excess of at least 80% of the balance of the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting discounts and commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account) unless our board of directors cannot make such determination on its own. We are also not required to obtain an opinion from an unaffiliated third party indicating that the price we are paying is fair to our shareholders from a financial point of view unless the target is affiliated with our officers, directors, initial shareholders or their affiliates. If no opinion is obtained, our shareholders will be relying on the judgment of our board of directors, whose collective experience in business evaluations for blank check companies like ours is not significant. Furthermore, our directors may have a conflict of interest in analyzing the transaction due to their personal and financial interests.

We may acquire a target business that is affiliated with our officers, directors, initial shareholders or their affiliates.

While we do not currently intend to pursue an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our officers, directors, initial shareholders or their affiliates, we are not prohibited from pursuing such a transaction, nor are we prohibited from consummating a business combination where any of our officers, directors, initial shareholders or their affiliates acquire a minority interest in the target business alongside our acquisition, provided in each case we obtain an opinion from an unaffiliated third party indicating that the price we are paying is fair to our shareholders from a financial point of view. These affiliations could cause our officers or directors to have a conflict of interest in analyzing such transactions due to their personal and financial interests.

The determination of the offering price of our units is more arbitrary than the pricing of securities for an operating company in a particular industry.

Prior to this offering there has been no public market for any of our securities. The public offering price of the units and the terms of the warrants and rights were negotiated between us and the representative of the underwriters. Factors considered in determining the prices and terms of the units, including the ordinary shares, warrants and rights underlying the units, include:

•        the history and prospects of companies whose principal business is the acquisition of other companies;

•        prior offerings of those companies;

•        our prospects for acquiring an operating business at attractive values;

•        our capital structure;

•        the per share amount of net proceeds being placed in the trust account;

•        an assessment of our management and their experience in identifying operating companies; and

•        general conditions of the securities markets at the time of the offering.

However, although these factors were considered, the determination of our offering price is more arbitrary than the pricing of securities for an operating company in a particular industry since we have no historical operations or financial results to compare them to.

Because we are incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, you may face difficulties in protecting your interests, and your ability to protect your rights through the U.S. Federal courts may be limited.

We are an exempted company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands and certain of our officers and directors are residents of jurisdictions outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for investors to effect service of process within the United States upon our directors or executive officers, or enforce judgments obtained in the United States courts against our directors or officers.

Our corporate affairs will be governed by our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, the Companies Act (as the same may be supplemented or amended from time to time) and the common law of the Cayman Islands. The rights of shareholders to take action against the directors, actions by minority shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors to us under Cayman Islands law are to a large extent governed by the

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Companies Act and common law of the Cayman Islands. The common law of the Cayman Islands is derived in part from comparatively limited judicial precedent in the Cayman Islands as well as from English common law, and whilst the decisions of the English courts are of persuasive authority, they are not binding on a court in the Cayman Islands. The rights of our shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors under Cayman Islands law are different from statutes or judicial precedent in some jurisdictions in the United States. In particular, the Cayman Islands has a less developed body of securities laws as compared to the United States, and some states, such as Delaware, have more fully developed and judicially interpreted bodies of corporate law. In addition, while provisions do exist in Cayman Islands law for derivative actions to be brought in certain circumstances, shareholders in the Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to initiate a shareholder derivative action in a federal court of the United States. The circumstances in which any such action may be brought, and the procedures and defenses that may be available in respect to any such action, may result in the rights of shareholders of a Cayman Islands company being more limited than those of shareholders of a company organized in the United States. Accordingly, shareholders may have fewer alternatives available to them if they believe that corporate wrongdoing has occurred.

We have been advised by our Cayman Islands legal counsel that there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the Cayman Islands would:

•        recognize or enforce against us judgments of courts of the United States based on certain civil liability provisions of U.S. securities laws; and

•        entertain original actions brought in each respective jurisdiction against us or our directors or officers predicated upon the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States.

There is no statutory enforcement in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the United States, although the courts of the Cayman Islands will in certain circumstances recognize and enforce a foreign judgment, without any re-examination or re-litigation of matters adjudicated upon, provided such judgment:

(a)     is given by a foreign court of competent jurisdiction;

(b)    imposes on the judgment debtor a liability to pay a liquidated sum for which the judgment has been given;

(c)     is final;

(d)    is not in respect of taxes, a fine or a penalty; and

(e)     was not obtained by fraud; and

(f)     is not of a kind the enforcement of which is contrary to natural justice or the public policy of the Cayman Islands. 

Subject to the above limitations, in appropriate circumstances, a Cayman Islands court may give effect in the Cayman Islands to other kinds of final foreign judgments such as declaratory orders, orders for performance of contracts and injunctions.

As a result of all of the above, public shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of actions taken by management, members of the board of directors or controlling shareholders than they would as public shareholders of a United States company. 

Because we must furnish our shareholders with financial statements of the target business prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP or IFRS as issued by the IASB or reconciled to U.S. GAAP, we may not be able to complete an initial business combination with some prospective target businesses.

We will be required to provide historical and pro forma financial statement disclosure relating to our target business to our shareholders. These financial statements may be required to be prepared in accordance with, or be reconciled to, accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or GAAP, or international financial reporting standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, or IFRS, depending on the circumstances, and the historical financial statements may be required to be audited in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), or PCAOB. The financial statements may also be required to be prepared

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in accordance with U.S. GAAP for the Form 8-K announcing the closing of an initial business combination, which would need to be filed within four business days after closing. These financial statement requirements may limit the pool of potential target businesses we may acquire.

Compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 will require substantial financial and management resources and may increase the time and costs of completing an acquisition.

Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires that we evaluate and report on our system of internal controls over financial reporting and may require us to have such system audited by an independent registered public accounting firm. If we fail to maintain the adequacy of our internal controls over financial reporting, we could be subject to regulatory scrutiny, civil or criminal penalties and/or shareholder litigation. Any inability to provide reliable financial reports could harm our business. A target business may also not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding the adequacy of internal controls over financial reporting. The development of the internal controls over financial reporting of any such entity to achieve compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may increase the time and costs necessary to complete any such acquisition. Furthermore, any failure to implement required new or improved controls, or difficulties encountered in the implementation of adequate controls over our financial processes and reporting in the future, could harm our operating results or cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations. Inferior internal controls over financial reporting could also cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, which could have a negative effect on the trading price of our securities.

We are an emerging growth company and 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,” as defined in the JOBS Act. We will remain an “emerging growth company” for up to five years. However, if our non-convertible debt issued within a three-year period exceeds $1.0 billion or revenues equal or exceeds $1.07 billion, or the market value of our ordinary shares that are held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $700 million on the last day of the second fiscal quarter of any given fiscal year, we would cease to be an emerging growth company as of the following fiscal year. As an emerging growth company, we are not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, we have reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and we are exempt from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. Additionally, as an emerging growth company, we have elected to delay the adoption of new or revised accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and private companies until those standards apply to private companies. As such, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with public company effective dates. We cannot predict if investors will find our shares less attractive because we may rely on these provisions. If some investors find our shares less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our shares and our share price may be more volatile.

Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such an election to opt out is irrevocable. We have elected not to opt out of such extended transition period which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, we, as an emerging growth company, will not adopt the new or revised standard until the time private companies are required to adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of our financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accountant 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 ordinary shares held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $250 million as of the prior June 30, or (2) our annual revenues equaled or exceeded $100 million

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during such completed fiscal year and the market value of our ordinary shares held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30. To the extent we take advantage of such reduced disclosure obligations, it may also make comparison of our financial statements with other public companies difficult or impossible.

An investment in this offering may involve adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences.

An investment in this offering may involve adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences. For instance, there is a risk that an investor’s entitlement to receive payments in excess of the investor’s initial tax basis in our ordinary shares upon exercise of the investor’s redemption right or upon our liquidation of the trust account will result in constructive income to the investor, which could affect the timing and character of income recognition and result in U.S. federal income tax liability to the investor without the investor’s receipt of cash from us. Furthermore, because there are no authorities that directly address instruments similar to the units we are issuing in this offering, the allocation an investor makes with respect to the purchase price of the unit between the ordinary shares, warrants and rights included in the units could be challenged by the IRS or the courts. See the section titled “Taxation — United States Federal Income Taxation” for a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in our securities. Prospective investors are urged to consult their own tax advisors with respect to these and other tax consequences when purchasing, holding or disposing of our securities.

We have also not sought a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, as to any U.S. federal income tax consequences described in this prospectus. The IRS may disagree with the descriptions of U.S. federal income tax consequences described herein, and its determination may be upheld by a court. Any such determination could subject an investor or our company to adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences that would be different than those described in this prospectus. Accordingly, each prospective investor is urged to consult a tax advisor with respect to the specific tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our securities, including the applicability and effect of state, local, or foreign tax laws, as well as U.S. federal tax laws.

We may qualify as a passive foreign investment company, which could result in adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. investors.

In general, we will be treated as a passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”) for any taxable year in which either (1) at least 75% of our gross income (looking through certain 25% or more-owned corporate subsidiaries) is passive income or (2) at least 50% of the average value of our assets (looking through certain 25% or more-owned corporate subsidiaries) is attributable to assets that produce, or are held for the production of, passive income. Passive income generally includes, without limitation, dividends, interest, rents, royalties, and gains from the disposition of passive assets. If we are determined to be a PFIC for any taxable year (or portion thereof) that is included in the holding period of a U.S. Holder (as defined in the Section of this prospectus captioned “Taxation — United States Federal Income Taxation — General”) of our securities, the U.S. Holder may be subject to increased U.S. federal income tax liability and may be subject to additional reporting requirements. Our actual PFIC status for our current taxable year may depend on whether we qualify for the PFIC start-up exception (see the section of this prospectus captioned “Taxation — United States Federal Income Taxation — U.S. Holders — Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules”). Our actual PFIC status for any taxable year, however, will not be determinable until after the end of such taxable year (or after the end of the start-up period, if later). Accordingly, there can be no assurance with respect to our status as a PFIC for our current taxable year or any subsequent taxable year. We urge U.S. Holders to consult their own tax advisors regarding the possible application of the PFIC rules.

If restrictions on repatriation of earnings from the target business’ home jurisdiction to foreign entities are instituted, our business following a business combination may be materially negatively affected.

It is possible that following an initial business combination, the home jurisdiction of the target business may have restrictions on repatriations of earnings or additional restrictions may be imposed in the future. If they were, it could have a material adverse effect on our operations.

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Risks Associated with Acquiring and Operating a Business Outside of the United States

We may effect a business combination with a company located outside of the United States and if we do, we would be subject to a variety of additional risks that may negatively impact our business operations and financial results.

If we consummate a business combination with a target business located outside of the United States, we would be subject to any special considerations or risks associated with companies operating in the target business’ governing jurisdiction, including any of the following:

•        rules and regulations or currency redemption or corporate withholding taxes on individuals;

•        tariffs and trade barriers;

•        regulations related to customs and import/export matters;

•        longer payment cycles than in the United States;

•        inflation;

•        economic policies and market conditions;

•        unexpected changes in regulatory requirements;

•        challenges in managing and staffing international operations;

•        tax issues, such as tax law changes and variations in tax laws as compared to the United States;

•        currency fluctuations;

•        challenges in collecting accounts receivable;

•        cultural and language differences;

•        protection of intellectual property; and

•        employment regulations.

We cannot assure you that we would be able to adequately address these additional risks. If we were unable to do so, our operations might suffer.

Because of the costs and difficulties inherent in managing cross-border business operations, our results of operations may be negatively impacted.

Managing a business, operations, personnel or assets in another country is challenging and costly. Any management that we may have (whether based abroad or in the U.S.) may be inexperienced in cross-border business practices and unaware of significant differences in accounting rules, legal regimes and labor practices. Even with a seasoned and experienced management team, the costs and difficulties inherent in managing cross-border business operations, personnel and assets can be significant (and much higher than in a purely domestic business) and may negatively impact our financial and operational performance.

If social unrest, acts of terrorism, regime changes, changes in laws and regulations, political upheaval, or policy changes or enactments occur in a country in which we may operate after we effect our initial business combination, it may result in a negative impact on our business.

Political events in another country may significantly affect our business, assets or operations. Social unrest, acts of terrorism, regime changes, changes in laws and regulations, political upheaval, and policy changes or enactments could negatively impact our business in a particular country.

The Cayman Islands, together with several other non-European Union jurisdictions, have recently introduced legislation aimed at addressing concerns raised by the Council of the European Union as to offshore structures engaged in certain activities which attract profits without real economic activity. With effect from January 1, 2019, the International Tax Co-operation (Economic Substance) Act (2021 Revision), or the ITC, came into force in the Cayman Islands

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introducing certain economic substance requirements for Cayman Islands tax resident companies which are engaged in certain “relevant activities.” However, it is not anticipated that the Company itself will be subject to any such requirements prior to any business combination and thereafter the Company may still remain out of scope of the legislation or else be subject to more limited substance requirements. Although it is presently anticipated that the ITC will have little material impact on the Company or its operations, as the legislation is new and remains subject to further clarification and interpretation it is not currently possible to ascertain the precise impact of these legislative changes on the Company.

Many countries have difficult and unpredictable legal systems and underdeveloped laws and regulations that are unclear and subject to corruption and inexperience, which may adversely impact our results of operations and financial condition.

Our ability to seek and enforce legal protections, including with respect to intellectual property and other property rights, or to defend ourselves with regard to legal actions taken against us in a given country, may be difficult or impossible, which could adversely impact our operations, assets or financial condition.

Rules and regulations in many countries are often ambiguous or open to differing interpretation by responsible individuals and agencies at the municipal, state, regional and federal levels. The attitudes and actions of such individuals and agencies are often difficult to predict and inconsistent.

Delay with respect to the enforcement of particular rules and regulations, including those relating to customs, tax, environmental and labor, could cause serious disruption to operations abroad and negatively impact our results.

If we effect a business combination with a company located outside of the United States, the laws applicable to such company will likely govern all of our material agreements and we may not be able to enforce our legal rights.

If we effect a business combination with a company located outside of the United States, the laws of the country in which such company operates will govern almost all of the material agreements relating to its operations. We cannot assure you that the target business will be able to enforce any of its material agreements or that remedies will be available in this new jurisdiction. The system of laws and the enforcement of existing laws in such jurisdiction may not be as certain in implementation and interpretation as in the United States. The inability to enforce or obtain a remedy under any of our future agreements could result in a significant loss of business, business opportunities or capital. Additionally, if we acquire a company located outside of the United States, it is likely that substantially all of our assets would be located outside of the United States and some of our officers and directors might reside outside of the United States. As a result, it may not be possible for investors in the United States to enforce their legal rights, to effect service of process upon our directors or officers or to enforce judgments of United States courts predicated upon civil liabilities and criminal penalties of our directors and officers under Federal securities laws.

If relations between the United States and foreign governments deteriorate, it could cause potential target businesses or their goods and services to become less attractive.

The relationship between the United States and foreign governments could be subject to sudden fluctuation and periodic tension. For instance, the United States may announce its intention to impose quotas on certain imports. Such import quotas may adversely affect political relations between the two countries and result in retaliatory countermeasures by the foreign government in industries that may affect our ultimate target business. Changes in political conditions in foreign countries and changes in the state of U.S. relations with such countries are difficult to predict and could adversely affect our operations or cause potential target businesses or their goods and services to become less attractive. Because we are not limited to any specific industry, there is no basis for investors in this offering to evaluate the possible extent of any impact on our ultimate operations if relations are strained between the United States and a foreign country in which we acquire a target business or move our principal manufacturing or service operations.

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If any dividend is declared in the future and paid in a foreign currency, you may be taxed on a larger amount in U.S.

If you are a U.S. holder of our ordinary shares, you will be taxed on the U.S. dollar value of your dividends, if any, at the time you receive them, even if you actually receive a smaller amount of U.S. dollars when the payment is in fact converted into U.S. dollars. Specifically, if a dividend is declared and paid in a foreign currency, the amount of the dividend distribution that you must include in your income as a U.S. holder will be the U.S. dollar value of the payments made in the foreign currency, determined at the spot rate of the foreign currency to the U.S. dollar on the date the dividend distribution is includible in your income, regardless of whether the payment is in fact converted into U.S. dollars. Thus, if the value of the foreign currency decreases before you actually convert the currency into U.S. dollars, you will be taxed on a larger amount in U.S. dollars than the U.S. dollar amount that you will actually ultimately receive.

If our management following our initial business combination is unfamiliar with United States securities laws, they may have to expend time and resources becoming familiar with such laws, which could lead to various regulatory issues.

Following our initial business combination, certain members of our management team will likely resign from their positions as officers or directors of the company and the management of the target business at the time of the business combination will remain in place. Management of the target business may not be familiar with United States securities laws. If new management is unfamiliar with our laws, they may have to expend time and resources becoming familiar with such laws. This could be expensive and time-consuming and could lead to various regulatory issues, which may adversely affect our operations.

After our initial business combination, substantially all of our assets may be located in a foreign country and substantially all of our revenue may be derived from our operations in such country. Accordingly, our results of operations and prospects will be subject, to a significant extent, to the economic, political and legal policies, developments and conditions in the country in which we operate.

The economic, political and social conditions, as well as government policies, of the country in which our operations are located could affect our business. The economy in China differs from the economies of most developed countries in many respects. Economic growth has been uneven, both geographically and among various sectors of the economy and such growth may not be sustained in the future. If in the future such country’s economy experiences a downturn or grows at a slower rate than expected, there may be less demand for spending in certain industries. A decrease in demand for spending in certain industries could materially and adversely affect our ability to find an attractive target business with which to consummate our initial business combination and if we effect our initial business combination, the ability of that target business to become profitable.

Currency policies may cause a target business’ ability to succeed in the international markets to be diminished.

In the event we acquire a non-U.S. target, all revenues and income would likely be received in a foreign currency, the dollar equivalent of our net assets and distributions, if any, could be adversely affected by reductions in the value of the local currency. The value of the currencies in our target regions fluctuate and are affected by, among other things, changes in political and economic conditions. Any change in the relative value of such currency against our reporting currency may affect the attractiveness of any target business or, following consummation of our initial business combination, our financial condition and results of operations. Additionally, if a currency appreciates in value against the dollar prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, the cost of a target business as measured in dollars will increase, which may make it less likely that we are able to consummate such transaction.

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The statements contained in this prospectus that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our or our management’s expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipates,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predicts,” “project,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements in this prospectus may include, for example, statements about our:

•        ability to identify or complete an initial business combination;

•        limited operating history;

•        success in retaining or recruiting, or changes required in, our officers, key employees or directors following our initial business combination;

•        potential ability to obtain additional financing to complete a business combination;

•        pool of prospective target businesses;

•        the ability of our officers and directors to generate potential investment opportunities;

•        potential change in control if we acquire one or more target businesses for shares;

•        our public securities’ potential liquidity and trading;

•        regulatory or operational risks associated with acquiring a target business;

•        use of proceeds not held in the trust account;

•        financial performance following this offering; or

•        listing or delisting of our securities from Nasdaq or the ability to have our securities listed on Nasdaq following our initial business combination.

The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on us. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be those that we have anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those factors described under the heading “Risk Factors.” Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

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ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES

We are a company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands and administered from outside the United States, and a majority of our assets will be located outside the United States. Our U.S. agent for service of process is [___]. However, it may be difficult for investors to effect service of process on us or our officers or directors within the United States in a way that will permit a U.S. court to have jurisdiction over us.

Our corporate affairs will be governed by our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Companies Act, and the common law of the Cayman Islands. The rights of shareholders to take action against the directors, actions by minority shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors to us under Cayman Islands law are to a large extent governed by the common law of the Cayman Islands. The common law of the Cayman Islands is derived in part from comparatively limited judicial precedent in the Cayman Islands, as well as from English common law, the decisions of whose courts are considered persuasive authority but are not binding on a court in the Cayman Islands. The rights of our shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors under Cayman Islands law are not as clearly established as they would be under statutes or judicial precedent in some jurisdictions in the United States. In particular, the Cayman Islands has a different body of securities laws as compared to the United States, and some states, such as Delaware, have more fully developed and judicially interpreted bodies of corporate law. In addition, Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to initiate a shareholder derivative action in a federal court of the United States.

There is uncertainty as to whether the Cayman Islands courts would:

•        recognize or enforce against us judgments of U.S. courts based on certain civil liability provisions of U.S. securities laws; and

•        entertain original actions brought in the Cayman Islands against us or our directors or officers predicated upon the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States.

We have been advised by Ogier, our Cayman Islands counsel, that there is uncertainty with regard to Cayman Islands law related to whether a judgment obtained from the U.S. courts under civil liability provisions of U.S. securities laws will be determined by the courts of the Cayman Islands as penal or punitive in nature. If such determination is made, the courts of the Cayman Islands will not recognize or enforce the judgment against a Cayman Islands company, such as our company. As the courts of the Cayman Islands have yet to rule on making such a determination in relation to judgments obtained from U.S. courts under civil liability provisions of U.S. securities laws, it is uncertain whether such judgments would be enforceable in the Cayman Islands. We have been further advised that although there is no statutory enforcement in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the United States, a judgment obtained in such jurisdiction will be recognized and enforced in the courts of the Cayman Islands at common law, without any re-examination of the merits of the underlying dispute, by an action commenced on the foreign judgment debt in the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands, provided such judgment:

(a)     is given by a foreign court of competent jurisdiction;

(b)    imposes on the judgment debtor a liability to pay a liquidated sum for which the judgment has been given;

(c)     is final;

(d)    is not in respect of taxes, a fine or a penalty; and

(e)     was not obtained by fraud; and

(f)     is not of a kind the enforcement of which is contrary to natural justice or the public policy of the Cayman Islands. 

Subject to the above limitations, in appropriate circumstances, a Cayman Islands court may give effect in the Cayman Islands to other kinds of final foreign judgments such as declaratory orders, orders for performance of contracts and injunctions.

As a result of all of the above, public shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of actions taken by management, members of the board of directors or controlling shareholders than they would as public shareholders of a U.S. company.

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We estimate that the net proceeds of this offering, in addition to the funds we will receive from the sale of the private units (all of which will be deposited into the trust account), will be as set forth in the following table:

 

Without
Over-Allotment
Option

 

Over-Allotment
Option
Exercised

Gross proceeds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From offering

 

$

50,000,000

 

 

$

57,500,000

 

From private placement

 

 

3,100,000

 

 

 

3,325,000

 

Total gross proceeds

 

$

53,100,000

 

 

$

60,825,000

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Offering expenses(1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-contingent underwriting discount (2.0% of gross proceeds from offering, which excludes the deferred underwriting discounts and commissions of 3.5% of gross proceeds from offering)

 

$

1,000,000

(2)

 

$

1,150,000

(2)

Underwriters expenses (due diligence, background checks, out of pocket)

 

 

125,000

 

 

 

125,000

 

Initial Trustee’s fee

 

 

20,000

 

 

 

20,000

 

Legal fees and expenses

 

 

245,000

 

 

 

245,000

 

Nasdaq listing fee

 

 

75,000

 

 

 

75,000

 

Printing and engraving expenses

 

 

40,000

 

 

 

40,000

 

Accounting fees and expenses

 

 

53,000

 

 

 

53,000

 

FINRA filing fee

 

 

15,469

 

 

 

15,469

 

SEC registration fee

 

 

12,732

 

 

 

12,732

 

Directors and officers insurance

 

 

282,000

 

 

 

282,000

 

Miscellaneous expenses

 

 

31,799

 

 

 

31,799

 

Total offering expenses (not including deferred underwriting discounts and commissions)

 

$

900,000

 

 

$

900,000

 

Net proceeds of the offering and private placement

 

$

51,200,000

 

 

$

58,775,000

 

Held in trust

 

$

50,500,000

(3)

 

$

58,075,000

(3)

% of public offering size

 

 

101

%

 

 

101

%

Not held in trust account

 

$

700,000

 

 

$

700,000

 

The following table shows the use of the approximately $700,000 of net proceeds not held in trust.(4)

Legal, accounting and other third party expenses attendant to the search for target businesses and to the due diligence investigation, structuring and negotiation of a business combination

 

$

400,000

 

57.14

%

Legal and accounting fees relating to SEC reporting obligations

 

 

100,000

 

14.29

%

Payment for office space, utilities, administrative and support services(5)

 

 

120,000

 

17.14

%

Working capital to cover miscellaneous expenses

 

 

80,000

 

11.43

%

Total

 

$

700,000

 

100.00

%

____________

(1)      A portion of the offering expenses, including the SEC registration fee, the FINRA filing fee, the non-refundable portion of the Nasdaq listing fee and a portion of the legal and audit fees, have been paid from the funds we borrowed from our sponsor. These funds will be repaid out of the proceeds of this offering available to us. If we determine not to proceed with the offering, such amounts would not be repaid.

(2)      No discounts or commissions will be paid with respect to the purchase of the private units.

(3)      The funds held in the trust account may, but need not, be used to pay our expenses relating to completing our initial business combination, including deferred underwriting discounts and commissions payable to the representative in an amount of 3.5% of the total gross proceeds raised in the offering described below.

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(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.

(5)      $120,000 (or $210,000, as applicable) for office space, utilities, administrative and support services payments, being $10,000 per month for up to 12 months (or 21 months, as applicable). 

Our sponsor has agreed to purchase an aggregate of 310,000 private units at a price of $10.00 per private unit ($3,100,000 in the aggregate) or, if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full, 332,500 private units at a price of $10.00 per private unit ($3,325,000 in the aggregate), in a private placement that will occur simultaneously with the closing of this offering. A portion of the proceeds we receive from these purchases will be placed in the trust account described below.

$50,500,000, or $58,075,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full, of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units will be placed in an account at Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas in the United States, maintained by American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, New York, New York, as trustee. Pursuant to the investment management trust agreement that will govern the investment of such funds, the trustee, upon our written instructions, will direct Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas to invest the funds as set forth in such written instructions and to custody the funds while invested and until otherwise instructed in accordance with the investment management trust agreement. The funds held in trust will be invested only in United States government treasury bills, bonds or notes having a maturity of 185 days or less, or in money market funds meeting the applicable conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act and that invest solely in United States government treasuries, so that we are not deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act. Except with respect to interest earned on the funds held in the trust account that may be released to us to pay our income or other tax obligations, the proceeds will not be released from the trust account until the earlier of the completion of a business combination or our liquidation. The proceeds held in the trust account may be used as consideration to pay the sellers of a target business with which we complete a business combination to the extent not used to pay converting shareholders. Any amounts not paid as consideration to the sellers of the target business may be used to finance operations of the target business.

The payment to an affiliate of our sponsor of a monthly fee of $10,000 is for general and administrative services including office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support. However, pursuant to the terms of such agreement, we may delay payment of such monthly fee upon a determination by our audit committee that we lack sufficient funds held outside the trust to pay actual or anticipated expenses in connection with our initial business combination. Any such unpaid amount will accrue without interest and be due and payable no later than the date of the consummation of our initial business combination. We believe that the fee charged by an affiliate of our sponsor is at least as favorable as we could have obtained from an unaffiliated person. This arrangement will terminate upon completion of our initial business combination or the distribution of the trust account to our public shareholders. Other than the $10,000 per month fee, no compensation of any kind (including finder’s, consulting or other similar fees) will be paid to any of our executive officers, directors, shareholders, or any of their affiliates, prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate, the consummation of the business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is). However, such individuals will receive reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with activities on our behalf, such as identifying potential target businesses, performing business due diligence on suitable target businesses and business combinations as well as traveling to and from the offices, plants or similar locations of prospective target businesses to examine their operations. Since the role of present management after a business combination is uncertain, we have no ability to determine what remuneration, if any, will be paid to those persons after a business combination.

Regardless of whether the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full, the net proceeds from this offering available to us out of trust for our working capital requirements in searching for a business combination will be approximately $700,000. We intend to use the excess working capital available for miscellaneous expenses such as paying fees to consultants to assist us with our search for a target business and for director and officer liability insurance premiums, with the balance being held in reserve in the event due diligence, legal, accounting and other

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expenses of structuring and negotiating business combinations exceed our estimates, as well as for reimbursement of any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by our initial shareholders, officers and directors in connection with activities on our behalf as described above. We will also be entitled to have interest earned on the funds held in the trust account released to us to pay any tax obligations that we may owe.

The allocation of the net proceeds available to us outside of the trust account, along with the interest earned on the funds held in the trust account available to us, represents our best estimate of the intended uses of these funds. In the event that our assumptions prove to be inaccurate, we may reallocate some of such proceeds within the above described categories. If our estimate of the costs of undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating our initial business combination is less than the actual amount necessary to do so, or the amount of interest available from the trust account is insufficient as a result of the current low interest rate environment, we may be required to raise additional capital, the amount, availability and cost of which is currently unascertainable. In this event, we could seek such additional capital through loans or additional investments from members of our management team, but such members of our management team are not under any obligation to advance funds to, or invest in, us.

We will likely use a substantial portion of the net proceeds of this offering, including the funds held in the trust account, to acquire a target business, to pay holders who wish to convert or sell their shares to us for a portion of the funds held in the trust account and to pay our expenses relating thereto. If the payment of our liabilities, including the deferred underwriting discounts and commissions payable to the representative in an amount equal to 3.5% of the total gross proceeds raised in the offering, were to reduce the amount available to us in trust necessary to pay all holders who wish to convert or sell their shares to us for a portion of the funds held in the trust account, we would not be able to consummate such transaction. To the extent that our share capital is used in whole or in part as consideration to effect a business combination, the proceeds held in the trust account which are not used to consummate a business combination, to pay holders who wish to convert their shares into a portion of the funds held in the trust account or pay our expenses relating thereto will be disbursed to the combined company and will, along with any other net proceeds not expended, be used as working capital to finance the operations of the target business. Such working capital funds could be used in a variety of ways including continuing or expanding the target business’ operations, for strategic acquisitions and for marketing, research and development of existing or new products.

To the extent we are unable to consummate a business combination, we will pay the costs of liquidating our trust account from our remaining assets outside of the trust account. If such funds are insufficient, our sponsor has contractually agreed to advance us the funds necessary to complete such liquidation (currently anticipated to be no more than approximately $50,000) and has contractually agreed not to seek repayment for such expenses. 

As of April 20, 2021, our sponsor has agreed to loan to us an aggregate of $300,000 to be used to pay formation and a portion of the expenses of this offering. The loan is payable without interest on the date on which we consummate our initial public offering. If we determine not to proceed with the offering, such amounts would not be repaid.

In order to meet our working capital needs following the consummation of this offering until completion of an initial business combination, our initial shareholders, officers and directors or their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds, from time to time or at any time, in whatever amount they deem reasonable in their sole discretion. The notes would either be paid upon consummation of our initial business combination, without interest, or, at the lender’s discretion, up to $1,000,000 of the notes may be converted upon consummation of our business combination into private units at a price of $10.00 per unit (which, for example, would result in the holders being issued units to acquire 110,000 ordinary shares (which includes 10,000 shares issuable upon redemption of rights) and warrants to purchase 50,000 ordinary shares if $1,000,000 of notes were so converted). If we do not complete our initial business combination, the loans would be repaid out of funds not held in the trust account, and only to the extent available. These notes would be in addition to any notes we issued in exchange for the funds necessary to extend our life.

A public shareholder will be entitled to receive funds from the trust account (including interest earned on his, her or its portion of the trust account to the extent not previously released to us to pay our tax obligations) only in the event of (i) our liquidation if we have not completed a business combination within the required time period or (ii) if that public shareholder converts such public shares or sells them to us in a tender offer in each case in connection with a business combination which we consummate or in connection with an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association prior to the consummation of an initial business combination. In no other circumstances will a public shareholder have any right or interest of any kind to or in the trust account.

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DIVIDEND POLICY

We have not paid any cash dividends on our ordinary shares to date and do not intend to pay cash dividends prior to the completion of an initial business combination. The payment of cash dividends in the future will be dependent upon our revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements and general financial condition subsequent to completion of a business combination. The payment of any dividends subsequent to a business combination will be within the discretion of our board of directors at such time. It is the present intention of our board of directors to retain all earnings, if any, for use in our business operations and, accordingly, our board of directors does not anticipate declaring any dividends in the foreseeable future. In addition, our board of directors is not currently contemplating and does not anticipate declaring any share capitalizations in the foreseeable future, except if we increase the size of the offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, in which case we will effect a share capitalizations immediately prior to the consummation of the offering in such amount as to maintain our initial shareholders’ ownership at 20% of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares upon the consummation of this offering (excluding ownership of the private units). Further, if we incur any indebtedness, our ability to declare dividends may be limited by restrictive covenants we may agree to in connection therewith.

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DILUTION

The difference between the public offering price per share, assuming no value is attributed to the redeemable warrants included in the units we are offering by this prospectus and included in the private units, and the pro forma net tangible book value per share 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 warrants. Net tangible book value per share is determined by dividing our net tangible book value, which is our total tangible assets less total liabilities by the number of issued and outstanding ordinary shares.

At April 22, 2021, our net tangible book value was a deficit of $52,307 or approximately $(0.04) per share. For purposes of the dilution calculation, in order to present the maximum estimated dilution as a result of this offering, we have assumed (i) the issuance of 0.1 of a share for each right outstanding, as such issuance will occur upon a business combination without the payment of additional consideration and (ii) the number of shares included in the units offered hereby will be deemed to be 5,500,000 (consisting of 5,000,000 shares included in the units we are offering by this prospectus and 500,000 shares for the outstanding rights), and the price per share in this offering will be deemed to be $9.09. After giving effect to the sale of 5,500,000 ordinary shares (or 6,325,000 ordinary shares assuming the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) included in the units we are offering by this prospectus, the deduction of underwriting discounts and estimated expenses of this offering and the sale of 341,000 ordinary shares (consisting of 310,000 ordinary shares included in the private units and 31,000 shares for the outstanding rights) (or 365,750 ordinary shares assuming the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) included in the private units, our pro forma net tangible book value at April 22, 2021 would have been $5,000,004 or $1.86 (or $1.67 assuming the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) per share, representing an immediate increase in net tangible book value of $1.90 (or $1.71 assuming the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) per share to the initial shareholders and an immediate dilution of 79.54% per share or $7.23 per share (or 81.63% per share or $7.42 assuming the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) to new investors not exercising their redemption rights. For purposes of presentation, our pro forma net tangible book value after this offering is $44,471,119 (or $51,783,620 assuming the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) less than it otherwise would have been because, if we effect a business combination, the ability of public shareholders to exercise redemption rights or sell their shares to us in any tender offer may result in the redemption of up to 4,403,081 shares (or 5,127,091 shares assuming the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) sold in this offering.

The following table illustrates the dilution to the new investors on a per-share basis, assuming no value is attributed to the redeemable warrants, including the private warrants:

 

Without
Over-
allotment

 

With
Over-
allotment

Public offering price

 

$

9.09

 

 

$

9.09

 

Net tangible book value before this offering

 

$

(0.04

)

 

 

(0.04

)

Increase attributable to new investors and private sales

 

 

1.90

 

 

 

1.71

 

Pro forma net tangible book value after this offering

 

 

1.86

 

 

 

1.67

 

Dilution to new investors

 

$

7.23

 

 

$

7.42

 

Percentage of dilution to new investors

 

 

79.54

%

 

 

81.63

%

The following table sets forth information with respect to our initial shareholders and the new investors:

 

Shares Purchased

 

Total Consideration

 

Average
Price
Per Share

   

Number

 

Percentage

 

Amount

 

Percentage

 

Initial shareholders(1)

 

1,250,000

 

17.63

%

 

$

25,000

 

0.05

%

 

$

0.02

Shares underlying private units(2)

 

341,000

 

4.81

%

 

$

3,100,000

 

5.83

%

 

$

9.09

New investors(3)

 

5,500,000

 

77.56

%

 

$

50,000,000

 

94.12

%

 

$

9.09

   

7,091,000

 

100

%

 

$

53,125,000

 

100

%

 

 

 

____________

(1)      Assumes the underwriters’ over-allotment option has not been exercised and an aggregate of 187,500 ordinary shares held by our initial shareholders have been forfeited as a result thereof.

(2)      Includes the issuance of an additional 31,000 shares underlying the rights contained in the private units.

(3)      Includes the issuance of an additional 500,000 shares underlying the rights contained in the units purchased by the new investors.

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The pro forma net tangible book value after the offering is calculated as follows:

 

Without
Over-allotment

 

With
Over-allotment

Numerator:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net tangible book value before this offering

 

$

(52,307

)

 

$

(52,307

)

Offering costs paid in advance

 

$

73,330

 

 

$

73,330

 

Net proceeds from this offering and private placement of private units

 

$

51,200,000

 

 

$

58,775,000

 

Proceeds from unit purchase option

 

$

100

 

 

$

100

 

Less: Deferred underwriting discounts and commissions(1)

 

$

(1,750,000

)

 

$

(2,012,500

)

Less: Proceeds held in trust subject to redemption

 

$

(44,471,119

)

 

$

(51,783,620

)

   

$

5,000,004

 

 

$

5,000,003

 

Denominator:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ordinary shares issued and outstanding prior to this offering

 

 

1,250,000

 

 

 

1,437,500

 

Ordinary shares to be sold in this offering

 

 

5,000,000

 

 

 

5,750,000

 

Ordinary shares underlying the rights to be included in the public units

 

 

500,000

 

 

 

575,000

 

Ordinary shares included in the private units

 

 

310,000

 

 

 

332,500

 

Ordinary shares underlying the rights to be included in the private units

 

 

31,000

 

 

 

33,250

 

Less: Shares subject to redemption

 

 

(4,403,081

)

 

 

(5,127,091

)

   

 

2,687,919

 

 

 

3,001,159

 

____________

(1)      Deferred underwriting discounts and commission of 3.5%.

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our capitalization at April 22, 2021 and as adjusted to give effect to the sale of our units and the private units and the application of the estimated net proceeds derived from the sale of such securities.

 

As at April 22, 2021

   

Actual

 

As
Adjusted
(1)

Promissory Note – related party(2)

 

$

23,330

 

 

$

0

 

Deferred underwriting discounts and commission payable

 

 

 

 

 

1,750,000

 

Ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value, and 4,403,081 shares are subject to possible redemption, as adjusted

 

 

 

 

 

44,471,119

(4)

Ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized, 1,473,500 shares issued and outstanding as of April 22, 2021; 2,156,919 shares issued and outstanding(3), as adjusted

 

 

144

 

 

 

216

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

24,856

 

 

 

5,003,765

 

Accumulated deficit

 

 

(3,977

)

 

 

(3,977

)

Total shareholders’ equity

 

 

21,023

 

 

 

5,000,004

 

Total capitalization

 

$

44,353

 

 

$

51,221,123

(5)

____________

(1)      Includes the $3,100,000 we will receive from the sale of the private units and assumes the underwriters’ over-allotment option has not been exercised.

(2)      As of April 22, 2021, the sponsor had loaned to us an aggregate of $23,330 to be used to pay formation and a portion of the expenses of this offering. The loan is payable without interest on the date on which we consummate our initial public offering.

(3)      Assumes the underwriters’ over-allotment option has not been exercised and an aggregate of 187,500 ordinary shares held by our initial shareholders have been forfeited as a result thereof. Includes 310,000 shares underlying the private units to be purchased by our sponsor concurrent with this offering.

(4)      Derived by taking 4,403,081 shares which may be redeemed, representing the maximum number of shares that may be converted while maintaining at least $5,000,001 in net tangible assets after the offering, multiplied by $10.00.

(5)      Derived by adding deferred underwriting discounts and commission payable, total shareholders’ equity and the value of ordinary shares subject to possible redemption.

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

We are a blank check company incorporated in the Cayman Islands on April 15, 2021 as an exempted company with limited liability (meaning our public shareholders have no liability, as shareholders of the Company, for the liabilities of the Company over and above the amount paid for their shares) to serve as a vehicle to effect a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more target businesses. Our efforts to identify a prospective target business will not be limited to a particular industry or geographic location. We intend to utilize cash derived from the proceeds of this offering, our securities, debt or a combination of cash, securities and debt, in effecting a business combination. The issuance of additional ordinary shares or preferred shares:

•        may significantly reduce the equity interest of our shareholders;

•        may subordinate the rights of holders of ordinary shares if we issue preferred shares with rights senior to those afforded to our ordinary shares;

•        will likely cause a change in control if a substantial number of our ordinary shares are issued, which may affect, among other things, our ability to use our net operating loss carry forwards, if any, and most likely will also result in the resignation or removal of our present officers and directors;

•        may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control of us by diluting the share ownership or voting rights of a person seeking to obtain control of us; and

•        may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our securities.

Similarly, if we issue debt securities, it could result in:

•        default and foreclosure on our assets if our operating revenues after a business combination are insufficient to pay our debt obligations;

•        acceleration of our obligations to repay the indebtedness even if we have made all principal and interest payments when due if the debt security contains covenants that required the maintenance of certain financial ratios or reserves and we breach any such covenant without a waiver or renegotiation of that covenant;

•        our immediate payment of all principal and accrued interest, if any, if the debt security is payable on demand;

•        our inability to obtain additional financing, if necessary, if the debt security contains covenants restricting our ability to obtain additional financing while such security is outstanding;

•        our inability to pay dividends on our ordinary shares;

•        using a substantial portion of our cash flow to pay principal and interest on our debt, which will reduce the funds available for dividends on our ordinary shares if declared, expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes;

•        limitations on our flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in our business and in the industry in which we operate;

•        Increased vulnerability to adverse changes in general economic, industry and competitive conditions and adverse changes in government regulation; and

•        limitations on our ability to borrow additional amounts for expenses, capital expenditures, acquisitions, debt service requirements, execution of our strategy and other purposes and other disadvantages compared to our competitors who have less debt

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

As indicated in the accompanying financial statements, at April 22, 2021, we had no cash and a working capital deficit of $52,307. Further, we have incurred and expect to continue to incur significant costs in pursuit of our financing and acquisition plans. Management’s plans to address this uncertainty through this offering are discussed above. Our plans to raise capital or to consummate our initial business combination may not be successful. These factors, among others, raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.

Our liquidity needs have been satisfied to date through receipt of $25,000 from the sale of the insider shares and a loan from our sponsor, in an aggregate amount of approximately $300,000 that is more fully described below. We estimate that the net proceeds from (1) the sale of the units in this offering, after deducting offering expenses of approximately $1,000,000 and underwriting discounts and commissions of $1,000,000 (or $1,150,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) (not including the deferred underwriting discounts and commissions) and (2) the sale of the private units for a purchase price of $3,100,000 (or $3,325,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) (including the deferred underwriting discounts and commissions) will be held in the trust account. Of this amount, $50,500,000 (or $58,075,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be held in the trust account. The remaining $700,000 will not be held in the trust account.

We intend to use substantially all of the net proceeds of this offering, including the funds held in the trust account, to acquire a target business or businesses and to pay our expenses relating thereto, including deferred underwriting discounts and commissions payable to the representative in an amount equal to 3.5% of the total gross proceeds raised in the offering upon consummation of our initial business combination. To the extent that our share capital is used in whole or in part as consideration to effect our initial business combination, the remaining proceeds held in the trust account as well as any other net proceeds not expended will be used as working capital to finance the operations of the target business. Such working capital funds could be used in a variety of ways including continuing or expanding the target business’ operations, for strategic acquisitions and for marketing, research and development of existing or new products. Such funds could also be used to repay any operating expenses or finders’ fees which we had incurred prior to the completion of our initial business combination if the funds available to us outside of the trust account were insufficient to cover such expenses.

Over the next 12 months (or up to 21 months if the time to complete a business combination has been extended), assuming a business combination is not consummated prior thereto, we will be using the funds held outside of the trust account for identifying and evaluating prospective acquisition candidates, performing business due diligence on prospective target businesses, traveling to and from the offices, plants or similar locations of prospective target businesses, reviewing corporate documents and material agreements of prospective target businesses, selecting the target business to acquire and structuring, negotiating and consummating the business combination. Out of the funds available outside the trust account, we anticipate that we will incur approximately:

•        $400,000 of expenses for the search for target businesses and for the legal, accounting and other third-party expenses attendant to the due diligence investigations, structuring and negotiating of a business combination;

•        $100,000 of expenses in legal and accounting fees relating to our SEC reporting obligations;

•        $120,000 (or $210,000, as applicable) for office space, utilities, administrative and support services payments (being $10,000 per month for up to 12 months or 21 months, as applicable); and

•        $80,000 for general working capital that will be used for miscellaneous expenses.

If our estimates of the costs of undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating our initial business combination is less than the actual amount necessary to do so, or the amount of interest available to us from the trust account is less than we expect as a result of the current interest rate environment, we may have insufficient funds available to operate our business prior to our initial business combination. Moreover, we may need to obtain additional financing either to consummate our initial business combination or because we become obligated to redeem a significant number of our public shares upon consummation of our initial business combination, in which case we may issue additional securities or incur debt in connection with such business combination. Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, we would only consummate such financing simultaneously with the consummation of our initial business combination. Following our initial business combination, if cash on hand is insufficient, we may need to obtain additional financing in order to meet our obligations.

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Related Party Transactions

In April 2021, the Company issued 1,437,500 ordinary shares resulting in an aggregate of 1,437,500 ordinary shares outstanding, which we refer to throughout this prospectus as the “insider shares,” for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or approximately $0.017 per share.

Prior to the consummation of this offering, our sponsor has agreed to loan us up to $300,000 to be used for a portion of the expenses of this offering. These loans are non-interest bearing, unsecured and are due at the earlier of December 31, 2021 or the closing of this offering. As of April 22, 2021, our sponsor loaned to us an aggregate of $23,330. The loans will be repaid out of the proceeds of this offering not being placed in the trust account.

We are obligated, commencing on the date of this prospectus, to pay to an affiliate of our sponsor a total of $10,000 per month for office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support. Upon completion of our initial business combination or our liquidation, we will cease paying these monthly fees.

Our sponsor has committed to purchase from us an aggregate of 310,000 private units (332,500 private units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), at $10.00 per private unit (for a total purchase price of $3,100,000, or $3,325,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) which will be purchased in a private placement to occur simultaneously with the closing of this offering.

If needed to finance transaction costs in connection with searching for a target business or consummating an intended initial business combination, our initial shareholders, officers, directors or their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds as may be required. In the event that the initial business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts, but no proceeds from our trust account would be used for such repayment. Such loans would be evidenced by promissory notes. The notes would either be paid upon consummation of our initial business combination, without interest, or, at the lender’s discretion, up to $1,000,000 of the notes may be converted upon consummation of our business combination into private units at a price of $10.00 per unit (which, for example, would result in the holders being issued units to acquire 110,000 ordinary shares (which includes 10,000 shares issuable upon redemption of rights) and warrants to purchase 50,000 ordinary shares if $1,000,000 of notes were so converted). The units would be identical to the placement units. Other than as described above, the terms of such loans by our officers and directors, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans.

Deferred Offering Costs

Deferred offering costs consist of underwriting, legal, accounting and other expenses incurred through the balance sheet date that are directly related to the Proposed Offering and that will be charged to shareholder’s equity upon the completion of the Proposed Offering. Should the Proposed Offering prove to be unsuccessful, these deferred costs, as well as additional expenses incurred, will be charged to operations.

Controls and Procedures

We are not currently required to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting as defined by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. We will be required to comply with the internal control over financial reporting requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not completed an assessment, nor have our auditors tested our systems, of internal controls over financial reporting. We expect to assess the internal control over financial reporting 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 control over financial reporting. A target business may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding the adequacy of internal control over financial reporting. Target businesses we may consider for our initial business combination may have internal control over financial reporting that need improvement in areas such as:

•        staffing for financial, accounting and external reporting areas, including segregation of duties;

•        reconciliation of accounts;

•        proper recording of expenses and liabilities in the period to which they relate;

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•        evidence of internal review and approval of accounting transactions;

•        documentation of processes, assumptions and conclusions underlying significant estimates; and

•        documentation of accounting policies and procedures.

As it will take time, management involvement and perhaps outside resources to determine what internal control improvements are necessary for us to meet regulatory requirements and market expectations for our operation of a target business, we may incur significant expense in meeting our public reporting responsibilities, particularly in the areas of designing, enhancing, or remediating internal and disclosure controls. Doing so effectively may also take longer than we expect, thus increasing our exposure to financial fraud or erroneous financing reporting.

Once our management’s report on internal control over financial reporting is complete, we will retain our independent auditors to audit and render an opinion on such report when, or if, required by Section 404. The independent auditors may identify additional issues concerning a target business’s internal control over financial reporting while performing their audit of internal control over financial reporting.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

The net proceeds of this offering, including amounts in the trust account, will be invested in United States government treasury bills, bonds or notes having a maturity of 185 days or less, or in money market funds meeting the applicable conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act and that invest solely in U.S. treasuries. Due to the short-term nature of these investments, we believe there will be no associated material exposure to interest rate risk.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements; Commitments and Contractual Obligations; Quarterly Results

As of the date of this prospectus, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of Regulation S-K and did not have any commitments or contractual obligations. No unaudited quarterly operating data is included in this prospectus as we have not conducted any operations to date.

Risks and Uncertainties

Management continues to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and has concluded that while it is reasonably possible that the virus could have a negative effect on the Company’s financial position, results of its operations and/or search for a target company, 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.

Registration Rights

The holders of the Founder Shares, Private Placement Units (and their underlying securities) and any Units that may be issued upon conversion of the Working Capital Loans (and underlying securities) will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration rights agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of the Proposed Offering requiring the Company to register such securities for resale. The holders of these securities are entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form demands, that the Company register such securities. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the completion of a Business Combination and rights to require the Company to register for resale such securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. The Company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.

Unit Purchase Option

The Company agreed to sell to Maxim Group LLC, the underwriter and/or its designees, at the time of the closing of the Proposed Public Offering for $100, an option to purchase up to a total of 250,000 units (or up to 287,500 units if over-allotment option is exercised in full) exercisable, in whole or in part, at $11.00 per unit. The units will be exercisable at any time, in whole or in part, between the first and fifth anniversary dates commencing after the date that the registration statement is declared effective by the SEC. The units issuable upon exercise of this option are identical to those offered in the prospectus, subject to compliance with FINRA Rule 5110.

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Underwriter Agreement

The Company will grant the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to 750,000 Units (over and above 5,000,000 units referred to above) solely to cover over-allotments at the Proposed Offering price, less the underwriting discounts and commissions.

The underwriters will be entitled to a cash underwriting discount of 5.5% of the gross proceeds of the Proposed Public Offering, of which 2% will be paid at the closing of the Proposed Public Offering and the remaining balance will be deferred until the closing of the initial business combination.

Professional fee

The Company has promised to pay Loeb & Loeb, LLP professional fees of $225,000 upon the IPO closing, $500,000 after the business combination, and $4,000 per month for Exchange Act Filings until the business combination is completed or the SPAC unwind.

No unaudited quarterly operating data is included in this prospectus as we have conducted no operations to date.

JOBS Act

On April 5, 2012, the JOBS Act was signed into law. The JOBS Act contains provisions that, among other things, relax certain reporting requirements for qualifying public companies. We will qualify as an “emerging growth company” and under the JOBS Act will be allowed to comply with new or revised accounting pronouncements based on the effective date for private (not publicly traded) companies. We are electing to delay the adoption of new or revised accounting standards, and as a result, we may not comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for non-emerging growth companies. As such, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with public company effective dates.

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, (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 auditor’s report 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 CEO’s compensation to median employee compensation. These exemptions will apply for a period of five years following the completion of this offering or until we are no longer an “emerging growth company,” whichever is earlier. Further, 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. As an emerging growth company, we have elected, under Section 107(b) of the JOBS Act, to take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards.

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PROPOSED BUSINESS

Introduction

We are a newly incorporated blank check company formed in the Cayman Islands as an exempted company with limited liability. As an exempted company, we have applied for and received a tax exemption undertaking from the Cayman Islands government that, in accordance with section 6 of the Tax Concessions Act (2018 Revision) of the Cayman Islands, for a period of 20 years from the date of the undertaking, no law which is enacted in the Cayman Islands imposing any tax to be levied on profits, income, gains or appreciations shall apply to us or our operations and, in addition, that no tax to be levied on profits, income, gains or appreciations or which is in the nature of estate duty or inheritance tax shall be payable (i) on or in respect of our shares, debentures or other obligations or (ii) by way of the withholding in whole or in part of a payment of dividend or other distribution of income or capital by us to our shareholders or a payment of principal or interest or other sums due under a debenture or other obligation of us. Our shareholders have no additional liability for the company’s liabilities over and above the amount paid for their shares. We were formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses, which we refer to throughout this prospectus as our initial business combination. Our efforts to identify a prospective target business will not be limited to a particular industry or geographic location. We do not have any specific business combination under consideration and we have not (nor has anyone on our behalf), directly or indirectly, contacted any prospective target business or had any substantive discussions, formal or otherwise, with respect to such a transaction.

Background and Competitive Strengths

We will seek to capitalize on the comprehensive experience and contacts of our executive officers and the board of directors in consummating an initial business combination. Our management team is comprised of Mr. Sze Hau Lee, our Chief Executive Officer, and Ms. Di Wu, our Chief Financial Officer, and our board of directors is comprised of Mr. Chunning Wang, Mr. Ngai Wong, Mr. Walter R. Cook, Mr. Chi Fai Choi, Mr. Boyu Xu and Mr. Feng Wu. Our management team brings a wealth of experience in identifying, negotiating with and conducting due diligence on potential candidates for acquisition. We believe our management team is well positioned to identify attractive risk-adjusted returns in the marketplace and that their professional contacts and transaction sources, ranging from industry executives, private owners, private equity funds, family offices, commercial and investment bankers, lawyers and other financial sector service providers and participants, in addition to the geographical reach of their affiliates, will enable us to pursue a broad range of opportunities. Upon the closing of this offering, members of our management team will communicate with these networks of relationships to articulate the parameters for our search for a target business and a potential business combination and begin the process of pursuing and reviewing promising leads. We believe we can source attractive deals and find compelling investment opportunities from private and public sources to create value for shareholders.

Leadership of an Experienced Management Team

Sze Hau Lee has been our Director and Chief Executive Officer since April 2021. Since June 2020, Mr. Lee has served as the Chief Financial Officer of Lion Group Holding Ltd. (Nasdaq: LGHL), or Lion, an online trading platform company. Prior thereto, he served as corporate finance director of Lion. From September 2017 to February 2019, Mr. Lee served as corporate finance director of Carnival Group International Holdings Limited (0996.HK), or Carnival, one of China’s leading operators of large-scale integrated tourism, hospitality and retail attractions. While working at Carnival, Mr. Lee was primarily responsible for leading, originating, structuring and executing financing transaction and providing investment advice to the management. From February 2017 to September 2017, Mr. Lee served as a manager of syndicated finance department at China Minsheng Banking Corporation Hong Kong Branch, or China Minsheng Hong Kong, a banking corporation. From April 2016 to February 2017, Mr. Lee served as a vice president of structured and leveraged finance department in Hengfeng Bank Shanghai Branch, or Hengfeng Bank Shanghai, a banking corporation. From January 2014 to April 2016, Mr. Lee served as an assistant manager of structured and leveraged finance department in China Minsheng Hong Kong. While working at China Minsheng Hong Kong and Hengfeng Bank Shanghai, Mr. Lee was primarily responsible for the origination, structure and execution of syndicated facilities as well as financing arrangements in large transactions. Some of Mr. Lee’s notable recent experience in creating value for shareholders include but are not limited to Mr. Lee’s involvement with Lion’s business combination with Proficient Alpha Acquisition Corporation. in May 2020 (“Lion’s Business Combination”), Lion’s entry into a securities purchase agreement as the seller and issuer with ATW Opportunities Master Fund, L.P as the purchaser

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for the issuance of debenture and warrants in December 2020 (“Lion’s 2020 ATW Transaction”), Lion’s entry into a securities purchase agreement as the seller and issuer with ATW Opportunities Master Fund, L.P as the purchaser for the issuance of preferred shares and warrants in December 2021 (“Lion’s 2021 ATW Transaction”), and Lion’s entry into a share subscription agreement as the subscriber with Grandshores Technology Group Limited as the issuer in March 2021 (“Lion’s Grandshores Transaction”). Mr. Lee received his bachelor’s degree in professional accountancy from The Chinese University of Hong Kong in August 2007. He has been a member of Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants since 2011.

Di Wu has been our chief financial officer since April 2021. Ms. Wu also joined Aquarius II Acquisition Corp. in May 2021 and has served as its chief financial officer since then. Since April 2021, Ms. Wu has served as the financial controller of Lion, and has been in charge of the accounting functions. From 2017 to 2021, Ms. Wu served as a manager of Albeck Financial Services Inc., a financial services company. From 2014 to 2016, Ms. Wu served as a senior auditor of Ernst & Young LLP, a public accounting company. From 2010 to 2014, Ms. Wu served as a senior auditor of GBH CPAs, a public accounting company. Ms. Wu received her bachelor’s degree in business administration and accounting and finance from Texas A&M University in 2010. Ms. Wu holds a CPA license issued by the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy since February 2017.

Chunning Wang has been our Director since April 2021. Mr. Wang also joined Aquarius II Acquisition Corp. in May 2021 and has served as its director since then. Since May 2019, Mr. Wang has served as the director and chief executive officer of Lion, and has been responsible for Lion’s fund raising activities. From October 2017 to March 2019, Mr. Wang served as the chief executive officer, director and vice chairman of the board at Carnival. From January 2016 to September 2017, Mr. Wang served as an assistant chief executive officer at Hengfeng Bank Shanghai, where he was responsible for corporate business. From October 2006 to December 2015, Mr. Wang served as a product manager in the head office of China Minsheng Banking Corporation Limited, a banking corporation, and was subsequently promoted to general manger in China Minsheng Hong Kong. While working at China Minsheng Hong Kong, he was primarily responsible for the bank’s overseas mergers and acquisition and other large-scale projects. Some of Mr. Wang’s notable recent experience in creating value for shareholders include but are not limited to Mr. Wang’s involvement with Lion’s Business Combination. Lion’s 2020 ATW Transaction, Lion’s 2021 ATW Transaction, and Lion’s Grandshores Transaction. Mr. Wang received his bachelor’s degree in Industrial Foreign Trade from International Business School of Hunan University in 2000, and obtained a master’s degree in management from The Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration of The University of British Columbia in 2005.

Ngai Wong has been our Director since April 2021. Mr. Wong also joined Aquarius II Acquisition Corp. in May 2021 and has served as its director since then. Mr. Wong has approximately 18 years of experience in finance. Mr. Wong is currently serving as the chief financial officer and the company secretary of Grandshroes Technology Group Limited (01647.HK), or Grandshores, a company engaged in integrated building services business and blockchain technology development and application business. Mr. Wong joined Grandshores as group financial controller in June 2018 and was promoted to chief financial officer and has served in that position since September 2019. From February 2017 to January 2018, Mr. Wong served as an associate director for the Group Internal Audit of Chiho Environmental Group Limited (00976.HK), a company engaged in the collecting, recycling, disassembling, sorting and processing of mixed metal scraps to recover reusable resources. From May 2014 to February 2017, Mr. Wong served as the Asia Pacific regional financial controller for international logistic business of G4S PLC (GFS.LON), a security and logistic services company. From 2011 to 2014, Mr. Wong served as the financial controller for the global sourcing office of ODP Corporation (Nasdaq: ODP), an office supply retail company. From 2009 to 2011, Mr. Wong served as the group financial controller of Adicon Clinical Laboratories Inc., a health care testing services company. Mr. Wong received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (Accounting) from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in 2003, and obtained a master’s degree in Corporate Governance from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 2016. Mr. Wong has been a fellow of The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants since June 2012 and a member of The Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants since March 2009. He is also an associate member of both The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators in the United Kingdom since August 2017 and The Hong Kong Institute of Chartered Secretaries since March 2017. Mr. Wong also obtained his estate agent’s license from Estate Agents Authority since January 2019.

Chi Fai Choi has been our independent director since April 2021. Mr. Choi also joined Aquarius II Acquisition Corp. in May 2021 and has served as its independent director since then. Since May 2020, Mr. Choi has served as an independent director of Lion. Since November 2018, Mr. Choi has served as the investment management department consultant of OCI International Holdings Limited (0329.HK), or OCI, an investment holding company principally engaged in securities trading and investments, trading of wines and provision of financial advisory services in the

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PRC. Mr. Choi is responsible for fund raising for general corporate purposes, setting up fund, and originating new potential investment opportunities to OCI. From March 2015 to December 2017, Mr. Choi served as an executive director of Rentian Technology Holdings Limited (0885.HK), a Hong Kong-based investment holding company principally engaged in Internet of Things (IoT) businesses. From May 2012 to March 2018, Mr. Choi served as the chief investment officer of Carnival. From July 2011 to July 2014, Mr. Choi served an independent non-executive director of Energy International Investments Holdings Limited (0353.HK), a company engaged in the leasing of port and storage facilities, insurance brokerage service and the oil production. From November 2007 to May 2012, Mr. Choi served as an associate director of CCB International Asset Management Limited, or CCBIAM, an asset management company. CCBIAM is ultimately controlled by China Construction Bank Corporation (0939.HK and CH.601939), a banking corporation. From April 2004 to October 2007, Mr. Choi served as a senior officer of Hutchison Whampoa Limited, an investment holding company. Mr. Choi received his bachelor’s degree of business administration in accounting from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in August 2000. Mr. Choi is a member of Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants since July 2004 and a fellow member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants since March 2009

Walter R. Cook has been our independent director since April 2021. Since July 2020, Mr. Cook has been an independent director of Lion. From June 2019 to June 2020, Mr. Cook served as a director of Proficient Alpha Acquisition Corporation. He has extensive experience in turnarounds, acquisitions, and start-up financial institutions. Since August 2016, Mr. Cook has been a Managing Director at Tangent Capital Partners, LLC, an investment bank serving investment advisors and asset managers, and provided critical expertise in roll out of The Community Development Fund (CDCDX), a CRA-qualified mutual fund for commercial banks to Dr. Kenneth H. Thomas, CDCDX’s adviser. From January 2015 to July 2016, he was an independent consultant. From January 2014 to December 2015, he was an expert witness providing expert opinions and trial testimony on lending and banking practices in Florida State Court and Federal bankruptcy Court in Boston, Massachusetts. From 2003 to 2010, Mr. Cook served as the chief executive officer and the chairman of the board of the Republic Federal Bancorp, Inc.. Mr. Cook received a master’s degree in business administration specializing in finance and marketing from Harvard University in 1982, a master’s degree in law and diplomacy from Tufts University in 1978 and a bachelor’s degree in political science & psychology from Duke University.

Boyu Xu has been our independent director since April 2021. Since June 2020, Mr. Xu served in the investment department of the Tsinghua Yangtze River Delta Research Institute. From February 2019 to June 2019, Mr. Xu served in the cross-border e-commerce department of NetEase Kaola, a company under Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE: BABA and 9988.HK), a technology company. From September 2017 to February 2019, Mr. Xu served as the general manager assistant of Guangxi Yixing Agricultural Science and Technology Development Co. Ltd, a company engaged in researching, developing, and manufacturing agriculture products. Mr. Xu received his bachelor’s degree in management science from The University of California San Diego in July 2017, and obtained a master’s degree in project management from Georgetown University in May 2020.

Feng Wu has been our independent director since April 2021. Mr. Wu also joined Aquarius II Acquisition Corp. in May 2021 and has served as its independent director since then. Since 2011, Mr. Wu has been general manager and a co-founder of Guangzhou Jianyi Investment Management Co., Ltd, an investment management company. From 2008 to 2010, Mr. Wu served as a client manager of Orient Securities Company Limited (600958.SH, 3958.HK and OS9.F), an investment bank and brokerage firm. From 2005 to 2007, Mr. Wu served as a client manager of GF Securities Co., Ltd. (000776.SZ and 1776.HK), a financial services company. Mr. Wu received his bachelor’s degree in international business English from Guangdong University of Foreign Studies in 2005.

See the section titled “Management” for complete information on the experience of our officers and directors.

In addition, the past performance of our management team or of their affiliates is not a guarantee either (i) that we will be able to locate a suitable candidate for our initial business combination or (ii) of success with respect to any business combination we may consummate. You should not rely on the historical record of our management team’s or their affiliates’ performance as indicative of our future performance. Furthermore, the members of the management team may not remain with us subsequent to the consummation of a business combination.

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Competitive Advantages

Status as a Publicly Listed Company

We believe our structure will make us an attractive business combination partner to prospective target businesses. As a publicly listed company, we will offer a target business an alternative to the traditional initial public offering. We believe that target businesses will favor this alternative, which we believe is less expensive, while offering greater certainty of execution than the traditional initial public offering. During an initial public offering, there are typically expenses incurred in marketing, which would be costlier than a business combination with us. Furthermore, once a proposed business combination is approved by our shareholders (if applicable) and the transaction is consummated, the target business will have effectively become public, whereas an initial public offering is always subject to the underwriters’ ability to complete the offering, as well as general market conditions that could prevent the offering from occurring. Once public, we believe the target business would have greater access to capital and additional means of creating management incentives that are better aligned with shareholders’ interests than it would as a private company. It can offer further benefits by augmenting a company’s profile among potential new customers and vendors and aid in attracting talented management staffs.

Strong Financial Position and Flexibility

With the funds held in our trust account, we can offer a target business a variety of options to facilitate a business combination and fund future expansion and growth of its business. Because we are able to consummate a business combination using the cash proceeds from this offering, our share capital, debt or a combination of the foregoing, we have the flexibility to use an efficient structure allowing us to tailor the consideration to be paid to the target business to address the needs of the parties. However, if a business combination requires us to use substantially all of our cash to pay for the purchase price, we may need to arrange third party financing to help fund our business combination. Since we have no specific business combination under consideration, we have not taken any steps to secure third party financing.

Acquisition Strategy and Investment Criteria

Our acquisition strategy will seek to capitalize on M&A and operational expertise and relationship of both our management team and our board of directors, to identify attractive businesses that have capacity to grow rapidly by utilizing a public vehicle. There is no restriction in the industry or geographic location of targets that we can pursue.

The focus of our management team is to create shareholder value by leveraging its experience to improve the efficiency of the business while implementing strategies to grow revenue and profits organically and/or through acquisitions. Consistent with our strategy, we have identified the following general criteria and guidelines that we believe are important in evaluating prospective target businesses. While we intend to use these criteria and guidelines in evaluating prospective businesses, we may deviate from these criteria and guidelines should we see fit to do so:

•        Niche Deal Size

We intend to acquire companies with enterprise values of between $150 million and $300 million that are preferably already revenue-generating. We believe we have greater access to companies within this range and the negotiation process is generally less time consuming than companies that are much larger.

•        Strong and defensible market position

We intend to favor targets that have a strong competitive advantage or are advanced in their penetration of new and emerging markets. We will target companies that have strong intellectual property, technology, or brand equity within their respective sectors and that can be further monetized on a global basis.

•        Current and potential capacity for revenue and earnings growth

We expect to target companies that have the potential for significant revenue and earnings growth through a combination of improved production or service capacity, cost reduction and synergistic follow-on acquisitions, which could result in an operating leverage for stronger revenue and earnings growth in the future.

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•        Resilient Business Model

We intend to select a target that has operating models to respond quickly to sudden changes in the market. In these disruptive times, we believe critical for companies to address these concerns so that they can stay afloat and continue to grow even when unexpected challenges occur.

•        Experienced and motivated management team

We will seek target businesses with a management team that shows dedication, strategic vision and whose interests and goals are aligned with investors and our management team. We intend to seek to acquire a capable team that has a broad network, seasoned and is here for the long-term.

•        History of Cash Flow Generation

We intend to seek a target company that is profitable with stable cash flow.

•        Long-term Revenue Visibility with Defensible Market Position

We intend to seek target companies that are at an inflection point, such as those requiring additional management expertise, are able to innovate by developing new products or services, or where we believe we can drive improved financial performance and where an acquisition may help facilitate growth.

•        Value Creation and Marketing Opportunities

We intend to seek target companies that should offer attractive risk-adjusted equity returns for our shareholders. We intend to seek to acquire a target on terms and in a manner that leverages our experience. We expect to evaluate financial returns based on (i) the potential for organic growth in cash flows, (ii) the ability to achieve cost savings, (iii) the ability to accelerate growth, including through the opportunity for follow-on acquisitions, and (iv) the prospects for creating value through other value creation initiatives. Potential upside from growth in the target business’ earnings and an improved capital structure will be weighed against any identified downside risks.

These criteria are not intended to be exhaustive. Any evaluation relating to the merits of a particular initial business combination may be based, to the extent relevant, on these general guidelines as well as other considerations, factors and criteria that our management may deem relevant.

While we intend to use these criteria in evaluating the attractiveness of potential business combination opportunities, we may ultimately decide to enter into an initial business combination with a target business that does not meet these criteria. In the event that we decide to enter into our initial business combination with a target business that does not meet the above criteria and guidelines, we will disclose that the target business does not meet the above criteria and guidelines in our stockholders communications related to our initial business combination, which, as discussed in this prospectus, would be in the form of tender offer documents or proxy solicitation materials that we would file with the SEC.

In evaluating a prospective target business, we expect to conduct a thorough due diligence review that will encompass, among other things, meetings with incumbent management and employees, document reviews, interviews of customers and suppliers, inspection of facilities, as well as reviewing financial and other information which will be made available to us. We will also utilize our operational and capital allocation experience. Our acquisition criteria, due diligence processes and value creation methods are not intended to be exhaustive. Any evaluation relating to the merits of a particular initial business combination may be based, to the extent relevant, on these general guidelines as well as other considerations, factors and criteria that our management may deem relevant.

Other Acquisition Considerations

We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers or directors. In the event we seek to complete our initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers or directors, we, or a committee of independent directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent firm that commonly renders valuation opinions for the type of company we are seeking to acquire or an independent accounting firm that our initial business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view.

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Members of our management team and our independent directors and their affiliates will directly or indirectly own ordinary shares, private units, private warrants and private rights following this offering, and, accordingly, may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination. Further, each of our officers and directors may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination if the retention or resignation of any such officers and directors was included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination. Additionally, each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional fiduciary or contractual obligations to another entity, including other blank check companies similar to our company, pursuant to which such officer or director may be required to present a business combination opportunity to such entity. Specifically, our executive officers are affiliated with our sponsor and other entities that make, or are looking to make, investments in companies. Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for an entity to which he or she has fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she will honor his or her fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such business combination opportunity to such entity, and only present it to us if such entity rejects the opportunity. We do not believe, however, that the fiduciary duties or contractual obligations of our executive officers will materially affect our ability to complete our business combination. For additional information regarding our executive officers’ and directors’ business affiliations and potential conflicts of interest, see “Management — Directors and Executive Officers” and “Management — Conflicts of Interest.” Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provides that, subject to fiduciary duties under Cayman Islands law, 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.

Effecting a Business Combination

General

We are not presently engaged in, and we will not engage in, any substantive commercial business for an indefinite period of time following this offering. We intend to utilize cash derived from the proceeds of this offering and the private placement of private units, our share capital, debt or a combination of these in effecting a business combination. Although substantially all of the net proceeds of this offering and the private placement of private units are intended to be applied generally toward effecting a business combination as described in this prospectus, the proceeds are not otherwise being designated for any more specific purposes. Accordingly, investors in this offering are investing without first having an opportunity to evaluate the specific merits or risks of any one or more business combinations. A business combination may involve the acquisition of, or merger with, a company which does not need substantial additional capital but which desires to establish a public trading market for its shares, while avoiding what it may deem to be adverse consequences of undertaking a public offering itself. These include time delays, significant expense, loss of voting control and compliance with various U.S. Federal and state securities laws. In the alternative, we may seek to consummate a business combination with a company that may be in its early stages of development or growth. While we may seek to effect simultaneous business combinations with more than one target business, we will probably have the ability, as a result of our limited resources, to effect only a single business combination.

We Have Not Identified a Target Business

To date, we have not selected any target business on which to concentrate our search for a business combination. None of our officers, directors, initial shareholders and other affiliates has engaged in discussions on our behalf with representatives of other companies regarding the possibility of a potential merger, share exchange, asset acquisition or other similar business combination with us, nor have we, nor any of our agents or affiliates, been approached by any candidates (or representatives of any candidates) with respect to a possible business combination with our company.

Subject to the limitations that a target business have a fair market value of at least 80% of the balance in the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting discounts and commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination, as described below in more detail, we will have virtually unrestricted flexibility in identifying and selecting a prospective acquisition candidate. Save as disclosed in this registration statement, we have not established any other specific attributes or criteria (financial or otherwise) for prospective target businesses. Accordingly, there is no basis for investors in this offering to evaluate the possible merits or risks of the target business with which we may ultimately

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complete a business combination. To the extent we effect a business combination with a company or an entity in its early stage of development or growth, including entities without established records of sales or earnings, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in the business and operations of early stage or potential emerging growth companies. Although our management will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular target business, we cannot assure you that we will properly ascertain or assess all significant risk factors.

Sources of Target Businesses

We anticipate that target business candidates will be brought to our attention from various unaffiliated sources, including investment bankers, venture capital funds, private equity funds, leveraged buyout funds, management buyout funds and other members of the financial community. Target businesses may be brought to our attention by such unaffiliated sources as a result of being solicited by us through calls or mailings which will not commence until after the completion of this offering. These sources may also introduce us to target businesses they think we may be interested in on an unsolicited basis, since many of these sources will have read this prospectus and know what types of businesses we are targeting. Our officers and directors, as well as their respective affiliates, may also bring to our attention target business candidates that they become aware of through their business contacts as a result of formal or informal inquiries or discussions they may have, as well as attending trade shows or conventions. While we do not presently anticipate engaging the services of professional firms or other individuals that specialize in business acquisitions on any formal basis, we may engage these firms or other individuals in the future, in which event we may pay a finder’s fee, consulting fee or other compensation to be determined in an arm’s length negotiation based on the terms of the transaction. In no event, however, will any of our executive officers, directors, special advisors or initial shareholders, or any entity with which they are affiliated, be paid any finder’s fee, consulting fee or other compensation prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate, the consummation of a business combination (regardless of the type of transaction). If we decide to enter into a business combination with a target business that is affiliated with our officers, directors or initial shareholders, we will do so only if we have obtained an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that the business combination is fair to our unaffiliated shareholders from a financial point of view. However, as of the date of this prospectus, there is no affiliated entity that we consider a business combination target.

Selection of a Target Business and Structuring of a Business Combination

Subject to the limitations that a target business have a fair market value of at least 80% of the balance in the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting discounts and commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination, as described below in more detail, our management will have virtually unrestricted flexibility in identifying and selecting a prospective target business. We have not established any other specific attributes or criteria (financial or otherwise) for prospective target businesses. In evaluating a prospective target business, our management may consider a variety of factors, including one or more of the following:

•        financial condition and results of operation;

•        growth potential;

•        experience and skill of management and availability of additional personnel;

•        capital requirements;

•        competitive position;

•        barriers to entry;

•        stage of development of its products, processes or services;

•        degree of current or potential market acceptance of the products, processes or services;

•        proprietary features and degree of intellectual property or other protection for its products, processes or services;

•        regulatory environment of the industry; and

•        costs associated with effecting the business combination.

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We believe such factors will be important in evaluating prospective target businesses, regardless of the location or industry in which such target business operates. However, this list is not intended to be exhaustive. Furthermore, we may decide to enter into a business combination with a target business that does not meet these criteria and guidelines.

Any evaluation relating to the merits of a particular business combination will be based, to the extent relevant, on the above factors as well as other considerations deemed relevant by our management in effecting a business combination consistent with our business objective. In evaluating a prospective target business, we will conduct an extensive due diligence review which will encompass, among other things, meetings with incumbent management and inspection of facilities, as well as review of financial and other information which is made available to us. This due diligence review will be conducted either by our management or by unaffiliated third parties we may engage, although we have no current intention to engage any such third parties.

The time and costs required to select and evaluate a target business and to structure and complete the business combination cannot presently be ascertained with any degree of certainty. Any costs incurred with respect to the identification and evaluation of a prospective target business with which a business combination is not ultimately completed will result in a loss to us and reduce the amount of capital available to otherwise complete a business combination.

Fair Market Value of Target Business

Pursuant to Nasdaq listing rules, the target business or businesses that we acquire must collectively have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the balance of the funds in the trust account (excluding any deferred underwriting discounts and commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination, although we may acquire a target business whose fair market value significantly exceeds 80% of the trust account balance. We currently anticipate structuring a business combination to acquire 100% of the equity interests or assets of the target business or businesses. We may, however, structure a business combination where we merge directly with the target business or where we acquire less than 100% of such interests or assets of the target business in order to meet certain objectives of the target management team or shareholders or for other reasons, but we will only complete such business combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. Even if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our shareholders prior to the business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post-transaction company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the business combination transaction. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares in exchange for all of the outstanding capital of a target. In this case, we could acquire a 100% controlling interest in the target. However, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares, our shareholders immediately prior to our initial business combination could own less than a majority of our issued and outstanding shares subsequent to our initial business combination. If less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-transaction company, only the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired is what will be valued for purposes of the 80% of net assets test, assuming that we obtain and maintain a listing for our securities on NASDAQ. In order to consummate such an acquisition, we may issue a significant amount of our debt or equity securities to the sellers of such businesses and/or seek to raise additional funds through a private offering of debt or equity securities. Since we have no specific business combination under consideration, we have not entered into any such fund raising arrangement and have no current intention of doing so. The fair market value of the target will be determined by our board of directors based upon one or more standards generally accepted by the financial community (such as actual and potential sales, earnings, cash flow and/or book value). If our board is not able to independently determine that the target business has a sufficient fair market value, we will obtain an opinion from an unaffiliated, independent investment banking firm, or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions on the type of target business we are seeking to acquire, with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. We will not be required to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm, or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions on the type of target business we are seeking to acquire, as to the fair market value if our board of directors independently determines that the target business complies with the 80% threshold. Further, until the 80% threshold is satisfied, pursuant to Nasdaq listing rules, any business combination must be approved by a majority of the board, including a majority of the independent directors.

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We will not be required to comply with the 80% fair market value requirement if we are delisted from NASDAQ. If NASDAQ delists our securities from trading on its exchange after this offering, we would not be required to satisfy the fair market value requirement described above and could complete a business combination with a target business having a fair market value substantially below 80% of the balance in the trust account.

Lack of Business Diversification

Our business combination must be with a target business or businesses that collectively satisfy the minimum valuation standard at the time of such acquisition, as discussed above, although this process may entail the simultaneous acquisitions of several operating businesses at the same time. Therefore, at least initially, the prospects for our success may be entirely dependent upon the future performance of a single business. Unlike other entities which may have the resources to complete several business combinations of entities operating in multiple industries or multiple areas of a single industry, it is probable that we will not have the resources to diversify our operations or benefit from the possible spreading of risks or offsetting of losses. By consummating a business combination with only a single entity, our lack of diversification may:

•        subject us to numerous economic, competitive and regulatory developments, any or all of which may have a substantial adverse impact upon the particular industry in which we may operate subsequent to a business combination, and

•        result in our dependency upon the performance of a single operating business or the development or market acceptance of a single or limited number of products, processes or services.

If we determine to simultaneously acquire several businesses and such businesses are owned by different sellers, we will need for each of such sellers to agree that our purchase of its business is contingent on the simultaneous closings of the other acquisitions, which may make it more difficult for us, and delay our ability, to complete the business combination. With multiple acquisitions, we could also face additional risks, including additional burdens and costs with respect to possible multiple negotiations and due diligence investigations (if there are multiple sellers) and the additional risks associated with the subsequent assimilation of the operations and services or products of the acquired companies in a single operating business.

Limited Ability to Evaluate the Target Business’ Management

Although we intend to scrutinize the management of a prospective target business when evaluating the desirability of effecting a business combination, we cannot assure you that our assessment of the target business’ management will prove to be correct. In addition, we cannot assure you that the future management will have the necessary skills, qualifications or abilities to manage a public company. Furthermore, the future role of our officers and directors, if any, in the target business following a business combination cannot presently be stated with any certainty. While it is possible that some of our key personnel will remain associated in senior management or advisory positions with us following a business combination, it is unlikely that they will devote their full time efforts to our affairs subsequent to a business combination. Moreover, they would only be able to remain with the company after the consummation of a business combination if they are able to negotiate employment or consulting agreements in connection with the business combination. Such negotiations would take place simultaneously with the negotiation of the business combination and could provide for them to receive compensation in the form of cash payments and/or our securities for services they would render to the company after the consummation of the business combination. While the personal and financial interests of our key personnel may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business, their ability to remain with the company after the consummation of a business combination will not be the determining factor in our decision as to whether or not we will proceed with any potential business combination. Additionally, our officers and directors may not have significant experience or knowledge relating to the operations of the particular target business.

Following a business combination, we may seek to recruit additional managers to supplement the incumbent management of the target business. We cannot assure you that we will have the ability to recruit additional managers, or that any such additional managers we do recruit will have the requisite skills, knowledge or experience necessary to enhance the incumbent management.

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Shareholders May Not Have the Ability to Approve an Initial Business Combination

In connection with any proposed business combination, we will either (1) seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination at a meeting called for such purpose at which public shareholders may seek to convert their public shares, regardless of whether they vote for or against the proposed business combination, into their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable and deferred underwriting fees) or (2) provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to sell their public shares to us by means of a tender offer (and thereby avoid the need for a shareholder vote) for an amount equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable and deferred underwriting fees), in each case subject to the limitations described herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, our initial shareholders and directors and officers have agreed, pursuant to written letter agreements with us, not to convert any public shares held by them into their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account. If we determine to engage in a tender offer, such tender offer will be structured so that each shareholder may tender any or all of his, her or its public shares rather than some pro rata portion of his, her or its shares. The decision as to whether we will seek shareholder approval of a proposed business combination or will allow shareholders to sell their shares to us in a tender offer will be made by us based on a variety of factors such as the timing of the transaction, or whether the terms of the transaction would otherwise require us to seek shareholder approval. If we so choose and we are legally permitted to do so, we have the flexibility to avoid a shareholder vote and allow our shareholders to sell their shares pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act which regulate issuer tender offers. In that case, we will file tender offer documents with the SEC which will contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination as is required under the SEC’s proxy rules. We will consummate our initial business combination only if we have net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001, either immediately prior to or upon consummation of our initial business combination and after payment of underwriters’ fees and commissions (so that we are not subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules), and solely if we seek shareholder approval, a majority of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares voted are voted in favor of the business combination.

We chose our net tangible asset threshold of $5,000,001 to ensure that we would avoid being subject to Rule 419 promulgated under the Securities Act. However, if we seek to consummate an initial business combination with a target business that imposes any type of working capital closing condition or requires us to have a minimum amount of funds available from the trust account upon consummation of such initial business combination, our net tangible asset threshold may limit our ability to consummate such initial business combination (as we may be required to have a lesser number of shares converted or sold to us) and may force us to seek third party financing which may not be available on terms acceptable to us or at all. As a result, we may not be able to consummate such initial business combination and we may not be able to locate another suitable target within the applicable time period, if at all. Public shareholders may therefore have to wait 12 months from the date that the registration statement is declared effective (or up to 21 months if we have extended the period of time as described in this prospectus) in order to be able to receive a pro rata share of the trust account.

Our initial shareholders and our officers and directors have agreed (1) to vote any ordinary shares owned by them in favor of any proposed business combination, (2) not to convert any ordinary shares in connection with a shareholder vote to approve a proposed initial business combination and (3) not sell any ordinary shares in any tender in connection with a proposed initial business combination. As a result, if we sought shareholder approval of a proposed transaction we could need as little as 80,001 of our public shares (or approximately 1.60% of our public shares) to be voted in favor of an initial business combination (assuming that only the minimum number of issued and outstanding shares representing a quorum is present in person or by proxy at a meeting, the over-allotment option is not exercised and the initial shareholders do not purchase any units in this offering or units or shares in the aftermarket) in order to have our initial business combination approved.

None of our officers, directors, initial shareholders or their affiliates has indicated any intention to purchase units or ordinary shares in this offering or from persons in the open market or in private transactions (other than the private units). However, if we hold a meeting to approve a proposed business combination and a significant number of shareholders vote, or indicate an intention to vote, against such proposed business combination, our officers, directors, initial shareholders or their affiliates could make such purchases in the open market or in private transactions in order to influence the vote. Notwithstanding the foregoing, our officers, directors, initial shareholders and their affiliates will not make purchases of ordinary shares if the purchases would violate Section 9(a)(2) of, or Rule 10b-5 under, the Exchange Act, which are rules designed to stop potential manipulation of a company’s stock.

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Ability to Extend Time to Complete Business Combination

If we anticipate that we may not be able to consummate our initial business combination within 12 months, the sponsor may, but is not obligated to cause our Company to extend the period of time to consummate a business combination three times by an additional three months each time (for a total of up to 21 months to complete a business combination). Pursuant to the terms of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and the trust agreement to be entered into between us and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC on the date of this prospectus, in order to extend the time available for us to consummate our initial business combination, our sponsor, upon five days advance notice prior to the applicable deadline, must deposit into the trust account for each three-month extension $500,000, or $575,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full ($0.10 per share in either case), on or prior to the date of the applicable deadline. The insiders or their affiliates or designees will receive a non-interest bearing, unsecured promissory note equal to the amount of any such deposit that will not be repaid in the event that we are unable to close a business combination unless there are funds available outside the trust account to do so. Such notes would either be paid upon consummation of our initial business combination, or, at the lender’s discretion, converted upon consummation of our business combination into additional private units at a price of $10.00 per unit. In the event that we receive notice from our insiders five days prior to the applicable deadline of their intent to effect an extension, we intend to issue a press release announcing such intention at least three days prior to the applicable deadline. In addition, we intend to issue a press release the day after the applicable deadline announcing whether or not the funds had been timely deposited. Our insiders and their affiliates or designees are not obligated to fund the trust account to extend the time for us to complete our initial business combination. To the extent that some, but not all, of our insiders, decide to extend the period of time to consummate our initial business combination, such insiders (or their affiliates or designees) may deposit the entire amount required. Any notes issued pursuant to these loans would be in addition to any notes issued pursuant to working capital loans made to us.

Redemption/Tender Rights

At any meeting called to approve an initial business combination, public shareholders may seek to convert their public shares, regardless of whether they vote for or against the proposed business combination, into their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, less any taxes then due but not yet paid. Notwithstanding the foregoing, our initial shareholders and directors and officers have agreed, pursuant to written letter agreements with us, not to convert any public shares held by them into their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account. The redemption rights will be effected under our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and Cayman Islands law as redemptions. If we hold a meeting to approve an initial business combination, a holder will always have the ability to vote against a proposed business combination and not seek redemption of his shares.

Alternatively, if we engage in a tender offer, each public shareholder will be provided the opportunity to sell his public shares to us in such tender offer. The tender offer rules require us to hold the tender offer open for at least 20 business days. Accordingly, this is the minimum amount of time we would need to provide holders to determine whether they want to sell their public shares to us in the tender offer or remain an investor in our company.

Our initial shareholders, officers and directors will not have redemption rights with respect to any ordinary shares owned by them, directly or indirectly, whether acquired prior to this offering or purchased by them in this offering or in the aftermarket.

We may also require public shareholders, whether they are a record holder or hold their shares in “street name,” to either tender their certificates (if any) to our transfer agent or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System, at the holder’s option, at any time at or prior to the vote on the business combination. Once the shares are converted by the holder, and effectively redeemed by us under Cayman Islands law, the register agent in Cayman Islands will then update our Register of Members to reflect all redemptions. The proxy solicitation materials that we will furnish to shareholders in connection with the vote for any proposed business combination will indicate whether we are requiring shareholders to satisfy such delivery requirements. Accordingly, a shareholder would have from the time our proxy statement is mailed through the vote on the business combination to deliver his shares if he wishes to seek to exercise his redemption rights. Under our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, we are required to provide at least 10 days’ advance notice of any shareholder meeting, which would be the minimum amount of time a shareholder would have to determine whether to exercise redemption rights. As a result, if we require public shareholders who wish to convert their ordinary shares into the right to receive a pro rata portion of the funds in the trust account to comply

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with the foregoing delivery requirements, holders may not have sufficient time to receive the notice and deliver their shares for redemption. Accordingly, investors may not be able to exercise their redemption rights and may be forced to retain our securities when they otherwise would not want to.

There is a nominal cost associated with this tendering process and the act of certificating the shares or delivering them through the DWAC System. The transfer agent will typically charge the tendering broker $45 and it would be up to the broker whether or not to pass this cost on to the converting holder. However, this fee would be incurred regardless of whether or not we require holders seeking to exercise redemption rights. The need to deliver shares is a requirement of exercising redemption rights regardless of the timing of when such delivery must be effectuated. However, in the event we require shareholders seeking to exercise redemption rights to deliver their shares prior to the consummation of the proposed business combination and the proposed business combination is not consummated, this may result in an increased cost to shareholders.

Any request to convert or tender such shares once made, may be withdrawn at any time up to the vote on the proposed business combination or expiration of the tender offer. Furthermore, if a holder of a public share delivered his certificate in connection with an election of their redemption and subsequently decides prior to the vote on the business combination or the expiration of the tender offer not to elect to exercise such rights, he may simply request that the transfer agent return the certificate (physically or electronically).

If the initial business combination is not approved or completed for any reason, then our public shareholders who elected to exercise their 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 shares delivered by public holders.

Redemption of Public Shares and Liquidation if No Business Combination

If we do not complete a business combination within 12 months (or up to 21 months, if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus) from the date that the registration statement is declared effective, our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provides that 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 income taxes, divided by the number of the then-outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any); and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining shareholders and our board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), to our obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. However, if we anticipate that we may not be able to consummate our initial business combination within 12 months, our sponsor may, but is not obligated to cause our Company to extend the period of time to consummate a business combination three times by an additional three months each time (for a total of up to 21 months to complete a business combination). Pursuant to the terms of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and the trust agreement to be entered into between us and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC on the date of this prospectus, in order to extend the time available for us to consummate our initial business combination, our sponsor, upon five days advance notice prior to the applicable deadline, must deposit into the trust account for each three-month extension $500,000, or $575,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full ($0.10 per share in either case), on or prior to the date of the applicable deadline. The insiders or their affiliates or designees will receive a non-interest bearing, unsecured promissory note equal to the amount of any such deposit that will not be repaid in the event that we are unable to close a business combination unless there are funds available outside the trust account to do so. Such notes would either be paid upon consummation of our initial business combination, or, at the lender’s discretion, converted upon consummation of our business combination into additional private units at a price of $10.00 per unit. In the event that we receive notice from our insiders five days prior to the applicable deadline of their intent to effect an extension, we intend to issue a press release announcing such intention at least three days prior to the applicable deadline. In addition, we intend to issue a press release the day after the applicable deadline announcing whether or not the funds had been timely deposited. Our insiders and their affiliates or designees are not obligated to fund the trust account to extend the time for us to complete our initial business combination. To the extent that some, but not all, of our insiders, decide to extend the period of time to consummate our initial business combination, such insiders (or their affiliates or designees) may deposit the entire amount required. If we are unable to consummate our initial business combination within such time period, we will, as promptly as possible but not more

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than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of our outstanding public shares for a pro rata portion of the funds held in the trust account, including a pro rata portion of any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not necessary to pay our taxes, then seek to liquidate and dissolve. However, we may not be able to distribute such amounts as a result of claims of creditors which may take priority over the claims of our public shareholders. In the event of our liquidation and subsequent dissolution, the public rights will expire and will be worthless.  

The amount in the trust account under the Companies Act will be treated as funds distributable under the Companies Act provided that immediately following the date on which the proposed distribution is proposed to be made, we are able to pay our debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business. If we are forced to liquidate the trust account, we anticipate that we would distribute to our public shareholders the amount in the trust account calculated as of the date that is two days prior to the distribution date (including any accrued interest). Prior to such distribution, we would be required to assess all claims that may be potentially brought against us by our creditors for amounts they are actually owed and make provision for such amounts, as creditors take priority over our public shareholders with respect to amounts that are owed to them. We cannot assure you that we will properly assess all claims that may be potentially brought against us. As such, our shareholders could potentially be liable for any claims of creditors to the extent of distributions received by them as an unlawful payment in the event we enter an insolvent liquidation. Furthermore, while we will seek to have all vendors and service providers (which would include any third parties we engaged to assist us in any way in connection with our search for a target business) and prospective target businesses execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind they may have in or to any monies held in the trust account, there is no guarantee that they will execute such agreements. Nor is there any guarantee that, even if such entities execute such agreements with us, they will not seek recourse against the trust account or that a court would conclude that such agreements are legally enforceable.

Each of our initial shareholders and our officers and directors have agreed to waive its rights to participate in any liquidation of our trust account or other assets with respect to the insider shares and private units and to vote their insider shares, private shares in favor of any liquidation and plan of distribution which we submit to a vote of shareholders. There will be no distribution from the trust account with respect to our warrants or rights, which will expire worthless.

If we are unable to complete an initial business combination and expend all of the net proceeds of this offering, other than the proceeds deposited in the trust account, and without taking into account interest, if any, earned on the trust account, the initial per-share distribution from the trust account would be $10.00.

The proceeds deposited in the trust account could, however, become subject to the claims of our creditors which would be prior to the claims of our public shareholders. Although we will seek to have all vendors, including lenders for money borrowed, prospective target businesses or other entities we engage execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the trust account for the benefit of our public shareholders, there is no guarantee that they will execute such agreements or even if they execute such agreements that they would be prevented from bringing claims against the trust account, including but not limited to, fraudulent inducement, breach of fiduciary responsibility or other similar claims, as well as claims challenging the enforceability of the waiver, in each case in order to gain an advantage with a claim against our assets, including the funds held in the trust account. If any third party refused to execute an agreement waiving such claims to the monies held in the trust account, we would perform an analysis of the alternatives available to us if we chose not to engage such third party and evaluate if such engagement would be in the best interest of our shareholders if such third party refused to waive such claims. Examples of possible instances where we may engage a third party that refused to execute a waiver include the engagement of a third party consultant whose particular expertise or skills are believed by management to be significantly superior to those of other consultants that would agree to execute a waiver or in cases where management is unable to find a provider of required services willing to provide the waiver. In any event, our management would perform an analysis of the alternatives available to it and would only enter into an agreement with a third party that did not execute a waiver if management believed that such third party’s engagement would be significantly more beneficial to us than any alternative. In addition, there is no guarantee that such entities will agree to waive any claims they may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with us and will not seek recourse against the trust account for any reason.

Our sponsor has agreed that, if we liquidate the trust account prior to the consummation of a business combination, it will be liable to pay debts and obligations to target businesses or vendors or other entities that are owed money by us for services rendered or contracted for or products sold to us in excess of the net proceeds of this offering not held in

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the trust account, but only to the extent necessary to ensure that such debts or obligations do not reduce the amounts in the trust account and only if such parties have not executed a waiver agreement. However, we cannot assure you that they will be able to satisfy those obligations if they are required to do so. Accordingly, the actual per-share distribution could be less than $10.00 due to claims of creditors.

Competition

In identifying, evaluating and selecting a target business, we may encounter intense competition from other entities having a business objective similar to ours. Many of these entities are well established and have extensive experience identifying and effecting business combinations directly or through affiliates. Many of these competitors possess greater technical, human and other resources than us and our financial resources will be relatively limited when contrasted with those of many of these competitors. While we believe there may be numerous potential target businesses that we could acquire with the net proceeds of this offering, our ability to compete in acquiring certain sizable target businesses may be limited by our available financial resources.

The following also may not be viewed favorably by certain target businesses:

•        our obligation to seek shareholder approval of a business combination or obtain the necessary financial information to be sent to shareholders in connection with such business combination may delay or prevent the completion of a transaction;

•        our obligation to convert public shares held by our public shareholders may reduce the resources available to us for a business combination;

•        NASDAQ will require us to file a new listing application and meet its initial listing requirements to maintain the listing of our securities following a business combination;

•        our outstanding warrants, rights and unit purchase options and the potential future dilution they represent;

•        our obligation to pay the deferred underwriting discounts and commissions to the representative upon consummation of our initial business combination;

•        our obligation to either repay or issue units upon conversion of up to $1,000,000 of working capital loans that may be made to us by our initial shareholders, officers, directors or their affiliates;

•        our obligation to register the resale of the insider shares, as well as the private units (and underlying securities) and any securities issued to our initial shareholders, officers, directors or their affiliates upon conversion of working capital loans; and

•        the impact on the target business’ assets as a result of unknown liabilities under the securities laws or otherwise depending on developments involving us prior to the consummation of a business combination.

Any of these factors may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating a business combination. Our management believes, however, that our status as a public entity and potential access to the United States public equity markets may give us a competitive advantage over privately-held entities having a similar business objective as ours in acquiring a target business with significant growth potential on favorable terms.

If we succeed in effecting a business combination, there will be, in all likelihood, intense competition from competitors of the target business. We cannot assure you that, subsequent to a business combination, we will have the resources or ability to compete effectively.

Facilities

We maintain our principal executive office at Unit A-C, 33/F, Tower A, Billion Centre, 1 Wang Kwong Road, Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong, which will be provided by an affiliate of our sponsor, Lion Group Holding Ltd., upon the closing of this offering. We consider our current office space adequate for our current operations.

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Employees

We have two executive officers, Mr. Sze Hau Lee, our Chief Executive Officer, and Ms. Di Wu, our Chief Financial Officer. These executive officers are not obligated to devote any specific number of hours to our matters and intend to devote only as much time as they deem necessary to our affairs. The amount of time they will devote in any time period will vary based on whether a target business has been selected for the business combination and the stage of the business combination process the company is in. Accordingly, once management locates a suitable target business to acquire, they will spend more time investigating such target business and negotiating and processing the business combination (and consequently spend more time to our affairs) than they would prior to locating a suitable target business. We presently expect our executive officers to devote such amount of time as they reasonably believe is necessary to our business (which could range from only a few hours a week while we are trying to locate a potential target business to a majority of their time as we move into serious negotiations with a target business for a business combination). We do not intend to have any full time employees prior to the consummation of a business combination.

Periodic Reporting and Audited Financial Statements

We will register our units, ordinary shares, warrants and rights under the Exchange Act and have reporting obligations, including the requirement that we file annual, quarterly and current reports with the SEC. In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, our annual report will contain financial statements audited and reported on by our independent registered public accountants.

We will provide shareholders with audited financial statements of the prospective target business as part of any proxy solicitation sent to shareholders to assist them in assessing the target business. In all likelihood, the financial information included in the proxy solicitation materials will need to be prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP or IFRS, depending on the circumstances, and the historical financial statements may be required to be audited in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. The financial statements may also be required to be prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP for the Form 8-K announcing the closing of an initial business combination, which would need to be filed within four business days thereafter. We cannot assure you that any particular target business identified by us as a potential acquisition candidate will have the necessary financial information. To the extent that this requirement cannot be met, we may not be able to acquire the proposed target business.

We will be required to comply with the internal control over financial reporting requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act beginning for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022. A target company may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding adequacy of their internal control over financial reporting. The development of the internal controls over financial reporting of any such entity to achieve compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may increase the time and costs necessary to complete any such acquisition.

We are an emerging growth company as defined in in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act. As such, we are eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies” including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the prices of our securities may be more volatile. We will remain such for up to five years. However, if our non-convertible debt issued within a three-year period exceeds $1 billion or our total revenues equal or exceed $1.07 billion or the market value of our ordinary shares that are held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $700 million on the last day of the second fiscal quarter of any given fiscal year, we would cease to be an emerging growth company as of the following fiscal year. Additionally, we are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K. Smaller reporting companies may take advantage of certain reduced disclosure obligations, including, among other things, providing only two years of audited financial statements. We will remain a smaller reporting company until the last day of the fiscal year in which (1) the market value of our ordinary shares held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $250 million as of the prior June 30, or (2) our annual revenues equaled or exceeded $100 million during such completed fiscal year and the market value of our ordinary shares held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30. As an emerging growth company, we have elected, under Section 107(b) of the JOBS Act, to take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards.

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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.

Comparison to Offerings of Blank Check Companies Subject to Rule 419

The following table compares and contrasts the terms of our offering and the terms of an offering of blank check companies under Rule 419 promulgated by the SEC assuming that the gross proceeds, underwriting discounts and underwriting expenses for the Rule 419 offering are the same as this offering and that the underwriters will not exercise their over-allotment option. None of the terms of a Rule 419 offering will apply to this offering because we will be listed on a national securities exchange, we will have net tangible assets in excess of $5,000,001 upon the successful consummation of this offering and will file a Current Report on Form 8-K, including an audited balance sheet demonstrating this fact.

 

Terms of the Offering

 

Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering

Escrow of offering proceeds

 

$50,500,000 (or $58,075,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) of the net offering proceeds and proceeds from the sale of the private units will be deposited into a trust account in the United States, maintained by American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, acting as trustee.

 

$44,100,000 of the offering proceeds would be required to be deposited into either an escrow account with an insured depositary institution or in a separate bank account established by a broker-dealer in which the broker-dealer acts as trustee for persons having the beneficial interests in the account.

Investment of net proceeds

 

The $50,500,000 (or $58,075,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) of the net offering proceeds and proceeds from the sale of the private units held in trust will only be invested in United States government treasury bills, bonds or notes with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting the applicable conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act and that invest solely in United States government treasuries.

 

Proceeds could be invested only in specified securities such as a money market fund meeting conditions of the Investment Company Act or in securities that are direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed as to principal or interest by, the United States.

Limitation on fair value or net assets of target business

 

The initial target business that we acquire must have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the balance in our trust account, or the 80% fair market value test, (excluding any deferred underwriting discounts and commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination. Until the 80% fair market value test is satisfied, pursuant to Nasdaq listing rules, any business combination must be approved by a majority of the board, including a majority of the independent directors. We will not be required to comply with the 80% fair market value requirement if we are delisted from NASDAQ.  

 

We would be restricted from acquiring a target business unless the fair value of such business or net assets to be acquired represent at least 80% of the maximum offering proceeds.

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Terms of the Offering

 

Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering

Trading of securities issued

 

The units may commence trading on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. The ordinary shares, warrants and rights comprising the units will begin to trade separately on the 52nd business day after the date of this prospectus unless the representative informs us of its decision to allow earlier separate trading (based upon its assessment of the relative strengths of the securities markets and small capitalization and blank check companies in general, and the trading pattern of, and demand for, our securities in particular), provided we have filed with the SEC a Current Report on Form 8-K, which includes an audited balance sheet reflecting our receipt of the proceeds of this offering.

 

No trading of the units or the underlying securities would be permitted until the completion of a business combination. During this period, the securities would be held in the escrow or trust account.

Exercise of the warrants

 

The warrants cannot be exercised until the completion of a business combination and, accordingly, will be exercised only after the trust account has been terminated and distributed.

 

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.

Election to remain an investor

 

We will either (1) give our shareholders the opportunity to vote on the business combination or (2) provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to sell their public shares to us in a tender offer for cash equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account less taxes. If we hold a meeting to approve a proposed business combination, we will send each shareholder a proxy statement containing information required by the SEC. Under our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, we must provide at least 10 days advance notice of any meeting of shareholders. Accordingly, this is the minimum amount of time we would need to provide holders to determine whether to exercise their rights to convert their shares into cash at such a meeting or to remain an investor in our company. Alternatively, if we do not hold a meeting and instead conduct a tender offer, we will conduct such tender offer in accordance with the tender offer rules of the SEC and file tender offer documents with the SEC which will contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination as we would have included in a proxy statement. The tender offer rules require us to hold the tender offer open for at least 20 business days. Accordingly, this is the minimum amount of time we would need to provide holders to determine whether they want to sell their shares to us in the tender offer or remain an investor in our company.

 

A prospectus containing information required by the SEC would be sent to each investor. Each investor would be given the opportunity to notify the company, in writing, within a period of no less than 20 business days and no more than 45 business days from the effective date of the post-effective amendment, to decide whether he or she elects to remain a shareholder of the company or require the return of his or her investment. If the company has not received the notification by the end of the 45th business day, funds and interest or dividends, if any, held in the trust or escrow account would automatically be returned to the shareholder. Unless a sufficient number of investors elect to remain investors, all of the deposited funds in the escrow account must be returned to all investors and none of the securities will be issued.

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Terms of the Offering

 

Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering

Business combination deadline

 

Pursuant to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, if we do not complete an initial business combination within 12 months from the date that the registration statement is declared effective (or up to 21 months as described elsewhere herein), 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 income taxes, divided by the number of the then-outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any); and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining shareholders and our board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) to our obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.

 

If an acquisition has not been consummated within 18 months after the effective date of the initial registration statement, funds held in the trust or escrow account would be returned to investors.

Interest earned on the funds in the trust account

 

There can be released to us, from time to time any interest earned on the funds in the trust account that we may need to pay our tax obligations. The remaining interest earned on the funds in the trust account will not be released until the earlier of the completion of a business combination and our entry into liquidation upon failure to effect a business combination within the allotted time.

 

All interest earned on the funds in the trust account will be held in trust for the benefit of public shareholders until the earlier of the completion of a business combination and our liquidation upon failure to effect a business combination within the allotted time.

Release of funds

 

Except for interest earned on the funds held in the trust account that may be released to us to pay our tax obligations, the proceeds held in the trust account will not be released until the earlier of the completion of a business combination (in which case, the proceeds released to us will be net of the funds used to pay converting or tendering shareholders, as the trustee will directly send the appropriate portion of the amount held in trust to the converting or tendering shareholders at the time of the business combination) and the liquidation of our trust account upon failure to effect a business combination within the allotted time.

 

The proceeds held in the escrow account would not be released until the earlier of the completion of a business combination or the failure to effect a business combination within the allotted time.

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MANAGEMENT

Directors and Executive Officers

Our current directors and executive officers, their ages and positions are as follows:

Name

 

Age

 

Position

Sze Hau Lee

 

35

 

Director and Chief Executive Officer

Chunning Wang

 

42

 

Director

Ngai Wong

 

40

 

Director

Chi Fai Choi

 

43

 

Independent Director

Walter R. Cook

 

67

 

Independent Director

Boyu Xu

 

27

 

Independent Director

Feng Wu

 

36

 

Independent Director

Di Wu

 

34

 

Chief Financial Officer

Below is a summary of the business experience of each our executive officers and directors:

Sze Hau Lee has been our Director and Chief Executive Officer since April 2021. Since June 2020, Mr. Lee has served as the Chief Financial Officer of Lion Group Holding Ltd. (Nasdaq: LGHL), or Lion, an online trading platform company. Prior thereto, he served as corporate finance director of Lion. From September 2017 to February 2019, Mr. Lee served as corporate finance director of Carnival Group International Holdings Limited (0996.HK), or Carnival, one of China’s leading operators of large-scale integrated tourism, hospitality and retail attractions. While working at Carnival, Mr. Lee was primarily responsible for leading, originating, structuring and executing financing transaction and providing investment advice to the management. From February 2017 to September 2017, Mr. Lee served as a manager of syndicated finance department at China Minsheng Banking Corporation Hong Kong Branch, or China Minsheng Hong Kong, a banking corporation. From April 2016 to February 2017, Mr. Lee served as a vice president of structured and leveraged finance department in Hengfeng Bank Shanghai Branch, or Hengfeng Bank Shanghai, a banking corporation. From January 2014 to April 2016, Mr. Lee served as an assistant manager of structured and leveraged finance department in China Minsheng Hong Kong. While working at China Minsheng Hong Kong and Hengfeng Bank Shanghai, Mr. Lee was primarily responsible for the origination, structure and execution of syndicated facilities as well as financing arrangements in large transactions. From October 2012 to December 2013, he served as a senior associate in Ernst & Young, or E&Y, a public accounting company. From September 2007 to October 2012, he served as an associate and was subsequently promoted to senior associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers, or PWC, a public accounting company. Mr. Lee received his bachelor’s degree in professional accountancy from The Chinese University of Hong Kong in August 2007. He has been a member of Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants since 2011.

Chunning Wang has been our Director since April 2021. Mr. Wang also joined Aquarius II Acquisition Corp. in May 2021 and has served as its director since then. Since May 2019, Mr. Wang has served as the director and chief executive officer of Lion, and has been responsible for Lion’s fund raising activities. From October 2017 to March 2019, Mr. Wang served as the chief executive officer, director and vice chairman of the board at Carnival. From January 2016 to September 2017, Mr. Wang served as an assistant chief executive officer at Hengfeng Bank Shanghai, where he was responsible for corporate business. From October 2006 to December 2015, Mr. Wang served as a product manager in the head office of China Minsheng Banking Corporation Limited, a banking corporation, and was subsequently promoted to general manger in China Minsheng Hong Kong. While working at China Minsheng Hong Kong, he was primarily responsible for the bank’s overseas mergers and acquisition and other large-scale projects. Mr. Wang received his bachelor’s degree in Industrial Foreign Trade from International Business School of Hunan University in 2000, and obtained a master’s degree in management from The Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration of The University of British Columbia in 2005.

Ngai Wong has been our Director since April 2021. Mr. Wong also joined Aquarius II Acquisition Corp. in May 2021 and has served as its director since then. Mr. Wong has approximately 18 years of experience in finance. Mr. Wong is currently serving as the chief financial officer and the company secretary of Grandshroes Technology Group Limited (01647.HK), or Grandshores, a company engaged in integrated building services business and blockchain technology development and application business. Mr. Wong joined Grandshores as group financial controller in June 2018 and was promoted to chief financial officer and has served in that position since September 2019. From February 2017 to January 2018, Mr. Wong

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served as an associate director for the Group Internal Audit of Chiho Environmental Group Limited (00976.HK), a company engaged in the collecting, recycling, disassembling, sorting and processing of mixed metal scraps to recover reusable resources. From May 2014 to February 2017, Mr. Wong served as the Asia Pacific regional financial controller for international logistic business of G4S PLC (GFS.LON), a security and logistic services company. From 2011 to 2014, Mr. Wong served as the financial controller for the global sourcing office of ODP Corporation (Nasdaq: ODP), an office supply retail company. From 2009 to 2011, Mr. Wong served as the group financial controller of Adicon Clinical Laboratories Inc., a health care testing services company. From 2003 to 2009, Mr. Wong served as an associate and was subsequently promoted to senior associate at PWC. Mr. Wong received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (Accounting) from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in 2003, and obtained a master’s degree in Corporate Governance from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 2016. Mr. Wong has been a fellow of The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants since June 2012 and a member of The Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants since March 2009. He is also an associate member of both The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators in the United Kingdom since August 2017 and The Hong Kong Institute of Chartered Secretaries since March 2017. Mr. Wong also obtained his estate agent’s license from Estate Agents Authority since January 2019.

Chi Fai Choi has been our independent director since April 2021. Mr. Choi also joined Aquarius II Acquisition Corp. in May 2021 and has served as its independent director since then. Since May 2020, Mr. Choi has served as an independent director of Lion. Since November 2018, Mr. Choi has served as the investment management department consultant of OCI International Holdings Limited (0329.HK), or OCI, an investment holding company principally engaged in securities trading and investments, trading of wines and provision of financial advisory services in the PRC. Mr. Choi is responsible for fund raising for general corporate purposes, setting up fund, and originating new potential investment opportunities to OCI. From March 2015 to December 2017, Mr. Choi served as an executive director of Rentian Technology Holdings Limited (0885.HK), a Hong Kong-based investment holding company principally engaged in Internet of Things (IoT) businesses. From May 2012 to March 2018, Mr. Choi served as the chief investment officer of Carnival. From July 2011 to July 2014, Mr. Choi served an independent non-executive director of Energy International Investments Holdings Limited (0353.HK), a company engaged in the leasing of port and storage facilities, insurance brokerage service and the oil production. From November 2007 to May 2012, Mr. Choi served as an associate director of CCB International Asset Management Limited, or CCBIAM, an asset management company. CCBIAM is ultimately controlled by China Construction Bank Corporation (0939.HK and CH.601939), a banking corporation. From April 2004 to October 2007, Mr. Choi served as a senior officer of Hutchison Whampoa Limited, an investment holding company. From November 2000 to March 2004, Mr. Choi served as a senior accountant of E&Y. Mr. Choi received his bachelor’s degree of business administration in accounting from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in August 2000. Mr. Choi is a member of Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants since July 2004 and a fellow member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants since March 2009.

Walter R. Cook has been our independent director since April 2021. Since July 2020, Mr. Cook has been an independent director of Lion. From June 2019 to June 2020, Mr. Cook served as a director of Proficient Alpha Acquisition Corporation. He has extensive experience in turnarounds, acquisitions, and start-up financial institutions. Since August 2016, Mr. Cook has been a Managing Director at Tangent Capital Partners, LLC, an investment bank serving investment advisors and asset managers, and provided critical expertise in roll out of The Community Development Fund (CDCDX), a CRA-qualified mutual fund for commercial banks to Dr. Kenneth H. Thomas, CDCDX’s adviser. From January 2015 to July 2016, he was an independent consultant. From January 2014 to December 2015, he was an expert witness providing expert opinions and trial testimony on lending and banking practices in Florida State Court and Federal bankruptcy Court in Boston, Massachusetts. From 2003 to 2010, Mr. Cook served as the chief executive officer and the chairman of the board of the Republic Federal Bancorp, Inc.. Mr. Cook received a master’s degree in business administration specializing in finance and marketing from Harvard University in 1982, a master’s degree in law and diplomacy from Tufts University in 1978 and a bachelor’s degree in political science & psychology from Duke University.

Boyu Xu has been our independent director since April 2021. Since June 2020, Mr. Xu served in the investment department of the Tsinghua Yangtze River Delta Research Institute. From February 2019 to June 2019, Mr. Xu served in the cross-border e-commerce department of NetEase Kaola, a company under Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE: BABA and 9988.HK), a technology company. From September 2017 to February 2019, Mr. Xu served as the general manager assistant of Guangxi Yixing Agricultural Science and Technology Development Co. Ltd, a company engaged in researching, developing, and manufacturing agriculture products. Mr. Xu received his bachelor’s degree in management science from The University of California San Diego in July 2017, and obtained a master’s degree in project management from Georgetown University in May2020.

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Feng Wu has been our independent director since April 2021. Mr. Wu also joined Aquarius II Acquisition Corp. in May 2021 and has served as its independent director since then. Since 2011, Mr. Wu has been general manager and a co-founder of Guangzhou Jianyi Investment Management Co., Ltd, an investment management company. From 2008 to 2010, Mr. Wu served as a client manager of Orient Securities Company Limited (600958.SH, 3958.HK and OS9.F), an investment bank and brokerage firm. From 2005 to 2007, Mr. Wu served as a client manager of GF Securities Co., Ltd. (000776.SZ and 1776.HK), a financial services company. Mr. Wu received his bachelor’s degree in international business English from Guangdong University of Foreign Studies in 2005.

Di Wu has been our chief financial officer since April 2021. Ms. Wu also joined Aquarius II Acquisition Corp. in May 2021 and has served as its chief financial officer since then. Since April 2021, Ms. Wu has served as the financial controller of Lion, and has been in charge of the accounting functions. From 2017 to 2021, Ms. Wu served as a manager of Albeck Financial Services Inc., a financial services company. From 2014 to 2016, Ms. Wu served as a senior auditor of Ernst & Young LLP, a public accounting company. From 2010 to 2014, Ms. Wu served as a senior auditor of GBH CPAs, a public accounting company. Ms. Wu received her bachelor’s degree in business administration and accounting and finance from Texas A&M University in 2010. Ms. Wu holds a CPA license issued by the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy since February 2017.

Executive Officer and Director Compensation

None of our officers or directors have received any cash compensation for services rendered to us. Commencing on the date that our securities are first listed on Nasdaq through the earlier of consummation of our initial business combination and our liquidation, we will pay to an affiliate of our sponsor up to $10,000 per month for office space, utilities, secretarial and administrative support services provided to members of our management team. In addition, our sponsor, officers and directors, or any of their respective affiliates will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations. There is no limit on the amount of these out-of-pocket expenses and there will be no review of the reasonableness of the expenses by anyone other than our board of directors and audit committee, which includes persons who may seek reimbursement, or a court of competent jurisdiction if such reimbursement is challenged.

After the completion of our initial business combination, directors or members of our management team who remain with us may be paid consulting, management or other fees from the combined company. All the these fees will be fully disclosed to shareholders, to the extent then known, in the tender offer materials or proxy solicitation materials furnished to our shareholders in connection with a proposed business combination. It is unlikely the amount of such compensation will be known at the time, because the directors of the post-combination business will be responsible for determining executive officer and director compensation. Any compensation to be paid to our executive officers will be determined by a compensation committee constituted solely of independent directors.

We do not intend to take any action to ensure that members of our management team maintain their positions with us after the consummation of our initial business combination, although it is possible that some or all of our executive officers and directors may negotiate employment or consulting arrangements to remain with us after the initial business combination. The existence or terms of any such employment or consulting arrangements to retain their positions with us may influence our management’s motivation in identifying or selecting a target business but we do not believe that the ability of our management to remain with us after the consummation of our initial business combination will be a determining factor in our decision to proceed with any potential business combination. We are not party to any agreements with our executive officers and directors that provide for benefits upon termination of employment.

Director Independence

NASDAQ requires that a majority of our board must be composed of “independent directors.” Currently, Mr. Choi, Mr. Cook, Mr. Xu and Mr. Wu would each be considered an “independent director” under the Nasdaq listing rules, which is defined generally as a person other than an officer or employee of the company or its subsidiaries or any other individual having a relationship, which, in the opinion of the company’s board of directors would interfere with the director’s exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. Our independent directors will have regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present.

We will only enter into a business combination if it is approved by a majority of our independent directors. Additionally, we will only enter into transactions with our officers and directors and their respective affiliates that are on terms no less favorable to us than could be obtained from independent parties. Any related-party transactions must also be approved by our audit committee and a majority of disinterested independent directors.

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Audit Committee

Under the Nasdaq listing standards and applicable SEC rules, we are required to have three members of the audit committee all of whom must be independent. Effective as of the date of this prospectus, we will establish an audit committee of the board of directors, which will consist of Mr. Choi, Mr. Cook, and Mr. Xu, each of whom is an independent director under Nasdaq’s listing standards. Mr. Choi will be the Chairperson of the audit committee. The audit committee’s duties, which are specified in our Audit Committee Charter, include, but are not limited to:

•        reviewing and discussing with management and the independent auditor the annual audited financial statements, and recommending to the board whether the audited financial statements should be included in our Form 10-K;

•        discussing with management and the independent auditor significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of our financial statements;

•        discussing with management major risk assessment and risk management policies;

•        monitoring the independence of the independent auditor;

•        verifying the rotation of the lead (or coordinating) audit partner having primary responsibility for the audit and the audit partner responsible for reviewing the audit as required by law;

•        reviewing and approving all related-party transactions;

•        inquiring and discussing with management our compliance with applicable laws and regulations;

•        pre-approving all audit services and permitted non-audit services to be performed by our independent auditor, including the fees and terms of the services to be performed;

•        appointing or replacing the independent auditor;

•        determining the compensation and oversight of the work of the independent auditor (including resolution of disagreements between management and the independent auditor regarding financial reporting) for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or related work;

•        establishing procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by us regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or reports which raise material issues regarding our financial statements or accounting policies; and

•        approving reimbursement of expenses incurred by our management team in identifying potential target businesses.

Financial Experts on Audit Committee

The audit committee will at all times be composed exclusively of “independent directors” who are “financially literate” as defined under Nasdaq listing standards. Nasdaq listing standards define “financially literate” as being able to read and understand fundamental financial statements, including a company’s balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement.

In addition, we must certify to Nasdaq that the committee has, and will continue to have, at least one member who has past employment experience in finance or accounting, requisite professional certification in accounting, or other comparable experience or background that results in the individual’s financial sophistication. The board of directors has determined that Mr. Choi will qualify as an “audit committee financial expert,” as defined under rules and regulations of the SEC.

Nominating Committee

Effective as of the date of this prospectus, we will establish a nominating committee of the board of directors, which will consist of Mr. Choi, Mr. Cook, and Mr. Xu, each of whom is an independent director under Nasdaq’s listing standards. Mr. Cook will be the Chairperson of the nominating committee. The nominating committee is responsible for overseeing the selection of persons to be nominated to serve on our board of directors. The nominating committee considers persons identified by its members, management, shareholders, investment bankers and others.

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Guidelines for Selecting Director Nominees

The guidelines for selecting nominees, which are specified in the Nominating Committee Charter, generally provide that persons to be nominated:

•        should have demonstrated notable or significant achievements in business, education or public service;

•        should possess the requisite intelligence, education and experience to make a significant contribution to the board of directors and bring a range of skills, diverse perspectives and backgrounds to its deliberations; and

•        should have the highest ethical standards, a strong sense of professionalism and intense dedication to serving the interests of the shareholders.

The nominating committee will consider a number of qualifications relating to management and leadership experience, background and integrity and professionalism in evaluating a person’s candidacy for membership on the board of directors. The nominating committee may require certain skills or attributes, such as financial or accounting experience, to meet specific board needs that arise from time to time and will also consider the overall experience and makeup of its members to obtain a broad and diverse mix of board members. The board of directors will also consider director candidates recommended for nomination by our shareholders during such times as they are seeking proposed nominees to stand for election at the next annual meeting of shareholders (or, if applicable, a special meeting of shareholders). Our shareholders that wish to nominate a director for election to the Board should follow the procedures set forth in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. The nominating committee does not distinguish among nominees recommended by shareholders and other persons.

Compensation Committee

Effective as of the date of this prospectus, we will establish a compensation committee of the board of directors, which will consist of Mr. Choi, Mr. Cook, and Mr. Wu, each of whom is an independent director under Nasdaq’s listing standards. Mr. Choi will be the Chairperson of the compensation committee. The compensation committee’s duties, which are specified in our Compensation Committee Charter, include, but are not limited to:

•        reviewing and approving on an annual basis the corporate goals and objectives relevant to our Chief Executive Officer’s compensation, evaluating our Chief Executive Officer’s performance in light of such goals and objectives and determining and approving the remuneration (if any) of our Chief Executive Officer’s based on such evaluation;

•        reviewing and approving the compensation of all of our other executive officers;

•        reviewing our executive compensation policies and plans;

•        implementing and administering our incentive compensation equity-based remuneration plans;

•        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 executive 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, no compensation of any kind, including finders, consulting or other similar fees, will be paid to any of our existing shareholders, including our directors or any of their respective affiliates, prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate, the consummation of a business combination. Accordingly, it is likely that prior to the consummation of an initial business combination, the compensation committee will only be responsible for the review and recommendation of any compensation arrangements to be entered into in connection with such initial business combination.

Code of Ethics

Upon consummation of this offering, we will adopt a code of ethics that applies to all of our executive officers, directors and employees. The code of ethics codifies the business and ethical principles that govern all aspects of our business. We have filed a copy of our code of ethics and our audit and compensation committee charters as exhibits to the registration statement filed in connection with our IPO. You can review these documents by accessing our public filings at the SEC’s

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web site at www.sec.gov. In addition, a copy of the code of 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 ethics in a Current Report on Form 8-K.

Conflicts of Interest

Potential investors should be aware of the following potential conflicts of interest:

•        None of our officers and directors is required to commit their full time to our affairs and, accordingly, they may have conflicts of interest in allocating their time among various business activities.

•        In the course of their other business activities, our officers and directors may become aware of investment and business opportunities which may be appropriate for presentation to our company as well as the other entities with which they are affiliated. Our management has pre-existing fiduciary duties and contractual obligations and may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented.

•        Our officers and directors may in the future become affiliated with entities, including other blank check companies, engaged in business activities similar to those intended to be conducted by our company. In particular, Aquarius I Acquisition Corp. is the first company in a series of special purpose acquisition companies with affiliated management team competing for a business target. As a result, our management team may participate in transactions and have obligations that may be in conflict or competition with our consummation of our initial business combination. Aquarius II Acquisition Corp. (“Aquarius II”) is the second company in a series of special purpose acquisition companies with affiliated management team competing for a business target. It is expected to raise approximately $47.3 million in proceeds (after underwriting discounts and commissions but before expenses). As at the date of this prospectus, Aquarius II does not have any specific business combination in a particular industry or geographic location under consideration and it has not (nor has anyone on behalf of the Aquarius II), directly or indirectly, contacted any prospective target business or had any substantive discussions, formal or otherwise, with respect to such a business combination transaction. Aquarius II was incorporated in the Cayman Islands on May 5, 2021 and it has 12 months (or 18 months if it extends the period of time to consummate a business combination) from the date that its registration statement is declared effective by the SEC.

•        The insider shares owned by our officers and directors will be released from escrow only if a business combination is successfully completed and subject to certain other limitations. Additionally, our officers and directors will not receive distributions from the trust account with respect to any of their insider shares if we do not complete a business combination. Furthermore, our initial shareholders have agreed that the private units will not be sold or transferred by them until after we have completed our initial business combination. In addition, our officers and directors may loan funds to us after this offering and may be owed reimbursement for expenses incurred in connection with certain activities on our behalf which would only be repaid if we complete an initial business combination. For the foregoing reasons, the personal and financial interests of our directors and executive officers may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business, completing a business combination in a timely manner and securing the release of their shares.

Under Cayman Islands law, directors owe the following fiduciary duties:

(i)     duty to act in good faith in what the director believes to be in the best interests of the company as a whole;

(ii)     duty to exercise powers for the purposes for which those powers were conferred and not for a collateral purpose;

(iii)   directors should not improperly fetter the exercise of future discretion;

(iv)   duty not to put themselves in a position in which there is a conflict between their duty to the company and their personal interests; and

(v)    duty to exercise independent judgment.

In addition to the above, directors also owe a duty to act with skill, care and diligence. This duty has been defined as a requirement to act as a reasonably diligent person having both the general knowledge, skill and experience that may reasonably be expected of a person carrying out the same functions as are carried out by that director in relation to the company and the general knowledge skill and experience which that director has.

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As set out above, directors have a duty not to put themselves in a position of conflict and this includes a duty not to engage in self-dealing, or to otherwise benefit as a result of their position. However, in some instances what would otherwise be a breach of this duty can be forgiven and/or authorized in advance by the shareholders provided that there is full disclosure by the directors. This can be done by way of permission granted in the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association or alternatively by shareholder approval at general meetings.

Accordingly, as a result of multiple business affiliations, our officers and directors may have similar legal obligations relating to presenting business opportunities meeting the above-listed criteria to multiple entities. In addition, conflicts of interest may arise when our board evaluates a particular business opportunity with respect to the above-listed criteria. We cannot assure you that any of the above mentioned conflicts will be resolved in our favor. Furthermore, most of our officers and directors have pre-existing fiduciary obligations to other businesses of which they are officers or directors. To the extent they identify business opportunities which may be suitable for the entities to which they owe pre-existing fiduciary obligations, our officers and directors will honor those fiduciary obligations. Accordingly, it is possible they may not present opportunities to us that otherwise may be attractive to us unless the entities to which they owe pre-existing fiduciary obligations and any successors to such entities have declined to accept such opportunities. Further, our insiders agreed that they will offer all suitable business combination opportunities to the Company before any other person or company until the consummation by the Company of a business combination, subject to any pre-existing contractual or fiduciary obligations or contractual obligations they may have.

In order to minimize potential conflicts of interest which may arise from multiple corporate affiliations, each of our officers and directors has contractually agreed, pursuant to a written agreement with us, until the earliest of a business combination, our liquidation or such time as he ceases to be an officer or director, to present to our company for our consideration, prior to presentation to any other entity, any suitable business opportunity which may reasonably be required to be presented to us, subject to any pre-existing fiduciary or contractual obligations he might have.

The following table summarizes the other relevant pre-existing fiduciary or contractual obligations of our officers and directors:

Name of Individual

 

Name of Affiliated Company

 

Affiliation

 

Nature of Business

Sze Hau Lee

 

Lion Group Holding Ltd.

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

Online Trading Platform

Chunning Wang

 

Lion Group Holding Ltd.

 

Director and Chief Executive Officer

 

Online Trading Platform

   

Aquarius II Acquisition Corp.

 

Director

 

Special Purpose Acquisition Company

Ngai Wong

 

Grandshores Technology Group Limited

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

Integrated Building Services Business and Blockchain Technology Development and Application Business

   

Aquarius II Acquisition Corp.

 

Director

 

Special Purpose Acquisition Company

Chi Fai Choi

 

Lion Group Holding Ltd.

 

Independent director

 

Online Trading Platform

   

Aquarius II Acquisition Corp.

 

Independent director

 

Special Purpose Acquisition Company

Walter R. Cook

 

Tangent Capital Partners, LLC

 

Managing Director

 

Investment Banking Advisory

   

Lion Group Holding Ltd.

 

Independent director

 

Online Trading Platform

Di Wu

 

Lion Group Holding Ltd.

 

Financial Controller

 

Online Trading Platform

   

Aquarius II Acquisition Corp.

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

Special Purpose Acquisition Company

In connection with the vote required for any business combination, all of our initial shareholders, including all of our officers and directors, have agreed to vote their respective insider shares and private shares in favor of any proposed business combination. In addition, they have agreed to waive their respective rights to participate in any liquidation distribution with respect to those ordinary shares acquired by them prior to this offering. If they purchase ordinary shares in this offering or in the open market, however, they would be entitled to participate in any liquidation distribution in respect of such shares but have agreed not to convert such shares (or sell their shares in any tender offer) in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination or an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association relating to pre-business combination activity.

All ongoing and future transactions between us and any of our officers and directors or their respective affiliates will be on terms believed by us to be no less favorable to us than are available from unaffiliated third parties. Such transactions

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will require prior approval by our audit committee and a majority of our uninterested “independent” directors, or the members of our board who do not have an interest in the transaction, in either case who had access, at our expense, to our attorneys or independent legal counsel. We will not enter into any such transaction unless our audit committee and a majority of our disinterested “independent” directors determine that the terms of such transaction are no less favorable to us than those that would be available to us with respect to such a transaction from unaffiliated third parties.

To further minimize conflicts of interest, we have agreed not to consummate our initial business combination with an entity that is affiliated with any of our officers, directors or initial shareholders, unless we have obtained (i) an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that the business combination is fair to our unaffiliated shareholders from a financial point of view and (ii) the approval of a majority of our disinterested and independent directors (if we have any at that time). Furthermore, in no event will any of our initial shareholders, officers, directors, special advisors or their respective affiliates be paid any finder’s fee, consulting fee or other similar compensation prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate, the consummation of our initial business combination.

Limitation on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors.

Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will provide that, subject to certain limitations, the company shall indemnify its directors and officers against all expenses, including legal fees, and against all judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement and reasonably incurred in connection with legal, administrative or investigative proceedings. Such indemnity only applies if the person acted honestly and in good faith with a view to what the person believes is in the best interests of the company and, in the case of criminal proceedings, the person had no reasonable cause to believe that their conduct was unlawful. The decision of the directors as to whether the person acted honestly and in good faith and with a view to the best interests of the company and as to whether the person had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful and is, in the absence of fraud, willful default or willful neglect, sufficient for the purposes of the memorandum and articles of association, unless a question of law is involved. The termination of any proceedings by any judgment, order, settlement, conviction or the entering of a nolle prosequi does not, by itself, create a presumption that the person did not act honestly and in good faith and with a view to the best interests of the company or that the person had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.

We will enter into agreements with our officers and directors to provide contractual indemnification in addition to the indemnification provided for in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association also will permit us to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any officer or director who at the request of the Company is or was serving as a director or officer of, or in any other capacity is or was acting for, another company or a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against any liability asserted against the person and incurred by the person in that capacity, whether or not the company has or would have had the power to indemnify the person against the liability as provided in the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. We will purchase a policy of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance that insures our officers and directors against the cost of defense, settlement or payment of a judgment in some circumstances and insures us against our obligations to indemnify our officers and directors.

These provisions may discourage shareholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors for breach of their fiduciary 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 shareholders. Furthermore, a shareholder’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 insurance and the indemnity agreements are necessary to attract and retain talented and experienced officers and directors.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is theretofore unenforceable.

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PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS

The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our ordinary shares as of the date of this prospectus and as adjusted to reflect the sale of our ordinary shares included in the units offered by this prospectus (assuming none of the individuals listed purchase units in this offering), by:

•        each person known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares;

•        each of our officers and directors; and

•        all of our officers and directors as a group.

Unless otherwise indicated, we believe that all persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all ordinary shares beneficially owned by them. The following table does not reflect record of beneficial ownership of any ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants or redemption of rights as the warrants are not exercisable within 90 days of the date of this prospectus and the rights are not convertible within 60 days of the date of this prospectus. The table below assumes the completion of the transfer of an aggregate of 120,000 founder shares to our officers and directors.

 

Prior to Offering

 

After Offering(2)

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1)

 

Amount and
Nature of
Beneficial
Ownership

 

Approximate
Percentage of
Outstanding
Ordinary
Shares

 

Amount and
Nature of
Beneficial
Ownership

 

Approximate
Percentage of
Outstanding
Ordinary
Shares

Aquarius Sponsor Ltd.(3)

 

1,317,500

 

91.65

%

 

1,405,000

 

21.53

%

Sze Hau Lee

 

30,000

 

2.09

%

 

30,000

 

*

%

Di Wu

 

10,000

 

*

%

 

10,000

 

*

%

Chunning Wang(4)

 

1,337,500

 

93.04

%

 

1,425,000

 

21.84

%

Ngai Wong

 

20,000

 

1.39

%

 

20,000

 

*

%

Walter Cook

 

10,000

 

*

%

 

10,000

 

*

%

Chi Fai Choi

 

10,000

 

*

%

 

10,000

 

*

%

Boyu Xu

 

10,000

 

*

%

 

10,000

 

*

%

Feng Wu

 

10,000

 

*

%

 

10,000

 

*

%

All directors and executive officers (8 individuals) and other initial shareholder(s) as a group

 

1,437,500

 

100.00

%

 

1,525,000

 

23.78

%

____________

*        Less than 1%.

(1)      Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each of the individuals is c/o Aquarius I Acquisition Corp., Unit A-C, 33/F, Tower A, Billion Centre, 1 Wang Kwong Road, Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong.

(2)      Includes the 310,000 private units to be purchased by our sponsor simultaneously with the consummation of this offering. Assumes (i) no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option and (ii) an aggregate of 187,500 ordinary shares have been forfeited by our sponsor as a result thereof.

(3)      Represents shares held by Aquarius Sponsor Ltd., our sponsor. Our sponsor is owned by Lion Wealth Management Limited and Grandshores Technology (Hong Kong) Limited which hold 51% and 49%, respectively, of the outstanding shares of our sponsor.

(4)      Mr. Chunning Wang indirectly has substantial influence over Lion Wealth Management Limited, a 51% shareholder of our sponsor. As such, Mr. Wang is deemed to be interested in the 1,317,500 ordinary shares prior to offering and 1,405,000 ordinary shares after offering held through the sponsor.

Immediately after this offering, our initial shareholders will beneficially own approximately 23.78% of the then issued and outstanding ordinary shares (assuming none of them purchase any units offered by this prospectus). None of our initial shareholders, officers and directors has indicated to us that he intends to purchase securities in this offering. Because of the ownership block held by our initial shareholders, such individuals may be able to effectively exercise control over all matters requiring approval by our shareholders, including the election of directors and approval of significant corporate transactions other than approval of our initial business combination.

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If the underwriters do not exercise all or a portion of their over-allotment option, our initial shareholders will have up to an aggregate of 187,500 ordinary shares subject to forfeiture as required by Cayman Islands law. Our initial shareholders will be required to have redeemed by us only a number of shares necessary to maintain their collective 20% ownership interest in our ordinary shares (excluding the private units) after giving effect to the offering and the exercise, if any, of the underwriters’ over-allotment option.

All of the insider shares issued and outstanding prior to the date of this prospectus will be placed in escrow with American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as escrow agent, until the earlier of (1) six months after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination; or (2) after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination, and subsequently, we consummate a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their shares for cash, securities or other property.

During the lock-up period, the holders of these shares will not be able to sell or transfer their securities except (i) for transfers to our officers, directors or their respective affiliates (including for transfers to an entity’s members upon its liquidation), (ii) to relatives and trusts for estate planning purposes, (iii) by virtue of the laws of descent and distribution upon death, (iv) pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, (v) by certain pledges to secure obligations incurred in connection with purchases of our securities, (vi) by private sales made at or prior to the consummation of a business combination at prices no greater than the price at which the shares were originally purchased or (vii) to us for no value for cancellation in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination, in each case (except for clause (vii)) where the transferee agrees to the terms of the escrow agreement, but will retain all other rights as our shareholders, including, without limitation, the right to vote their ordinary shares and the right to receive cash dividends, if declared. If dividends are declared and payable in ordinary shares, such dividends will also be placed in escrow. If we are unable to effect a business combination and liquidate the trust account, none of our initial shareholders will receive any portion of the liquidation proceeds with respect to their insider shares.

Our sponsor has committed to purchase from us an aggregate of 310,000 private units at $10.00 per private unit (for a total purchase price of $3,100,000) or, if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full, 332,500 private units at $10.00 per private unit (for a total purchase price of $3,325,000 in the aggregate). These purchases will take place on a private placement basis simultaneously with the consummation of this offering. A portion of the proceeds we receive from these purchases will be placed in the trust account described below. The private units have terms and provisions that are identical to the units sold in this offering. Additionally, because the private units will be issued in a private transaction, the holders of the private warrants and their transferees will be allowed to exercise such warrants if a registration statement covering the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of such warrants is not effective and receive unregistered ordinary shares within 90 days after the closing of the initial business combination, in such event, each holder would surrendering such warrants for that number of ordinary shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of ordinary shares underlying the warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “fair market value” (defined below) over the warrant price by (y) the fair market value; provided, however, that no cashless exercise shall be permitted unless the fair market value is equal to or higher than the warrant price. The “fair market value” shall mean the average reported last sale price of the ordinary shares for the 10 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date of exercise.

Furthermore, our sponsor has agreed (A) to vote their ordinary shares included in the private units in favor of any proposed business combination, and (B) to vote their ordinary shares which they have acquired in the open market following the consummation of this offering in favor of any proposed business combination. Our sponsor has also agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the private units or underlying securities (except to the same permitted transferees as the insider shares and provided the transferees agree to the same terms and restrictions as the permitted transferees of the insider shares must agree to, each as described above) until the earlier of (1) six months after the completion of our initial business combination; or (2) after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination, and subsequently, we consummate a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property. Further, our sponsor has also agreed to place the private units and underlying securities the private units into escrow with American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as escrow agent, until the date of the consummation of our initial business combination

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In order to meet our working capital needs following the consummation of this offering, our initial shareholders, officers and directors or their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds, from time to time or at any time, in whatever amount they deem reasonable in their sole discretion. Each loan would be evidenced by a promissory note. The notes would either be paid upon consummation of our initial business combination, without interest, or, at the lender’s discretion, up to $1,000,000 of the notes may be converted upon consummation of our business combination into private units at a price of $10.00 per unit (which, for example, would result in the holders being issued units to acquire 110,000 ordinary shares (which includes 10,000 shares issuable upon redemption of rights) and warrants to purchase 50,000 ordinary shares if $1,000,000 of notes were so converted). Our shareholders have approved the issuance of the units and underlying securities upon conversion of such notes, to the extent the holder wishes to so convert them at the time of the consummation of our initial business combination. If we do not complete a business combination, the loans will not be repaid.

Our sponsor and our executive officers and directors are deemed to be our “promoters,” as that term is defined under the Federal securities laws.

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CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS

In April 2021, the Company further allotted 187,500 insider shares to our sponsor, resulting in an aggregate of 1,437,500 ordinary shares outstanding to our initial shareholders, which we refer to throughout this prospectus as the “insider shares,” for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or approximately $0.017 per share. If the underwriters do not exercise all or a portion of their over-allotment option, our initial shareholders have agreed that up to an aggregate of 187,500 ordinary shares in proportion to the portion of the underwriters’ over-allotment option that was not exercised are subject to forfeiture and would be immediately cancelled.

If the underwriters determine the size of the offering should be increased (including pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act) or decreased, a share capitalization or a contribution back to capital, as applicable, would be effectuated in order to maintain our initial shareholder’s ownership at a percentage of the number of shares to be sold in this offering.

Our sponsor has committed to purchase from us an aggregate of 310,000 private units at $10.00 per private unit (for a total purchase price of $3,100,000) or, if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full, 332,500 private units at $10.00 per private unit (for a total purchase price of $3,325,000 in the aggregate. These purchases will take place on a private placement basis simultaneously with the consummation of this offering. A portion of the proceeds we receive from these purchases will be placed in the trust account described below. The purchase price for the private units being purchased by our sponsor will be delivered to Loeb & Loeb LLP, our counsel in connection with this offering, who will also be acting solely as escrow agent in connection with the private sale of such units, at least 24 hours prior to the date of this prospectus to hold in a non-interest bearing account until we consummate this offering. Loeb & Loeb LLP will deposit the purchase price into the trust account simultaneously with the consummation of the offering. The private units are identical to the units sold in this offering except as otherwise described in this prospectus. Our sponsor has also agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the private units or underlying securities (except to the same permitted transferees as the insider shares and provided the transferees agree to the same terms and restrictions as the permitted transferees of the insider shares must agree to, each as described above) until the earlier of (1) six months after the completion of our initial business combination; or (2) after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination, and subsequently, we consummate a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of our shareholders having the right to exchange their ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property. Further, our sponsor has also agreed to place the private units and underlying securities the private units into escrow with American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as escrow agent, until the date of the consummation of our initial business combination

In order to meet our working capital needs following the consummation of this offering, our initial shareholders, officers and directors and their respective affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds, from time to time or at any time, in whatever amount they deem reasonable in their sole discretion. Each loan would be evidenced by a promissory note. The notes would either be paid upon consummation of our initial business combination, without interest, or, at the lender’s discretion, up to $1,000,000 of the notes may be converted upon consummation of our business combination into private units at a price of $10.00 per unit (which, for example, would result in the holders being issued units to acquire 110,000 ordinary shares (which includes 10,000 shares issuable upon redemption of rights) and warrants to purchase 50,000 ordinary shares if $1,000,000 of notes were so converted). Our shareholders have approved the issuance of the units and underlying securities upon conversion of such notes, to the extent the holder wishes to so convert them at the time of the consummation of our initial business combination. If we do not complete a business combination, the loans would be repaid out of funds not held in the trust account, and only to the extent available.

The holders of our insider shares issued and outstanding on the date of this prospectus, as well as the holders of the private units (and all underlying securities) and any securities our initial shareholders, officers, directors or their affiliates may be issued in payment of working capital loans or loans to extend our life made to us, will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to an agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of this offering. The holders of a majority of these securities are entitled to make up to two demands that we register such securities. The holders of the majority of the insider shares can elect to exercise these registration rights at any time commencing three months prior to the date on which these ordinary shares are to be released from escrow. The holders of a majority of the private units or securities issued in payment of working capital loans or loans to extend our life made to us can elect to exercise these registration rights at any time after we consummate a business combination. In addition, the

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holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to our consummation of a business combination. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.

As of April 22, 2021, our sponsor had loaned us an aggregate of $23,330 to be used to pay formation expenses and a portion of the expenses of this offering. The loan is payable without interest on the date on which we consummate our initial public offering. We intend to repay this loan from the proceeds of this offering not being placed in the trust account. If we determine not to proceed with the offering, such amounts would not be repaid.

Other than the fees described above, no compensation or fees of any kind, including finder’s fees, consulting fees or other similar compensation, will be paid to any of our initial shareholders, officers or directors who owned our ordinary shares prior to this offering, or to any of their respective affiliates, prior to or with respect to the business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is).

We will reimburse our officers and directors for any reasonable out-of-pocket business expenses incurred by them in connection with certain activities on our behalf such as identifying and investigating possible target businesses and business combinations. There is no limit on the amount of out-of-pocket expenses reimbursable by us; provided, however, that to the extent such expenses exceed the available proceeds not deposited in the trust account, such expenses would not be reimbursed by us unless we consummate an initial business combination. Our audit committee will review and approve all reimbursements and payments made to any initial shareholder or member of our management team, or our or their respective affiliates, and any reimbursements and payments made to members of our audit committee will be reviewed and approved by our Board of Directors, with any interested director abstaining from such review and approval.

All ongoing and future transactions between us and any of our officers and directors or their respective affiliates will be on terms believed by us to be no less favorable to us than are available from unaffiliated third parties. Such transactions, including the payment of any compensation, will require prior approval by a majority of our uninterested “independent” directors (to the extent we have any) or the members of our board who do not have an interest in the transaction, in either case who had access, at our expense, to our attorneys or independent legal counsel. We will not enter into any such transaction unless our disinterested “independent” directors (or, if there are no “independent” directors, our disinterested directors) determine that the terms of such transaction are no less favorable to us than those that would be available to us with respect to such a transaction from unaffiliated third parties.

Related Party Policy

Our Code of Ethics, which we will adopt upon consummation of this offering, will require us to avoid, wherever possible, all related party transactions that could result in actual or potential conflicts of interests, except under guidelines approved by the board of directors (or the audit committee). Related-party transactions are defined as transactions in which (1) the aggregate amount involved will or may be expected to exceed $120,000 in any calendar year, (2) we or any of our subsidiaries is a participant, and (3) any (a) executive officer, director or nominee for election as a director, (b) greater than 5% beneficial owner of our ordinary shares, or (c) immediate family member, of the persons referred to in clauses (a) and (b), has or will have a direct or indirect material interest (other than solely as a result of being a director or a less than 10% beneficial owner of another entity). A conflict of interest situation can arise when a person takes actions or has interests that may make it difficult to perform his or her work objectively and effectively. Conflicts of interest may also arise if a person, or a member of his or her family, receives improper personal benefits as a result of his or her position.

We also require each of our directors and executive officers to annually complete a directors’ and officers’ questionnaire that elicits information about related party transactions.

Our audit committee, pursuant to its written charter, will be responsible for reviewing and approving related-party transactions to the extent we enter into such transactions. All ongoing and future transactions between us and any of our officers and directors or their respective affiliates will be on terms believed by us to be no less favorable to us than are available from unaffiliated third parties. Such transactions will require prior approval by our audit committee and a majority of our uninterested “independent” directors, or the members of our board who do not have an interest in the transaction, in either case who had access, at our expense, to our attorneys or independent legal counsel. We will not enter into any such transaction unless our audit committee and a majority of our disinterested “independent”

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directors determine that the terms of such transaction are no less favorable to us than those that would be available to us with respect to such a transaction from unaffiliated third parties. Additionally, we require each of our directors and executive officers to complete a directors’ and officers’ questionnaire that elicits information about related party transactions.

These procedures are intended to determine whether any such related party transaction impairs the independence of a director or presents a conflict of interest on the part of a director, employee or officer.

To further minimize potential conflicts of interest, we have agreed not to consummate a business combination with an entity which is affiliated with any of our initial shareholders unless we obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm that the business combination is fair to our unaffiliated shareholders from a financial point of view. Furthermore, in no event will any of our officers, directors or initial shareholders, or any entity with which they are affiliated, be paid any finder’s fee, consulting fee or other compensation prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate, the consummation of a business combination.

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DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

General

We are a Cayman Islands exempted company (company number 374378) and our affairs are governed by our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, the Companies Act and common law of the Cayman Islands. Based upon our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, our authorized share capital consists of 500,000,000 ordinary shares with a par value of $0.0001 per share. As of the date of this prospectus, 1,437,500 ordinary shares are issued and outstanding, held by our initial shareholders. No preferred shares are issued or outstanding or authorized by the Company’s constitutional documents. The following description summarizes the material terms of our shares as set out more particularly in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. Because it is only a summary, it may not contain all the information that is important to you.

Units

Each unit consists of one ordinary share, one redeemable warrant and one right. Each redeemable warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one-half (1/2) of one ordinary share. Each redeemable warrant has an exercise price $11.50 per full share and will become exercisable on the later of 30 days after the completion of an initial business combination and 12 months from the date that the registration statement (of which this prospectus forms a part) is declared effective by the SEC, and will expire five years after the completion of our initial business combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation. Pursuant to the warrant agreement, a warrant holder may exercise its warrants only for a whole number of shares. This means that only an even number of warrants may be exercised at any given time by a warrant holder. For example, if a warrant holder holds one warrant to purchase one-half (1/2) of one share, such warrant shall not be exercisable. If a warrant holder holds two warrants, such warrants will be exercisable for one share. Each right entitles the holder thereof to receive one-tenth (1/10) of an ordinary share upon consummation of our initial business combination. In addition, we will not issue fractional shares in connection with an exchange of rights. Fractional shares will either be rounded down to the nearest whole share or otherwise addressed in accordance with the applicable provisions of Cayman Islands Law. As a result, you must hold rights in multiples of 10 in order to receive shares for all of your rights upon closing of a business combination.

The ordinary shares, warrants and rights will begin to trade separately on the 52nd business day after the date of this prospectus unless the representative determines that an earlier date is acceptable (based upon, among other things, its assessment of the relative strengths of the securities markets and small capitalization companies in general, and the trading pattern of, and demand for, our securities in particular). In no event will the representative allow separate trading of the ordinary shares, warrants and rights until we file an audited balance sheet reflecting our receipt of the gross proceeds of this offering.

We will file a Current Report on Form 8-K which includes an audited balance sheet promptly upon the consummation of this offering. The audited balance sheet will reflect proceeds we receive from the exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option, if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised on the date of this prospectus. If the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised after the date of this prospectus, we will file an amendment to the Form 8-K, or a new Form 8-K, to provide updated financial information to reflect the exercise of the over-allotment option. We will also include in this Form 8-K, an amendment thereto, or in a subsequent Form 8-K information indicating when separate trading of the ordinary shares, warrants and rights has commenced.

Ordinary Shares

Our shareholders of record are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters to be voted on by shareholders. In connection with any vote held to approve our initial business combination, all of our initial shareholders, as well as all of our officers and directors, have agreed to vote their respective ordinary shares owned by them immediately prior to this offering and any shares purchased in this offering or following this offering in the open market in favor of the proposed business combination.

We will proceed with the business combination only if we have net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001, either immediately prior to or upon consummation of our initial business combination and after payment of underwriters’ fees and commissions (so that we are not subject to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules), and a majority of the ordinary shares voted are voted in favor of the business combination. At least ten days’ notice must be given for each general meeting (although we will provide whatever minimum number of days are required under Federal securities laws). Shareholders may vote at meetings in person or by proxy.

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The members of our Board of Directors serve until the next annual general meeting. 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 eligible to vote for the election of directors can elect all of the directors.

Pursuant to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, if we do not consummate a business combination by 12 months from the date that the registration statement is declared effective (or up to 21 months if we have extended the period of time as described in this prospectus), 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 income taxes, divided by the number of the then-outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any); and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining shareholders and our board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) to our obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. Our initial shareholders have agreed to waive their rights to share in any distribution from the trust account with respect to their insider shares upon our winding up, liquidation and subsequent dissolution.

Our shareholders have no conversion, preemptive or other subscription rights and there are no sinking fund or redemption provisions applicable to the ordinary shares, except that public shareholders have the right to have their public shares converted to cash equal to their pro rata share of the trust account if they vote on the proposed business combination and the business combination is completed. Public shareholders who convert their public shares into their portion of the trust account still have the right to exercise the redeemable warrants that they received as part of the units.

Register of Members

Under the Companies Act, the ordinary shares are deemed to be issued when the name of the shareholder is entered in our register of members. Our register of members will be maintained by our transfer agent American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, which will enter the name of Cede & Co in our register of members on the closing of this offering as nominee for each of the respective public shareholders. If (a) information that is required to be entered in the register of members is omitted from the register or is inaccurately entered in the register, or (b) there is unreasonable delay in entering information in the register, a shareholder of the company, or any person who is aggrieved by the omission, inaccuracy or delay, may apply to the Cayman Islands courts for an order that the register be rectified, and the court may either refuse the application or order the rectification of the register, and may direct the company to pay all costs of the application and any damages the applicant may have sustained.

Redeemable Warrants

No warrants are currently outstanding. Each redeemable warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase one-half (1/2) of one ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as discussed below, on the later of 30 days after the consummation of our initial business combination and 12 months from the date the registration statement (of which this prospectus forms a part) is declared effective by the SEC. Pursuant to the warrant agreement, a warrant holder may exercise its warrants only for a whole number of shares. This means that only an even number of warrants may be exercised at any given time by a warrant holder. However, except as set forth below, no warrants will be exercisable for cash unless we have an effective and current registration statement covering the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants and a current prospectus relating to such ordinary shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a registration statement covering the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants is not effective within 90 days from the consummation of our initial business combination, warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when we shall have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise warrants on a cashless basis pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act provided that such exemption is available. If an exemption from registration is not available, holders will not be able to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis. 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.

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We may call the warrants for redemption, in whole and not in part, at a price of $0.01 per warrant:

•        at any time while the warrants are exercisable,

•        upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption to each warrant holder, and

•        if, and only if, the reported last sale price of the ordinary shares equals or exceeds $18.00 per share, for any 20 trading days within a 30 trading day period ending on the third trading day prior to the notice of redemption to warrant holders.

The right to exercise will be forfeited unless the warrants are exercised prior to the date specified in the notice of redemption. On and after the redemption date, a record holder of a warrant will have no further rights except to receive the redemption price for such holder’s warrant upon surrender of such warrant.

The redemption criteria for our warrants have been established at a price which is intended to provide warrant holders a reasonable premium to the initial exercise price and provide a sufficient differential between the then-prevailing share price and the warrant exercise price so that if the share price declines as a result of our redemption call, the redemption will not cause the share price to drop below the exercise price of the warrants.

If we call the warrants for redemption as described above, our management will have the option to require all holders that wish to exercise warrants to do so on a “cashless basis.” In such event, each holder would pay the exercise price by surrendering the whole warrants for that number of ordinary shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of ordinary shares underlying the warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “fair market value” (defined below) over the exercise price of the warrants by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” shall mean the average reported last sale price of the ordinary shares for the 10 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of warrants. Whether we will exercise our option to require all holders to exercise their warrants on a “cashless basis” will depend on a variety of factors including the price of our ordinary shares at the time the warrants are called for redemption, our cash needs at such time and concerns regarding dilutive share issuances.

In addition, if (x) we issue additional ordinary shares 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 ordinary share (with such issue price or effective issue price to be determined in good faith by our board of directors), (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, and (z) the Market Price 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 Market Price, and the $18.00 per share redemption trigger price described above will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the Market Price.

The warrants will be issued in registered form under a warrant agreement between American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, 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, including to conform the provisions to the description of the terms of the warrants and the warrant agreement set forth in this prospectus, or curing, correct or supplementing any defective provision or adding or changing any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the warrant agreement as the parties to the warrant agreement may deem necessary or desirable and that the parties deem shall not adversely affect the interest of the registered warrant holders. All other modifications or amendments, including any amendment to increase the warrant price or shorten the exercise period, shall require the written consent or vote of the registered holders of a majority of the then outstanding warrants. Notwithstanding the foregoing, we may lower the warrant price or extend the duration of the exercise period pursuant to provisions within the warrant agreement, without the consent of the registered holders.

The exercise price and number of ordinary shares issuable on exercise of the warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a share capitalizations, extraordinary dividend or our recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation. However, the warrants will not be adjusted for issuances of ordinary shares at a price below their respective exercise prices.

The warrants may be exercised upon surrender of the warrant certificate on or prior to the expiration date at the offices of the warrant agent, with the exercise form on the reverse side of the warrant certificate completed and executed as indicated, accompanied by full payment of the exercise price, by certified or official bank check payable to us, for the

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number of warrants being exercised. The warrant holders do not have the rights or privileges of holders of ordinary shares and any voting rights until they exercise their warrants and receive ordinary shares. After the issuance of ordinary shares upon exercise of the warrants, each holder will be entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters to be voted on by shareholders.

Except as described above, no warrants will be exercisable and we will not be obligated to issue ordinary shares unless at the time a holder seeks to exercise such warrant, a prospectus relating to the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants is current and the ordinary shares have been registered or qualified or deemed to be exempt under the securities laws of the state of residence of the holder of the warrants. Under the terms of the warrant agreement, we have agreed to use our best efforts to meet these conditions and to maintain a current prospectus relating to the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants until the expiration of the warrants. However, we cannot assure you that we will be able to do so and, if we do not maintain a current prospectus relating to the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants, holders will be unable to exercise their warrants and we will not be required to settle any such warrant exercise. If the prospectus relating to the ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of the warrants is not current or if the ordinary shares is not qualified or exempt from qualification in the jurisdictions in which the holders of the warrants reside, we will not be required to net cash settle or cash settle the warrant exercise, the warrants may have no value, the market for the warrants may be limited and the warrants may expire worthless.

Warrant holders may elect to be subject to a restriction on the exercise of their warrants such that an electing warrant holder (and his, her or its affiliates) would not be able to exercise their warrants to the extent that, after giving effect to such exercise, such holder (and his, her or its affiliates) would beneficially own in excess of 9.8% of the ordinary shares issued and outstanding.

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 (as a result of a subsequent share capitalizations payable in ordinary shares, or by a split up of the ordinary shares or other similar event), we will, upon exercise, round up or down to the nearest whole number the number of ordinary shares to be issued to the warrant holder.

Private Warrants

The private warrants have terms and provisions that are identical to those of the warrants being sold as part of the units in this offering. The private warrants (including the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the private warrants) will not be transferable, assignable or saleable until on the later of 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination (except for permitted transferees and as described herein). The permitted transferees shall mean (i) our officers, directors or their respective affiliates (including for transfers to an entity’s members upon its liquidation), (ii) to relatives and trusts for estate planning purposes, (iii) by virtue of the laws of descent and distribution upon death, (iv) pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, (v) by certain pledges to secure obligations incurred in connection with purchases of our securities, (vi) by private sales made at or prior to the consummation of a business combination at prices no greater than the price at which the shares were originally purchased or (vii) to us for no value for cancellation in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination, in each case (except for clause (vii)) where the transferee agrees to the terms of the escrow agreement, but will retain all other rights as our shareholders, including, without limitation, the right to vote their ordinary shares and the right to receive cash dividends, if declared. If dividends are declared and payable in ordinary shares, such dividends will also be placed in escrow.

Rights

Except in cases where we are not the surviving company in a business combination, each holder of a right will automatically receive one-tenth (1/10) of an ordinary share upon consummation of our initial business combination, even if the holder of a public right converted all ordinary shares held by him, her or it in connection with the initial business combination or an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association with respect to our pre-business combination activities. In the event we will not be the surviving company upon completion of our initial business combination, each holder of a right will be required to affirmatively convert his, her or its rights in order to receive the one-tenth (1/10) of a share underlying each right upon consummation of the business combination. No additional consideration will be required to be paid by a holder of rights in order to receive his, her or its additional ordinary shares upon consummation of an initial business combination. The shares issuable upon exchange of the rights will be freely tradable (except to the extent held by affiliates of ours). If we enter into a

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definitive agreement for a business combination in which we will not be the surviving entity, the definitive agreement will provide for the holders of rights to receive the same per share consideration the holders of the ordinary shares will receive in the transaction on an as-converted into ordinary shares basis.

We will not issue fractional shares in connection with an exchange of rights. Fractional shares will either be rounded down to the nearest whole share or otherwise addressed in accordance with the applicable provisions of Cayman Islands Law. As a result, you must hold rights in multiples of 10 in order to receive shares for all of your rights upon closing of a business combination. If we are unable to complete an initial business combination within the required time period and we liquidate the funds held in the trust account, holders of rights will not receive any of such funds with respect to their rights, nor will they receive any distribution from our assets held outside of the trust account with respect to such rights, and the rights will expire worthless. Further, there are no contractual penalties for failure to deliver securities to the holders of the rights upon consummation of an initial business combination. Additionally, in no event will we be required to net cash settle the rights. Accordingly, the rights may expire worthless.

Unit Purchase Option

We have agreed to sell to the representative (and/or its designees) an option to purchase up to a total of 250,000 units (or 287,500 units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) at $11.00 per unit. For a more complete description of the unit purchase option, see the section below entitled “Underwriting — Unit Purchase Option.”

Dividends

We have not paid any cash dividends on our ordinary shares to date and do not intend to pay cash dividends prior to the completion of a business combination. The payment of cash dividends in the future will be dependent upon our revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements and general financial condition subsequent to completion of a business combination. The payment of any dividends subsequent to a business combination will be within the discretion of our then board of directors. It is the present intention of our board of directors to retain all earnings, if any, for use in our business operations and, accordingly, our board does not anticipate declaring any dividends in the foreseeable future.

Our Transfer Agent, Warrant Agent and Rights Agent

The transfer agent for our ordinary shares, warrant agent for our warrants, and rights agent for our rights is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, 6201 15th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11219.

Listing of our Securities

There is presently no public market for our units, ordinary shares, warrants or rights. We have applied to have the units, and the ordinary shares, warrants and rights once they begin separate trading, listed on Nasdaq under the symbols “AIACU,” “AIAC,” “AIACW,” and “AIACR,” respectively. Although, after giving effect to this offering, we meet on a pro forma basis the minimum initial listing standards of Nasdaq, which generally only requires that we meet certain requirements relating to shareholders’ equity, market capitalization, aggregate market value of publicly held shares and distribution requirements, we cannot assure you that our securities will continue to be listed on Nasdaq as we might not meet certain continued listing standards.

Certain Differences in Corporate Law

Cayman Islands companies are governed by the Companies Act. The Companies Act is modeled on English Law but does not follow recent English Law statutory enactments, and differs from laws applicable to United States corporations and their shareholders. Set forth below is a summary of the material differences between the provisions of the Companies Act applicable to us and the laws applicable to companies incorporated in the United States and their shareholders.

Mergers and Similar Arrangements.    In certain circumstances, the Companies Act allows for mergers or consolidations between two Cayman Islands companies, or between a Cayman Islands exempted company and a company incorporated in another jurisdiction (provided that is facilitated by the laws of that other jurisdiction) so as to form a single surviving company.

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Where the merger or consolidation is between two Cayman Islands companies, the directors of each company must approve a written plan of merger or consolidation containing certain prescribed information. That plan or merger or consolidation must then be authorized by either (a) a special resolution (usually a majority of two thirds of the votes of shareholders who attend and vote at a general meeting) of the shareholders of each company; or (b) such other authorization, if any, as may be specified in such constituent company’s articles of association. No shareholder resolution is required for a merger between a parent company (i.e., a company that owns at least 90% of the votes at a general meeting in a subsidiary company) and its subsidiary company. The consent of each holder of a fixed or floating security interest of a constituent company must be obtained, unless the court waives such requirement. If the Cayman Islands Registrar of Companies is satisfied that the requirements of the Companies Act (which includes certain other formalities) have been complied with, the Registrar of Companies will register the plan of merger or consolidation.

Where the merger or consolidation involves a foreign company, the procedure is similar, save that with respect to the foreign company, the directors of the Cayman Islands exempted company are required to make a declaration to the effect that, having made due enquiry, they are of the opinion that the requirements set out below have been met: (i) that the merger or consolidation is permitted or not prohibited by the constitutional documents of the foreign company and by the laws of the jurisdiction in which the foreign company is incorporated, and that those laws and any requirements of those constitutional documents have been or will be complied with; (ii) that no petition or other similar proceeding has been filed and remains outstanding or order made or resolution adopted to wind up or liquidate the foreign company in any jurisdictions; (iii) that no receiver, trustee, administrator or other similar person has been appointed in any jurisdiction and is acting in respect of the foreign company, its affairs or its property or any part thereof; (iv) that no scheme, order, compromise or other similar arrangement has been entered into or made in any jurisdiction whereby the rights of creditors of the foreign company are and continue to be suspended or restricted.

Where the surviving company is the Cayman Islands exempted company, the directors of the Cayman Islands exempted company are further required to make a declaration to the effect that, having made due enquiry, they are of the opinion that the requirements set out below have been met: (i) that the foreign company is able to pay its debts as they fall due and that the merger or consolidated is bona fide and not intended to defraud unsecured creditors of the foreign company; (ii) that in respect of the transfer of any security interest granted by the foreign company to the surviving or consolidated company (a) consent or approval to the transfer has been obtained, released or waived; (b) the transfer is permitted by and has been approved in accordance with the constitutional documents of the foreign company; and (c) the laws of the jurisdiction of the foreign company with respect to the transfer have been or will be complied with; (iii) that the foreign company will, upon the merger or consolidation becoming effective, cease to be incorporated, registered or exist under the laws of the relevant foreign jurisdiction; and (iv) that there is no other reason why it would be against the public interest to permit the merger or consolidation.

Where the above procedures are adopted, the Companies Act provides for a right of dissenting shareholders to be paid a payment of the fair value of his, her or its shares upon their dissenting to the merger or consolidation if they follow a prescribed procedure. In essence, that procedure is as follows (a) the shareholder must give his written objection to the merger or consolidation to the constituent company before the vote on the merger or consolidation, including a statement that the shareholder proposes to demand payment for his shares if the merger or consolidation is authorized by the vote; (b) within 20 days following the date on which the merger or consolidation is approved by the shareholders, the constituent company must give written notice to each shareholder who made a written objection; (c) a shareholder must within 20 days following receipt of such notice from the constituent company, give the constituent company a written notice of his intention to dissent including, among other details, a demand for payment of the fair value of his shares; (d) within seven days following the date of the expiration of the period set out in paragraph (b) above or seven days following the date on which the plan of merger or consolidation is filed, whichever is later, the constituent company, the surviving company or the consolidated company must make a written offer to each dissenting shareholder to purchase his shares at a price that the company determines is the fair value and if the company and the shareholder agree the price within 30 days following the date on which the offer was made, the company must pay the shareholder such amount; (e) if the company and the shareholder fail to agree a price within such 30 day period, within 20 days following the date on which such 30 day period expires, the company must (and any dissenting shareholder may) file a petition with the Cayman Islands Grand Court to determine the fair value and such petition must be accompanied by a list of the names and addresses of the dissenting shareholders with whom agreements as to the fair value of their shares have not been reached by the company. At the hearing of that petition, the court has the power to determine the fair value of the shares together with a fair rate of interest, if any, to be paid by the company upon the amount determined to be the fair value. Any dissenting shareholder whose name appears on the list filed by the company may participate fully in all proceedings until the determination of fair value is reached. These rights of a

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dissenting shareholder are not be available in certain circumstances, for example, to dissenters holding shares of any class in respect of which an open market exists on a recognized stock exchange or recognized interdealer quotation system at the relevant date or where the consideration for such shares to be contributed are shares of any company listed on a national securities exchange or shares of the surviving or consolidated company.

Moreover, Cayman Islands law also has separate statutory provisions that facilitate the reconstruction or amalgamation of companies in certain circumstances, schemes of arrangement will generally be more suited for complex mergers or other transactions involving widely held companies, commonly referred to in the Cayman Islands as a “scheme of arrangement” which may be tantamount to a merger. In the event that a merger was sought pursuant to a scheme of arrangement (the procedure of which are more rigorous and take longer to complete than the procedures typically required to consummate a merger in the United States), the arrangement in question must be approved by a majority in number of each class of shareholders and creditors with whom the arrangement is to be made and who must in addition represent three-fourths in value of each such class of shareholders or creditors, as the case may be, that are present and voting either in person or by proxy at a meeting, or meeting summoned for that purpose. The convening of the meetings and subsequently the terms of the arrangement must be sanctioned by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands. While a dissenting shareholder would have the right to express to the court the view that the transaction should not be approved, the court can be expected to approve the arrangement if it satisfies itself that:

•        we are not proposing to act illegally or beyond the scope of our corporate authority and the statutory provisions as to majority vote have been complied with;

•        the shareholders have been fairly represented at the meeting in question;

•        the arrangement is such as a businessman would reasonably approve; and

•        the arrangement is not one that would more properly be sanctioned under some other provision of the Companies Act or that would amount to a “fraud on the minority.”

If a scheme of arrangement or takeover offer (as described below) is approved, any dissenting shareholder would have no rights comparable to appraisal rights, which would otherwise ordinarily be available to dissenting shareholders of United States corporations, providing rights to receive payment in cash for the judicially determined value of the shares.

Squeeze-out Provisions.    When a takeover offer is made and accepted by holders of 90% of the shares to whom the offer relates within four months after making such offer, the offeror may, within a two-month period, require the holders of the remaining shares to transfer such shares on the terms of the offer. An objection can be made to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands but this is unlikely to succeed unless there is evidence of fraud, bad faith, collusion or inequitable treatment of the shareholders.

Further, transactions similar to a merger, reconstruction and/or an amalgamation may in some circumstances be achieved through other means to these statutory provisions, such as a share capital exchange, asset acquisition or control, through contractual arrangements, of an operating business.

Shareholders’ Suits.    Derivative actions have been brought in the Cayman Islands courts, and the Cayman Islands courts have confirmed the availability for such actions. In most cases, we will be the proper plaintiff in any claim based on a breach of duty owed to us, and a claim against (for example) our officers or directors usually may not be brought by a shareholder. However, based both on Cayman Islands authorities and on English authorities, which would in all likelihood be of persuasive authority and be applied by a court in the Cayman Islands, exceptions to the foregoing principle apply in circumstances in which:

•        a company is acting, or proposing to act, illegally or beyond the scope of its authority;

•        the act complained of, although not beyond the scope of the authority, could be effected if duly authorized by more than the number of votes which have actually been obtained; or

•        those who control the company are perpetrating a “fraud on the minority.”

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A shareholder may have a direct right of action against us where the individual rights of that shareholder have been infringed or are about to be infringed.

Enforcement of Civil Liabilities.    The Cayman Islands has a different body of securities laws as compared to the United States and provides less protection to investors. Additionally, Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to sue before the Federal courts of the United States.

We have been advised by our Cayman Islands legal counsel that there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the Cayman Islands would (i) recognize or enforce against us judgments of courts of the United States predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States or any state; and (ii) entertain original actions brought in each respective jurisdiction against us or our directors and officers predicated upon the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States. There is no statutory enforcement in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the United States, although the courts of the Cayman Islands will in certain circumstances recognize and enforce such foreign money judgment without re-examination or re-litigation of matters adjudicated upon, provided that (1) the U.S. court issuing the judgment is of competent jurisdiction; (2) the U.S. Judgment is final and for a liquidated sum; (3) the judgment given by the U.S. Court was not in respect of taxes or a fine or penalty or similar fiscal or revenue obligation of the company; (4) in obtaining judgment there was no fraud on part of the person in whose favour judgment was given or on part of the court; (5) recognition or enforcement of the judgment would not be contrary to public policy in the Cayman Islands; and (6) the proceedings pursuant to which judgment was obtained were not contrary to natural justice. A Cayman Islands Court may stay enforcement proceedings if concurrent proceedings are being brought elsewhere.

Special Considerations for Exempted Companies.    We are an exempted company with limited liability (meaning our public shareholders have no liability, as members of the Company, for liabilities of the Company over and above the amount paid for their shares) under the Companies Act. The Companies Act distinguishes between ordinary resident companies and exempted companies. Any company that is registered in the Cayman Islands but conducts business mainly outside of the Cayman Islands may apply to be registered as an exempted company. The requirements for an exempted company are essentially the same as for an ordinary company except for the exemptions and privileges listed below:

•        annual reporting requirements are minimal and consist mainly of a statement that the company has conducted its operations mainly outside of the Cayman Islands and has complied with the provisions of the Companies Act;

•        an exempted company’s register of members is not open to inspection;

•        an exempted company does not have to hold an annual general meeting;

•        an exempted company may not issue negotiable or bearer shares, but may issue shares with no par value;

•        an exempted company may obtain an undertaking against the imposition of any future taxation (such undertakings are usually given for 20 years in the first instance);

•        an exempted company may register by way of continuation in another jurisdiction and be deregistered in the Cayman Islands;

•        an exempted company may register as a limited duration company; and

•        an exempted company may register as a segregated portfolio company.

Our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association

Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will contain certain requirements and restrictions relating to this offering that will apply to us until the completion of our initial business combination. These provisions cannot be amended without a special resolution. As a matter of Cayman Islands law, a resolution is deemed to be a special resolution where it has been approved by either (i) at least two-thirds (or any higher threshold specified in a company’s articles of association) of a company’s shareholders who, being entitled to do so, attend and vote at a general meeting for which notice specifying the intention to propose the resolution as a special resolution has been given; or (ii) if so authorized by a company’s articles of association, by a unanimous written resolution of all of the company’s shareholders. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will provide that special

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resolutions must be approved either by at least two-thirds of our shareholders who, being entitled to do so, attend and vote at a general meeting for which notice specifying the intention to propose the resolution as a special resolution has been given (i.e., the lowest threshold permissible under Cayman Islands law), or by a unanimous written resolution of all of our shareholders.

Our sponsor, who will beneficially own 23.78% of our ordinary shares upon the closing of this offering (assuming it does not purchase units in this offering, including ownership of the private placement units, assuming our sponsor forfeits 187,500 shares due to no exercise of the underwriter’s over-allotment option), will participate in any vote to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and will have the discretion to vote in any manner it chooses. Specifically, our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will provide, among other things, that:

•        if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 12 months from the date that the registration statement is declared effective (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the period of time to consummate a business combination, as described in more detail in this prospectus), 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 (net of taxes payable and less interest to pay dissolution expenses up to $50,000) divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining shareholders and our Board of Directors, liquidate and dissolve;

•        prior to our initial business combination, we may not issue additional ordinary shares that would entitle the holders thereof to (i) receive funds from the trust account or (ii) vote on any initial business combination;

•        although we do not intend to enter into a business combination with a target business that is affiliated with our sponsor, our directors or our officers, we are not prohibited from doing so. In the event we enter into such a transaction, we, or a committee of independent directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent firm that commonly renders valuation opinions for the type of company we are seeking to acquire or an independent accounting firm, that such a business combination is fair to our company from a financial point of view;

•        if a shareholder vote on our initial business combination is not required by law and we do not decide to hold a shareholder vote for business or other legal reasons, we will offer to redeem our public shares pursuant to Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act, and will file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing our initial business combination which contain substantially the same financial and other information about our initial business combination and the redemption rights as is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act;

•        so long as we obtain and maintain a listing for our securities on the NASDAQ and the approval by a majority of our board, including a majority of the independent directors, our initial business combination must occur with one or more target businesses that together have an aggregate fair market value of at least 80% of our assets held in the trust account (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on the income earned on the trust account) at the time of the agreement to enter into the initial business combination;

•        If our shareholders approve an amendment to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association that would (i) modify the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete our initial business combination within 12 months from the date that the registration statement is declared effective (or up to 21 months from the closing of this offering if we extend the period of time to consummate a business combination, as described in more detail in this prospectus) or (ii) with respect to the other provisions relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-business combination activity, we will provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a

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portion of their ordinary shares upon such approval at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable) divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares; and

•        we will not effectuate our initial business combination with another blank check company or a similar company with nominal operations.

In addition, our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will provide that under no circumstances will we redeem our public shares in an amount that would cause our net tangible assets to be less than $5,000,001 either immediately prior to or upon consummation of our initial business combination, after payment of the deferred underwriting commission.

The Companies Act permits a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands to amend its memorandum and articles of association with the approval of a special resolution which requires the approval of the holders of at least two-thirds of such company’s shareholders who, being entitled to do so, attend and vote at a general meeting or by way of unanimous written resolution. A company’s articles of association may specify that the approval of a higher majority is required but, provided the approval of the required majority is obtained, any Cayman Islands exempted company may amend its memorandum and articles of association regardless of whether its memorandum and articles of association provides otherwise. Accordingly, although we could amend any of the provisions relating to our proposed offering, structure and business plan which are contained in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, we view all of these provisions as binding obligations to our shareholders and neither we, nor our officers or directors, will take any action to amend or waive any of these provisions unless we provide dissenting public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares.

Anti-Money Laundering — Cayman Islands

In order to comply with legislation or regulations aimed at the prevention of money laundering, we are required to adopt and maintain anti-money laundering procedures, and may require subscribers to provide evidence to verify their identity and source of funds. Where permitted, and subject to certain conditions, we may also delegate the maintenance of our anti-money laundering procedures (including the acquisition of due diligence information) to a suitable person.

We reserve the right to request such information as is necessary to verify the identity of a subscriber. In some cases the directors may be satisfied that no further information is required since an exemption applies under the Anti-Money Laundering Regulations (Revised) of the Cayman Islands, as amended and revised from time to time (the “Regulations”) or any other applicable law. Depending on the circumstances of each application, a detailed verification of identity might not be required where:

(a)     the subscriber makes the payment for their investment from an account held in the subscriber’s name at a recognized financial institution; or

(b)    the subscriber is regulated by a recognized regulatory authority and is based or incorporated in, or formed under the law of, a recognized jurisdiction; or

(c)     the application is made through an intermediary which is regulated by a recognized regulatory authority and is based in or incorporated in, or formed under the law of a recognized jurisdiction and an assurance is provided in relation to the procedures undertaken on the underlying investors.

For the purposes of these exceptions, recognition of a financial institution, regulatory authority or jurisdiction will be determined in accordance with the Regulations by reference to those jurisdictions recognized by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority as having equivalent anti-money laundering regulations.

In the event of delay or failure on the part of the subscriber in producing any information required for verification purposes, we may refuse to accept the application, in which case any funds received will be returned without interest to the account from which they were originally debited.

We also reserve the right to refuse to make any payment to a shareholder if our directors or officers suspect or are advised that the payment to such shareholder might result in a breach of applicable anti-money laundering or other laws or regulations by any person in any relevant jurisdiction, or if such refusal is considered necessary or appropriate to ensure our compliance with any such laws or regulations in any applicable jurisdiction.

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If any person in the Cayman Islands knows or suspects or has reasonable grounds for knowing or suspecting that another person is engaged in criminal conduct or money laundering or is involved with terrorism or terrorist financing and property and the information for that knowledge or suspicion came to their attention in the course of business in the regulated sector, or other trade, profession, business or employment, the person will be required to report such knowledge or suspicion to (i) the Financial Reporting Authority (“FRA”) of the Cayman Islands, pursuant to the Proceeds of Crime Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands if the disclosure relates to criminal conduct or money laundering, or (ii) a police officer of the rank of constable or higher, or the FRA, pursuant to the Terrorism Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands, if the disclosure relates to involvement with terrorism or terrorist financing and property. Such a report shall not be treated as a breach of confidence or of any restriction upon the disclosure of information imposed by any enactment or otherwise.

Certain Anti-Takeover Provisions of our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association

Our authorized but unissued ordinary shares are available for future issuances without shareholder approval and could be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future offerings to raise additional capital, acquisitions and employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued and unreserved ordinary shares could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.

Data Protection in the Cayman Islands — Privacy Notice

This privacy notice explains the manner in which the company collects, processes and maintains personal data about investors of the company pursuant to the Data Protection Act, 2017 of the Cayman Islands, as amended from time to time and any regulations, codes of practice or orders promulgated pursuant thereto (“DPA”).

The company is committed to processing personal data in accordance with the DPA. In its use of personal data, the company will be characterized under the DPA as a ‘data controller’, whilst certain of the company’s service providers, affiliates and delegates may act as ‘data processors’ under the DPA. These service providers may process personal information for their own lawful purposes in connection with services provided to the company.

This privacy notice puts our shareholders on notice that, by virtue of making an investment in the company, the company and certain of the company’s service providers may collect, record, store, transfer and otherwise process personal data by which individuals may be directly or indirectly identified.

Your personal data will be processed fairly and for lawful purposes, including (a) where the processing is necessary for the company to perform a contract to which you are a party or for taking pre-contractual steps at your request (b) where the processing is necessary for compliance with any legal, tax or regulatory obligation to which the company is subject or (c) where the processing is for the purposes of legitimate interests pursued by the company or by a service provider to whom the data are disclosed. As a data controller, we will only use your personal data for the purposes for which we collected it. If we need to use your personal data for an unrelated purpose, we will contact you.

We anticipate that we will share your personal data with the company’s service providers for the purposes set out in this privacy notice. We may also share relevant personal data where it is lawful to do so and necessary to comply with our contractual obligations or your instructions or where it is necessary or desirable to do so in connection with any regulatory reporting obligations. In exceptional circumstances, we will share your personal data with regulatory, prosecuting and other governmental agencies or departments, and parties to litigation (whether pending or threatened), in any country or territory including to any other person where we have a public or legal duty to do so (e.g. to assist with detecting and preventing fraud, tax evasion and financial crime or compliance with a court order).

Your personal data shall not be held by the company for longer than necessary with regard to the purposes of the data processing.

We will not sell your personal data. Any transfer of personal data outside of the Cayman Islands shall be in accordance with the requirements of the DPA. Where necessary, we will ensure that separate and appropriate legal agreements are put in place with the recipient of that data.

The company will only transfer personal data in accordance with the requirements of the DPA, and will apply appropriate technical and organizational information security measures designed to protect against unauthorized or unlawful processing of the personal data and against the accidental loss, destruction or damage to the personal data.

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If you are a natural person, this will affect you directly. If you are a corporate investor (including, for these purposes, legal arrangements such as trusts or exempted limited partnerships) that provides us with personal data on individuals connected to you for any reason in relation to your investment into the company, this will be relevant for those individuals and you should inform such individuals of the content.

You have certain rights under the DPA, including (a) the right to be informed as to how we collect and use your personal data (and this privacy notice fulfils the Company’s obligation in this respect) (b) the right to obtain a copy of your personal data (c) the right to require us to stop direct marketing (d) the right to have inaccurate or incomplete personal data corrected (e) the right to withdraw your consent and require us to stop processing or restrict the processing, or not begin the processing of your personal data (f) the right to be notified of a data breach (unless the breach is unlikely to be prejudicial) (g) the right to obtain information as to any countries or territories outside the Cayman Islands to which we, whether directly or indirectly, transfer, intend to transfer or wish to transfer your personal data, general measures we take to ensure the security of personal data and any information available to us as to the source of your personal data (h) the right to complain to the Office of the Ombudsman of the Cayman Islands and (i) the right to require us to delete your personal data in some limited circumstances.

If you consider that your personal data has not been handled correctly, or you are not satisfied with the company’s responses to any requests you have made regarding the use of your personal data, you have the right to complain to the Cayman Islands’ Ombudsman. The Ombudsman can be contacted by calling +1 (345) 946-6283 or by email at info@ombudsman.ky.

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SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

Immediately after this offering, we will have 6,560,000 ordinary shares issued and outstanding, or 7,520,000 shares if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full. Of these shares, the 5,000,000 shares sold in this offering, or 5,750,000 shares if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full, will be freely tradable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act, except for any shares purchased by one of our affiliates within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act. All of the remaining shares are restricted securities under Rule 144, in that they were issued in private transactions not involving a public offering. All of those shares will not be transferable except in limited circumstances described elsewhere in this prospectus.

Rule 144

Pursuant to Rule 144, a person who has beneficially owned restricted ordinary shares 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. Persons who have beneficially owned restricted ordinary shares for at least six months but who are our affiliates at the time of, or any time during the three months preceding, a sale, would be subject to additional restrictions, by which such person would be entitled to sell within any three-month period a number of shares that does not exceed the greater of:

•        1% of the number of ordinary shares then issued and outstanding, which will equal 65,600 shares immediately after this offering (or 75,200 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full); and

•        the average weekly trading volume of the ordinary shares during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a notice on Form 144 with respect to the sale.

Sales under Rule 144 are also limited by manner of sale provisions and notice requirements and to the availability of current public information about us.

Restrictions on the Use of Rule 144 by Shell Companies or Former Shell Companies

Historically, the SEC staff had taken the position that Rule 144 is not available for the resale of securities initially issued by companies that are, or previously were, blank check companies, like us. The SEC has codified and expanded this position in the amendments discussed above by prohibiting the use of Rule 144 for resale of securities issued by any shell companies (other than business combination related shell companies) or any issuer that has been at any time previously a shell company.

The SEC has provided an important exception to this prohibition, however, if the following conditions are met:

•        the issuer of the securities that was formerly a shell company has ceased to be a shell company;

•        the issuer of the securities is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act;

•        the issuer of the securities has filed all Exchange Act reports and material required to be filed, as applicable, during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the issuer was required to file such reports and materials), other than Form 8-K reports; and

•        at least one year has elapsed from the time that the issuer filed current Form 10 type information with the SEC reflecting its status as an entity that is not a shell company.

As a result, it is likely that pursuant to Rule 144, our initial shareholders will be able to sell their insider shares freely without registration one year after we have completed our initial business combination assuming they are not an affiliate of ours at that time.

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Registration Rights

The holders of our insider shares issued and outstanding on the date of this prospectus, as well as the holders of the private units (and all underlying securities) and any securities our initial shareholders, officers, directors or their affiliates may be issued in payment of working capital loans or loans to extend our life made to us, will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to an agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of this offering. The holders of a majority of these securities are entitled to make up to two demands that we register such securities. The holders of the majority of the insider shares can elect to exercise these registration rights at any time commencing three months prior to the date on which these ordinary shares are to be released from escrow. The holders of a majority of the private units or securities issued in payment of working capital loans or loans to extend our life made to us can elect to exercise these registration rights at any time after we consummate a business combination. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to our consummation of a business combination. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.

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TAXATION

The following summary of the material Cayman Islands and U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in our units, ordinary shares, rights and warrants to acquire our ordinary shares, sometimes referred to, individually or collectively, in this summary as our “securities,” is based upon laws and relevant interpretations thereof in effect as of the date of this prospectus, all of which are subject to change. This summary does not deal with all possible tax consequences relating to an investment in our securities, such as the tax consequences under state, local and other tax laws.

Cayman Islands Taxation

The following is a discussion on certain Cayman Islands income tax consequences of an investment in our securities. The discussion is a general summary of present law, which is subject to prospective and retroactive change. It is not intended as tax advice, does not consider any investor’s particular circumstances, and does not consider tax consequences other than those arising under Cayman Islands law.

Under Existing Cayman Islands Laws

Payments of dividends and capital in respect of our securities will not be subject to taxation in the Cayman Islands and no withholding will be required on the payment of a dividend or capital to any holder of the securities nor will gains derived from the disposal of the securities be subject to Cayman Islands income or corporation tax. The Cayman Islands currently have no income, corporation or capital gains tax and no estate duty, inheritance tax or gift tax.

No stamp duty is payable in respect of the issue of our securities or on an instrument of transfer in respect of our securities.

The Company is incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands as an exempted company with limited liability and, as such, has received an undertaking from the Financial Secretary of the Cayman Islands in the following form:

The Tax Concessions Act
(Revised)
Undertaking as to Tax Concessions

In accordance with the provision of section 6 of The Tax Concessions Act (Revised), the Financial Secretary undertakes with Aquarius I Acquisition Corp. (“the Company”).

1       That no law which is hereafter enacted in the Cayman Islands imposing any tax to be levied on profits, income, gains or appreciations shall apply to the Company or its operations; and

2       In addition, that no tax to be levied on profits, income, gains or appreciations or which is in the nature of estate duty or inheritance tax shall be payable:

2.1    on or in respect of the shares, debentures or other obligations of the Company;

OR

2.2    by way of the withholding in whole or part, of any relevant payment as defined in the Tax Concessions Act (Revised).

3       These concessions shall be for a period of twenty years from May 11, 2021.

United States Federal Income Taxation

General

This section is a general summary of the material U.S. federal income tax provisions relating to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our securities issued pursuant to this offering. This section does not address any aspect of U.S. federal gift or estate tax, or the state, local or non-U.S. tax consequences of an investment in our securities, nor does it provide any actual representations as to any tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership or disposition of our securities.

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Because the components of a unit are separable at the option of the holder within a short period of time after the date of this prospectus, the holder of a unit generally should be treated, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as the owner of the underlying ordinary share, warrant and right components of the unit, as the case may be. As a result, the discussion below of the U.S. federal income tax consequences with respect to actual holders of ordinary shares, warrants and rights should also apply to holders of units (as the deemed owners of the underlying ordinary shares, warrants and rights that comprise the units).

The discussion below of the U.S. federal income tax consequences to “U.S. Holders” will apply to a beneficial owner of our securities that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

•        an individual citizen or resident of the United States;

•        a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation) that is created or organized (or treated as created or organized) in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

•        an estate whose income is includible in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes regardless of its source; or

•        a trust if (i) a U.S. court can exercise primary supervision over the trust’s administration and one or more U.S. persons are authorized to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or (ii) it has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person.

If a beneficial owner of our securities is not described as a U.S. Holder and is not an entity treated as a partnership or other pass-through entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such owner will be considered a “Non-U.S. Holder.” The material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition ownership and disposition of our securities applicable specifically to Non-U.S. Holders are described below under the heading “Non-U.S. Holders.”

This discussion is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), its legislative history, Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, published rulings and court decisions, all as currently in effect. These authorities are subject to change or differing interpretations, possibly on a retroactive basis.

This discussion assumes that the ordinary shares, warrants and rights will trade separately and does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to any particular holder based on such holder’s individual circumstances. In particular, this discussion considers only holders purchase units pursuant to this offering and own and hold our securities as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code, and does not address the potential application of the alternative minimum tax. In addition, this discussion does not address the U.S. federal income tax consequences to holders that are subject to special rules, including:

•        financial institutions or financial services entities;

•        broker-dealers;

•        taxpayers that are subject to the mark-to-market accounting rules under Section 475 of the Code;

•        tax-exempt entities;

•        governments or agencies or instrumentalities thereof;

•        insurance companies;

•        regulated investment companies;

•        real estate investment trusts;

•        expatriates or former long-term residents of the United States;

•        persons that actually or constructively own 5 percent or more of our voting shares;

•        persons that acquired our securities pursuant to an exercise of employee share options, in connection with employee share incentive plans or otherwise as compensation;

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•        persons that hold our securities as part of a straddle, constructive sale, hedging, conversion or other integrated transaction;

•        persons whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar;

•        controlled foreign corporations; or

•        passive foreign investment companies.

This discussion does not address any aspect of U.S. federal non-income tax laws, such as gift or estate tax laws, state, local or non-U.S. tax laws or, except as discussed herein, any tax reporting obligations of a holder of our securities. Additionally, this discussion does not consider the tax treatment of partnerships or other pass-through entities or persons who hold our securities through such entities. If a partnership (or other entity classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) is the beneficial owner of our securities, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner in the partnership generally will depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. This discussion also assumes that any distributions made (or deemed made) by us on our securities shares and any consideration received (or deemed received) by a holder in consideration for the sale or other disposition of our securities will be in U.S. dollars. In addition, this discussion assumes that a holder will own a sufficient number of rights (in multiples of 10) such that upon conversion of the rights, the holder will acquire only a whole number of ordinary shares and will not forfeit any fractional securities.

We have not sought, and will not seek, a ruling from the IRS of an opinion of counsel as to any U.S. federal income tax consequence described herein. The IRS may disagree with the descriptions herein, and its determination may be upheld by a court. Moreover, there can be no assurance that future legislation, regulations, administrative rulings or court decisions will not adversely affect the accuracy of the statements in this discussion.

THIS DISCUSSION IS ONLY A SUMMARY OF THE MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR SECURITIES. IT DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY ACTUAL REPRESENTATIONS AS TO ANY TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR SECURITIES AND WE HAVE NOT OBTAINED ANY OPINION OF COUNSEL WITH RESPECT TO SUCH TAX CONSEQUENCES. AS A RESULT, EACH PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR IN OUR SECURITIES IS URGED TO CONSULT ITS OWN TAX ADVISOR WITH RESPECT TO THE PARTICULAR TAX CONSEQUENCES TO SUCH INVESTOR OF THE ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR SECURITIES, INCLUDING THE APPLICABILITY AND EFFECT OF ANY STATE, LOCAL, AND NON-U.S. TAX LAWS, AS WELL AS U.S. FEDERAL TAX LAWS AND ANY APPLICABLE TAX TREATIES.

Allocation of Purchase Price and Characterization of a Unit

There is no authority addressing the treatment, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, of securities with terms substantially the same as the units, and, therefore, that treatment is not entirely clear. Each unit should be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as an investment unit consisting of one ordinary share, one warrant to acquire one-half (1/2) of one ordinary share and one right to acquire one-tenth (1/10) of one ordinary share. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, each holder of a unit generally must allocate the purchase price of a unit among the ordinary share, one warrant and right that comprise the unit based on the relative fair market value of each at the time of issuance. The price allocated to each ordinary share, one warrant and right generally will be the holder’s tax basis in such share, one warrant or right, as the case may be.

In addition, although we intend to treat the rights for U.S. federal income tax purposes in a manner similar to options to acquire our ordinary shares in the future, there is a risk that alternate characterizations of the rights could result in U.S. federal income tax consequences to the holders of the rights that differ from those described below.

The foregoing treatment of our ordinary shares, warrants and rights and a holder’s purchase price allocation are not binding on the IRS or the courts. Because there are no authorities that directly address instruments that are similar to the units, no assurance can be given that the IRS or the courts will agree with the characterization described above or the discussion below. Accordingly, each holder is advised to consult its own tax advisor regarding the risks associated with an investment in a unit (including alternative characterizations of a unit or the components thereof) and regarding an allocation of the purchase price among the components of a unit. The balance of this discussion assumes that the characterization of the units (and the components thereof) and any allocations of the purchase price of a unit as described above is respected for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

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U.S. Holders

Tax Reporting

Certain U.S. Holders may be required to file an IRS Form 926 (Return by a U.S. Transferor of Property to a Foreign Corporation) to report a transfer of property (including cash) to us. Substantial penalties may be imposed on a U.S. Holder that fails to comply with this reporting requirement. Each U.S. Holder is urged to consult with its own tax advisor regarding this reporting obligation.

Taxation of Distributions Paid on Ordinary Shares

Subject to the passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”) rules discussed below, a U.S. Holder generally will be required to include in gross income as dividends the amount of any cash dividend paid on our ordinary shares. A cash distribution on such shares generally will be treated as a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent the distribution is paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles). Such dividends paid by us will be taxable to a corporate U.S. holder at regular rates and will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction generally allowed to domestic corporations in respect of dividends received from other domestic corporations. Distributions in excess of such earnings and profits generally will be applied against and reduce the U.S. Holder’s basis in its ordinary shares (but not below zero) and, to the extent in excess of such basis, will be treated as gain from the sale or exchange of such ordinary shares. With respect to non-corporate U.S. Holders, dividends may be subject to the lower applicable long-term capital gains tax rate (see “— Taxation on the Disposition of Securities” below) if our ordinary shares are readily tradeable on an established securities market in the United States and certain other requirements are met. U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the availability of the lower rate for any cash dividends paid with respect to our ordinary shares.

Possible Constructive Distributions

The terms of each warrant provide for an adjustment to the number of shares for which the warrant may be exercised or to the exercise price of the warrant in certain events. An adjustment which has the effect of preventing dilution generally is not taxable. However, the U.S. Holders of the warrants would be treated as receiving a constructive distribution from us if, for example, the adjustment increases the warrant holders’ proportionate interest in our assets or earnings and profits (e.g., through an increase in the number of ordinary shares that would be obtained upon exercise) as a result of a distribution of cash to the holders of our ordinary shares which is taxable to the U.S. Holders of such ordinary shares as described under “— Taxation of Distributions Paid on Ordinary Shares” above. Such constructive distribution would be subject to tax as described under that section 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.

Taxation on the Disposition of Securities

Upon a sale or other taxable disposition of our securities (which, in general, would include a redemption of ordinary shares, as discussed below, and including as a result of a liquidation and subsequent dissolution in the event we do not consummate an initial business combination within the required time), and subject to the PFIC rules discussed below, 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 securities.

The regular U.S. federal income tax rate on capital gains recognized by U.S. Holders generally is the same as the regular U.S. federal income tax rate on ordinary income, except that under tax law currently in effect long-term capital gains recognized by non-corporate U.S. Holders are generally subject to U.S. federal income tax at reduced rates. Capital gain or loss will constitute long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the securities exceeds one year. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to various limitations. U.S. Holders who recognize losses with respect to a disposition of our securities should consult their own tax advisors regarding the tax treatment of such losses.

Redemption of Ordinary Shares

Subject to the PFIC rules described below, if a U.S. Holder converts ordinary shares into the right to receive cash pursuant to the exercise of a shareholder redemption right or sells its ordinary shares to us pursuant to a tender offer, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such conversion or sale generally will be treated as a redemption and will be

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subject to the following rules. If the redemption qualifies as a sale of the ordinary shares under Section 302 of the Code, the tax treatment of such redemption will be as described under “— Taxation on the Disposition of Securities” above. If the redemption does not qualify as a sale of ordinary shares under Section 302 of the Code, a U.S. Holder will be treated as receiving a distribution with the tax consequences described below. Whether redemption of our shares qualifies for sale treatment will depend largely on the total number of our ordinary shares treated as held by such U.S. Holder. The redemption of ordinary shares generally will be treated as a sale or exchange of the ordinary shares (rather than as a distribution) if the receipt of cash upon the redemption (i) is “substantially disproportionate” with respect to a U.S. Holder, (ii) results in a “complete termination” of such holder’s interest in us or (iii) is “not essentially equivalent to a dividend” with respect to such holder. These tests are explained more fully below.

In determining whether any of the foregoing tests are satisfied, a U.S. Holder must take into account not only our ordinary shares actually owned by such holder, but also our ordinary shares that are constructively owned by such holder. A U.S. Holder may constructively own, in addition to our ordinary shares owned directly, ordinary shares owned by related individuals and entities in which such holder has an interest or that have an interest in such holder, as well as any ordinary shares such holder has a right to acquire by exercise of an option, which would generally include ordinary shares which could be acquired pursuant to the exercise of warrants. In order to meet the substantially disproportionate test, the percentage of our issued and outstanding voting shares actually and constructively owned by a U.S. Holder immediately following the redemption of our ordinary shares must, among other requirements, be less than 80% of the percentage of our issued and outstanding voting and ordinary shares actually and constructively owned by such holder immediately before the redemption. There will be a complete termination of a U.S. Holder’s interest if either (i) all of our ordinary shares actually and constructively owned by such U.S. Holder are redeemed or (ii) all of our ordinary shares actually owned by such U.S. Holder are redeemed and such holder is eligible to waive, and effectively waives, in accordance with specific rules, the attribution of shares owned by family members and such holder does not constructively own any other shares. The redemption of the ordinary shares will not be essentially equivalent to a dividend if such redemption results in a “meaningful reduction” of a U.S. Holder’s proportionate interest in us. Whether the redemption will result in a meaningful reduction in a U.S. Holder’s proportionate interest in us will depend on the particular facts and circumstances. However, the IRS has indicated in a published ruling that even a small reduction in the proportionate interest of a small minority shareholder in a publicly held corporation who exercises no control over corporate affairs may constitute such a “meaningful reduction.” U.S. Holders should consult with their own tax advisors as to the tax consequences of any such redemption.

If none of the foregoing tests are satisfied, then the redemption may be treated as a distribution and the tax effects will be as described under “— Taxation of Distributions Paid on Ordinary Shares,” above. After the application of those rules, any remaining tax basis a U.S. Holder has in the redeemed ordinary shares will be added to the adjusted tax basis in such holder’s remaining ordinary shares. If there are no remaining ordinary shares, a U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisors as to the allocation of any remaining basis.

Certain U.S. Holders may be subject to special reporting requirements with respect to a redemption of ordinary shares, and such holders should consult with their own tax advisors with respect to their reporting requirements.

Exercise or Lapse of a Warrant

Subject to the PFIC rules discussed below, a U.S. Holder generally will not recognize gain or loss upon the acquisition of an ordinary share from the exercise of two warrants for cash. An ordinary share acquired pursuant to the exercise of two warrants for cash generally will have a tax basis equal to the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the warrant, increased by the amount paid to exercise the warrant. The holding period of such ordinary share generally would begin on the day after the date of exercise of the warrant and will not include the period during which the U.S. Holder held the warrant. 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 warrants are not clear under current tax law. A cashless exercise may be tax-free, either because the exercise is not a realization event (i.e., not a transaction in which gain or loss is realized) 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 basis in the ordinary shares received would equal the holder’s basis in the warrants. If the cashless exercise were treated as not being a realization event, a U.S. Holder’s holding period in the ordinary shares should be treated as commencing on the date following the date of exercise of the warrants. If the cashless exercise were treated as a recapitalization, the holding period of the ordinary shares received would include the holding period of the

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warrants. It is also possible that a cashless exercise could be treated as a taxable exchange in which gain or loss would be recognized. In such event, a U.S. Holder could be deemed to have surrendered a number of warrants with a fair market value equal to the exercise price for the number of warrants deemed exercised. For this purpose, the number of warrants deemed exercised would be equal to the amount needed to receive on exercise the number of ordinary shares issued pursuant to the cashless exercise. In this situation, the U.S. Holder would recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the fair market value of the warrants deemed surrendered to pay the exercise price and the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the warrants deemed surrendered. Such gain or loss would be long-term or short-term depending on the U.S. Holder’s holding period in the warrants. In this case, a U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the ordinary shares received would equal the sum of the fair market value of the warrants deemed surrendered and the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the warrants deemed exercised. A U.S. Holder’s holding period for the ordinary shares should commence on the date following the date of exercise of the warrants. There may also be alternative characterizations of any such taxable exchange that would result in similar tax consequences, except that a U.S. Holder’s gain or loss would be short-term. Due to the absence of authority on the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a cashless exercise, there can be no assurance which, if any, of the alternative tax consequences 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 of the warrants.

Conversion or Lapse of Rights

Subject to the PFIC rules discussed below, a U.S. Holder generally should not recognize gain or loss upon the acquisition of ordinary shares on the conversion of the rights, such ordinary shares should have a tax basis equal to such holder’s tax basis in the rights, and the holding period of such shares should begin on the day after such conversion. In addition, a U.S. Holder generally should recognize a capital loss on the lapse of the rights equal to such holder’s tax basis in the rights.

Unearned Income Medicare Tax

Under current tax law, U.S. Holders that are individual, estates or trusts and whose income exceeds certain thresholds generally will be subject to a 3.8% Medicare contribution tax on unearned income, including, among other things, dividends on, and gains from the sale or other disposition of, our securities, subject to certain limitations and exceptions. Under current regulations, in the absence of a special election, such unearned income generally would not include income inclusions under the qualified election fund (“QEF”) rules discussed below under “Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules,” but would include distributions of earnings and profits from a QEF. U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the effect, if any, of such tax on their ownership and disposition or our securities.

Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules

A foreign (i.e., non-U.S.) corporation will be a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes if at least 75% of its gross income in a taxable year of such foreign corporation, including its pro rata share of the gross income of any corporation in which it is considered to own at least 25% of the shares by value, is passive income. Alternatively, a foreign corporation will be a PFIC if at least 50% of its assets in a taxable year of the foreign corporation, ordinarily determined based on fair market value and averaged quarterly over the year, including its pro rata share of the assets of any corporation in which it is considered to own at least 25% of the shares by value, are held for the production of, or produce, passive income. Passive income generally includes dividends, interest, rents and royalties (other than certain rents or royalties derived from the active conduct of a trade or business) and gains from the disposition of passive assets.

Because we are a blank check company, with no current active business, we believe that it is likely that we will meet the PFIC asset or income test for our current taxable year. However, pursuant to a start-up exception, a corporation will not be a PFIC for the first taxable year the corporation has gross income, if (1) no predecessor of the corporation was a PFIC; (2) the corporation satisfies the IRS that it will not be a PFIC for either of the first two taxable years following the start-up year; and (3) the corporation is not in fact a PFIC for either of those years. The applicability of the start-up exception to us is uncertain. After the acquisition of a company or assets in a business combination, we may still meet one of the PFIC tests depending on the timing of the acquisition and the amount of our passive income and assets as well as the passive income and assets of the acquired business. If the company that we acquire in a business combination is a PFIC, then we will likely not qualify for the start-up exception and will be a PFIC for our

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current taxable year. Our actual PFIC status for our current taxable year or any subsequent taxable year, however, will not be determinable until after the end of such taxable year. Accordingly, there can be no assurance with respect to our status as a PFIC for our current taxable year or any future taxable year.

If we are determined to be a PFIC for any taxable year (or portion thereof) that is included in the holding period of a U.S. Holder of our securities and, in the case of our ordinary shares, the U.S. Holder did not make a timely QEF election for our first taxable year as a PFIC in which the U.S. Holder held (or was deemed to hold) such ordinary shares, a QEF election along with a deemed sale (or purging) election, or a “mark-to-market” election, each as described below, such holder generally will be subject to special rules for regular U.S. federal income tax purposes with respect to:

•        any gain recognized by the U.S. Holder on the sale or other disposition of our securities; and

•        any “excess distribution” made to the U.S. Holder (generally, any distributions to such U.S. Holder during a taxable year of the U.S. Holder that are greater than 125% of the average annual distributions received by such U.S. Holder in respect of our securities during the three preceding taxable years of such U.S. Holder or, if shorter, such U.S. Holder’s holding period for our securities).

Under these rules,

•        the U.S. Holder’s gain or excess distribution will be allocated ratably over the U.S. Holder’s holding period for our securities;

•        the amount allocated to the U.S. Holder’s taxable year in which the U.S. Holder recognized the gain or received the excess distribution, or to the period in the U.S. Holder’s holding period before the first day of our first taxable year in which we are a PFIC, will be taxed as ordinary income;

•        the amount allocated to other taxable years (or portions thereof) of the U.S. Holder and included in its holding period will be taxed at the highest tax rate in effect for that year and applicable to the U.S. Holder; and

•        the interest charge generally applicable to underpayments of tax will be imposed in respect of the tax attributable to each such other taxable year of the U.S. Holder.

In general, if we are determined to be a PFIC, a U.S. Holder may avoid the PFIC tax consequences described above in respect to our ordinary shares by making a timely QEF election (or a QEF election along with a purging election). Pursuant to the QEF election, a U.S. Holder generally will be required to include in income its pro rata share of our net capital gains (as long-term capital gain) and other earnings and profits (as ordinary income), on a current basis, in each case whether or not distributed, in the taxable year of the U.S. Holder in which or with which our taxable year ends if we are treated as a PFIC for that taxable year. A U.S. Holder may make a separate election to defer the payment of taxes on undistributed income inclusions under the QEF rules, but if deferred, any such taxes will be subject to an interest charge.

A U.S. Holder may not make a QEF election with respect to its warrants or rights to acquire our ordinary shares. As a result, if a U.S. Holder sells or otherwise disposes of such warrants or rights (other than upon exercise of such warrants or conversion of such rights), any gain recognized generally will be subject to the special tax and interest charge rules treating the gain as an excess distribution, as described above, if we were a PFIC at any time during the period the U.S. Holder held the warrants or rights. If a U.S. Holder that exercises such warrants or converts such rights properly makes a QEF election with respect to the newly acquired ordinary shares (or has previously made a QEF election with respect to our ordinary shares), the QEF election will apply to the newly acquired ordinary shares, but the adverse tax consequences relating to PFIC shares, adjusted to take into account the current income inclusions resulting from the QEF election, will continue to apply with respect to such newly acquired ordinary shares (which generally will be deemed to have a holding period for purposes of the PFIC rules that includes the period the U.S. Holder held the warrants or rights), unless the U.S. Holder makes a purging election under the PFIC rules. The purging election creates a deemed sale of such shares at their fair market value. The gain recognized by the purging election will be subject to the special tax and interest charge rules treating the gain as an excess distribution, as described above. As a result of the purging election, the U.S. Holder will increase the adjusted tax basis in its ordinary shares acquired upon the exercise of the warrants or the conversion of the rights by the gain recognized and will also have a new holding period in such ordinary shares for purposes of the PFIC rules.

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The QEF election is made on a shareholder-by-shareholder basis and, once made, can be revoked only with the consent of the IRS. A U.S. Holder generally makes a QEF election by attaching a completed IRS Form 8621 (Information Return by a Shareholder of a Passive Foreign investment Company or Qualified Electing Fund), including the information provided in a PFIC annual information statement, to a timely filed U.S. federal income tax return for the tax year to which the election relates. Retroactive QEF elections generally may be made only by filing a protective statement with such return and if certain other conditions are met or with the consent of the IRS. U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the availability and tax consequences of a retroactive QEF election under their particular circumstances.

In order to comply with the requirements of a QEF election, a U.S. Holder must receive a PFIC annual information statement from us. If we determine we are a PFIC for any taxable year, we will endeavor to provide to a U.S. Holder upon request such information as the IRS may require, including a PFIC annual information statement, in order to enable the U.S. Holder to make and maintain a QEF election. However, there is no assurance that we will have timely knowledge of our status as a PFIC in the future or of the required information to be provided.

If a U.S. Holder has made a QEF election with respect to our ordinary shares, and the special tax and interest charge rules do not apply to such shares (because of a timely QEF election for our first taxable year as a PFIC in which the U.S. Holder holds (or is deemed to hold) such shares or a purge of the PFIC taint pursuant to a purging election, as described above), any gain recognized on the sale of our ordinary shares generally will be taxable as capital gain and no interest charge will be imposed. As discussed above, for regular U.S. federal income tax purposes, U.S. Holders of a QEF generally are currently taxed on their pro rata shares of its earnings and profits, whether or not distributed. In such case, a subsequent distribution of such earnings and profits that were previously included in income generally should not be taxable as a dividend to such U.S. Holders. The adjusted tax basis of a U.S. Holder’s shares in a QEF will be increased by amounts that are included in income, and decreased by amounts distributed but not taxed as dividends, under the above rules. Similar basis adjustments apply to property if by reason of holding such property the U.S. Holder is treated under the applicable attribution rules as owning shares in a QEF.

Although a determination as to our PFIC status will be made annually, an initial determination we are a PFIC will generally apply for subsequent years to a U.S. Holder who held our securities while we were a PFIC, whether or not we meet the test for PFIC status in those subsequent years. A U.S. Holder who makes the QEF election discussed above for our first taxable year as a PFIC in which the U.S. Holder holds (or is deemed to hold) our ordinary shares, however, will not be subject to the PFIC tax and interest charge rules discussed above in respect to such shares. In addition, such U.S. Holder will not be subject to the QEF inclusion regime with respect to such shares for any of our taxable years that end within or with a taxable year of the U.S. Holder and in which we are not a PFIC. On the other hand, if the QEF election is not effective for each of our taxable years in which we are a PFIC and the U.S. Holder holds (or is deemed to hold) our ordinary shares, the PFIC rules discussed above will continue to apply to such shares unless the holder files on a timely filed U.S. federal income tax return (including extensions) a QEF election and a purging election to recognize under the rules of Section 1291 of the Code any gain that the U.S. Holder would otherwise recognize if the U.S. Holder had sold our shares for their fair market value on the “qualification date.” The qualification date is the first day of our tax year in which we qualify as a QEF with respect to such U.S. Holder. The purging election can only be made if such U.S. Holder held our shares on the qualification date. The gain recognized by the purging election will be subject to the special tax and interest charge rules treating the gain as an excess distribution, as described above. As a result of the purging election, the U.S. Holder will increase the adjusted tax basis in our shares by the amount of the gain recognized and will also have a new holding period in the shares for purposes of the PFIC rules.

Alternatively, if a U.S. Holder, at the close of its taxable year, owns (or is deemed to own) shares in a PFIC that are treated as marketable shares, the U.S. Holder may make a mark-to-market election with respect to such shares for such taxable year. If the U.S. Holder makes a valid mark-to-market election for the first taxable year of the U.S. Holder in which the U.S. Holder holds (or is deemed to hold) our ordinary shares and for which we are determined to be a PFIC, such holder generally will not be subject to the PFIC rules described above in respect to its ordinary shares as long as such shares continue to be treated as marketable shares. Instead, in general, the U.S. Holder will include as ordinary income for each year that we are treated as a PFIC the excess, if any, of the fair market value of its ordinary shares at the end of its taxable year over the adjusted basis in its ordinary shares. The U.S. Holder also will be allowed to take an ordinary loss in respect of the excess, if any, of the adjusted basis of its ordinary shares over the fair market value of its ordinary shares at the end of its taxable year (but only to the extent of the net amount of previously included income as a result of the mark-to-market election). The U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its ordinary shares will be adjusted to reflect any such income or loss amounts, and any further gain recognized on a sale or other taxable disposition of the

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ordinary shares in a taxable year in which we are treated as a PFIC will be treated as ordinary income. Special tax rules may also apply if a U.S. Holder makes a mark-to-market election for a taxable year after the first taxable year in which the U.S. Holder holds (or is deemed to hold) its ordinary shares and for which we are treated as a PFIC. Currently, a mark-to-market election may not be made with respect to our warrants or rights.

The mark-to-market election is available only for stock that is regularly traded on a national securities exchange that is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Nasdaq Capital Market, or on a foreign exchange or market that the IRS determines has rules sufficient to ensure that the market price represents a legitimate and sound fair market value. U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the availability and tax consequences of a mark-to-market election in respect to our ordinary shares under their particular circumstances.

If we are a PFIC and, at any time, have a foreign subsidiary that is classified as a PFIC, U.S. Holders of our shares generally would be deemed to own a portion of the shares of such lower-tier PFIC, and generally could incur liability for the deferred tax and interest charge described above if we receive a distribution from, or dispose of all or part of our interest in, the lower-tier PFIC or the U.S. Holders otherwise were deemed to have disposed of an interest in the lower-tier PFIC. Upon request, we will endeavor to cause any lower-tier PFIC to provide to a U.S. Holder the information that may be required to make or maintain a QEF election with respect to the lower-tier PFIC. However, there is no assurance that we will have timely knowledge of the status of any such lower-tier PFIC. In addition, we may not hold a controlling interest in any such lower-tier PFIC and thus there can be no assurance we will be able to cause the lower-tier PFIC to provide the required information. A mark-to-market election generally would not be available with respect to such lower-tier PFIC. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the tax issues raised by lower-tier PFICs.

A U.S. Holder that owns (or is deemed to own) shares in a PFIC during any taxable year of the U.S. Holder, may have to file an IRS Form 8621 (whether or not a QEF or mark-to-market election is or has been made) with such U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax return and provide such other information as may be required by the U.S. Treasury Department.

The rules dealing with PFICs and with the QEF and mark-to-market elections are very complex and are affected by various factors in addition to those described above. Accordingly, U.S. Holders of our securities should consult their own tax advisors concerning the application of the PFIC rules to our securities under their particular circumstances.

Non-U.S. Holders

Dividends (including constructive dividends) paid or deemed paid to a Non-U.S. Holder in respect to our securities generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax, unless the dividends are effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, are attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base that such holder maintains or maintained in the United States).

In addition, a Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on any gain attributable to a sale or other disposition of our securities unless such gain is effectively connected with its conduct of a trade or business in the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base that such holder maintains or maintained in the United States) or the Non-U.S. Holder is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of sale or other disposition and certain other conditions are met (in which case, such gain from United States sources generally is subject to tax at a 30% rate or a lower applicable tax treaty rate).

Dividends and gains that are effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business in the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, are attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base that such holder maintains or maintained in the United States) generally will be subject to regular U.S. federal income tax at the same regular U.S. federal income tax rates applicable to a comparable U.S. Holder and, in the case of a Non-U.S. Holder that is a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, may also be subject to an additional branch profits tax at a 30% rate or a lower applicable tax treaty rate.

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Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

In general, information reporting for U.S. federal income tax purposes should apply to distributions made on our ordinary shares within the United States to a U.S. Holder (other than an exempt recipient) and to the proceeds from sales and other dispositions of our securities by a U.S. Holder (other than an exempt recipient) to or through a U.S. office of a broker. Payments made (and sales and other dispositions effected at an office) outside the United States will be subject to information reporting in limited circumstances. In addition, certain information concerning a U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its securities and whether any gain or loss with respect to such securities in long-term or short-term may be required to be reported to the IRS, and certain holders may be required to file an IRS Form 8938 (Statement of Specified Foreign Financial Assets) to report their interest in our securities.

Moreover, backup withholding of U.S. federal income tax, currently at a rate of 24%, generally will apply to dividends paid on our securities to a U.S. Holder (other than an exempt recipient) and the proceeds from sales and other dispositions of our securities by a U.S. Holder (other than an exempt recipient), in each case who:

•        fails to provide an accurate taxpayer identification number;

•        is notified by the IRS that backup withholding is required; or

•        fails to comply with applicable certification requirements.

A Non-U.S. Holder generally may eliminate the requirement for information reporting and backup withholding by providing certification of its foreign status, under penalties of perjury, on a duly executed applicable IRS Form W-8 or by otherwise establishing an exemption.

We will withhold all taxes required to be withheld by law from any amounts otherwise payable to any holder of our securities, including tax withholding required by the backup withholding rules. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, the amount of any backup withholding will be allowed as a credit against a U.S. Holder’s or a Non-U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle such holder to a refund, provided that the requisite information is timely furnished to the IRS. Holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the application of backup withholding and the availability of and procedure for obtaining an exemption from backup withholding in their particular circumstances.

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UNDERWRITING

We intend to offer our securities described in this prospectus through the underwriters named below. Maxim Group LLC (“Maxim” or the “Representative”) is acting as the sole book-running manager of the offering and as the representative of the underwriters named below. We will enter into an underwriting agreement with the Representative. Subject to the terms and conditions of the underwriting agreement, the underwriters, through the Representative, have each severally agreed to purchase from us, on a firm commitment basis, the number of units listed next to its name in the following table at the public offering price less the underwriting discounts and commissions set forth on the cover page of this prospectus:

Underwriters

 

Number of
Units

Maxim Group LLC

   
     

Total

 

5,000,000

A copy of the form of underwriting agreement will be filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

Listing of our Securities

We expect our units, ordinary shares, warrants and rights to be listed on Nasdaq under the symbols “AIACU,” “AIAC,” “AIACW” and “AIACR,” respectively. We anticipate that our units will be listed on Nasdaq on or promptly after the effective date of the registration statement. Following the date our ordinary shares, warrants and rights are eligible to trade separately, we anticipate that the ordinary shares, warrants and rights will be listed separately and as a unit on Nasdaq. We cannot guarantee that our securities will be approved for listing on Nasdaq or that they will continue to be listed on Nasdaq after this offering.

Pricing of this Offering

We have been advised by the Representative that the underwriters propose to offer the units to the public at the offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus. They may allow some dealers concessions not in excess of $0.[____] per unit and the dealers may also allow a concession not in excess of $0.[____] per unit to other dealers.

Prior to this offering there has been no public market for our securities. The public offering price of the units was negotiated between us and the representative of the underwriters. Factors considered in determining the prices and terms of the units include:

•        the history of other similarly structured blank check companies;

•        prior offerings of those companies;

•        our prospects for consummating our initial business combination with an operating business at attractive values;

•        our capital structure;

•        securities exchange listing requirements;

•        market demand;

•        expected liquidity of our securities; and

•        general conditions of the securities markets at the time of the offering.

However, although these factors were considered, the determination of our offering price is more arbitrary than the pricing of securities for an operating company in a particular industry since the underwriters are unable to compare our financial results and prospects with those of public companies operating in the same industry.

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Option

We have granted the underwriters an option to purchase up to 750,000 additional units at the initial public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. The underwriters may exercise this option solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments, if any, made in connection with this offering. The underwriters have 45 days from the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part in which to exercise this option. If the underwriters exercise this option, they will each purchase additional units approximately in proportion to the amounts specified in the table above.

 

Price to
Public

 

Underwriting
Discounts and
Commissions
(1)

 

Proceeds,
before
Expenses,
to us

Per Unit

 

$

10.00

 

$

0.55

(2)

 

$

9.45

Total

 

$

50,000,000

 

$

2,750,000

 

 

$

47,250,000

Commissions and Discounts

The following table shows the public offering price, underwriting discount to be paid by us to the underwriters and the proceeds, before expenses, to us. This information assumes either no exercise or full exercise by the representative of the underwriters of its over-allotment option.

 

Per Unit

 

Without
Over-
allotment

 

With
Over-
allotment

Public offering price

 

$

10.00

 

$

50,000,000

 

$

57,500,000

Discount(1)

 

$

0.55

 

 

2,750,000

 

 

3,162,500

Proceeds before expenses(2)(3)

 

$

9.45

 

 

47,250,000

 

 

54,337,500

____________

(1)      Such amount includes $1,750,000, or $0.35 per unit, (or $2,012,500 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) payable to the Representative for deferred underwriting discounts and commissions upon completion of a business combination.

(2)      The offering expenses are estimated at approximately $1,000,000.

(3)      The deferred underwriting discounts and commissions and the unit purchase option shall solely be issued and paid to the representative for its own account.

In addition to the underwriting discount, we paid Maxim $25,000, upon the execution of the engagement letter, as an advance against out-of-pocket accountable expenses actually anticipated to be incurred by the underwriters. An additional $25,000 (collectively, with the initial $25,000 payment, the “Advance”) will be paid to Maxim concurrently with the filing of this Registration Statement. We have agreed to pay to the underwriters for the FINRA-related fees, “road show” expenses, expenses of the underwriters’ legal counsel and certain diligence and other fees, and reimbursement for background checks on our directors, director nominees and executive officers, which such fees and expenses are capped at an aggregate of $125,000.

No discounts or commissions will be paid on the sale of the private units.

Unit Purchase Option

We have agreed to sell to Maxim (and/or its designees), for $100, an option to purchase up to a total of 250,000 units (or 287,500 units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) exercisable, in whole or in part, at $11.00 per unit, between the first and fifth anniversary dates of the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. The purchase option may be exercised for cash or on a cashless basis, at the holder’s option, and expires five years from the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. The option and the 250,000 units (or 287,500 units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), as well as the 275,000 ordinary shares (which includes the 25,000 ordinary shares issuable for the rights included in the units) (or 316,250 shares if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full, which includes the 28,750 ordinary shares issuable for the rights included in the units), and the warrants to purchase 125,000 ordinary shares (or 143,750 shares if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) that may be issued upon exercise of the option, have been deemed compensation by FINRA and are therefore subject to a lock-up for a period of 180 days immediately following the commencement of sales in this offering pursuant to Rule 5110(e)(1) of FINRA’s

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Rules, during which time the option may not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated, or be subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative or put or call transaction that would result in the economic disposition of the securities. Additionally, the option may not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated for a one-year period (including the foregoing 180-day period) following the date of this prospectus except to any underwriter and selected dealer participating in the offering and their bona fide officers or partners. The option grants to holders one demand and unlimited “piggy-back” rights for periods of five and seven years, respectively, from the commencement of sales of this offering with respect to the registration under the Securities Act of the securities directly and indirectly issuable upon exercise of the option. We will bear all fees and expenses attendant to registering the securities, other than underwriting commissions which will be paid for by the holders themselves. The exercise price and number of units issuable upon exercise of the option may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a stock dividend, or our recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation. However, the option will not be adjusted for issuances of ordinary shares at a price below its exercise price. We will have no obligation to net cash settle the exercise of the purchase option or the warrants underlying the purchase option. The holder of the purchase option will not be entitled to exercise the purchase option or the warrants underlying the purchase option unless a registration statement covering the securities underlying the purchase option is effective or an exemption from registration is available. If the holder is unable to exercise the purchase option or underlying warrants, the purchase option or warrants, as applicable, will expire worthless.

Right of First Refusal

Subject to certain conditions, we granted Maxim, for a period beginning on the closing of this offering and ending 18 months after the date of the consummation of our business combination, a right of first refusal to act as lead underwriters or minimally as a co-manager, with at least 75% of the economics; or, in the case of a three-handed deal, 50% of the economics, for any and all future public and private equity and debt offerings. In accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(6), such right of first refusal shall not have a duration of more than three years from the commencement of sales of the offering.

Regulatory Restrictions on Purchase of Securities

Rules of the SEC may limit the ability of the underwriters to bid for or purchase our units before the distribution of the units is completed. However, the underwriters may engage in the following activities in accordance with the rules:

•        Stabilizing Transactions. The underwriters may make bids or purchases solely for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the price of our units, as long as stabilizing bids do not exceed the offering price of $10.00 and the underwriters comply with all other applicable rules.

•        Over-Allotments and Syndicate Coverage Transactions. The underwriters may create a short position in our units by selling more of our units than are set forth on the cover page of this prospectus up to the amount of the over-allotment option. This is known as a covered short position. The underwriters may also create a short position in our units by selling more of our units than are set forth on the cover page of this prospectus and the units allowed by the over-allotment option. This is known as a naked short position. If the underwriters create a short position during the offering, the representative may engage in syndicate covering transactions by purchasing our units in the open market. The representative may also elect to reduce any short position by exercising all or part of the over-allotment option. Determining what method to use in reducing the short position depends on how the units trade in the aftermarket following the offering. If the unit price drops following the offering, the short position is usually covered with shares purchased by the underwriters in the aftermarket. However, the underwriters may cover a short position by exercising the over-allotment option even if the unit price drops following the offering. If the unit price rises after the offering, then the over-allotment option is used to cover the short position. If the short position is more than the over-allotment option, the naked short must be covered by purchases in the aftermarket, which could be at prices above the offering price.

•        Penalty Bids. The representative may 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.

Stabilization and syndicate covering transactions may cause the price of our securities to be higher than they would be in the absence of these transactions. The imposition of a penalty bid might also have an effect on the prices of our securities if it discourages resales of our securities.

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Neither we nor the underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of our securities. These transactions may occur on Nasdaq, in the over-the-counter market or on any trading market. If any of these transactions are commenced, they may be discontinued without notice at any time.

Indemnification

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against some liabilities, including civil liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make in this respect.

Selling Restrictions

Canada

Resale Restrictions

We intend to distribute our securities in the Province of Ontario, Canada (the “Canadian Offering Jurisdiction”) by way of a private placement and exempt from the requirement that we prepare and file a prospectus with the securities regulatory authorities in such Canadian Offering Jurisdiction. Any resale of our securities in Canada must be made under applicable securities laws that will vary depending on the relevant jurisdiction, and which may require resales to be made under available statutory exemptions or under a discretionary exemption granted by the applicable Canadian securities regulatory authority. Canadian resale restrictions in some circumstances may apply to resales of interests made outside of Canada. Canadian purchasers are advised to seek legal advice prior to any resale of our securities. We may never be a “reporting issuer”, as such term is defined under applicable Canadian securities legislation, in any province or territory of Canada in which our securities will be offered and there currently is no public market for any of the securities in Canada, and one may never develop. Canadian investors are advised that we have no intention to file a prospectus or similar document with any securities regulatory authority in Canada qualifying the resale of the securities to the public in any province or territory in Canada.

Representations of Purchasers

A Canadian purchaser will be required to represent to us and the dealer from whom the purchase confirmation is received that:

•        the purchaser is entitled under applicable provincial securities laws to purchase our securities without the benefit of a prospectus qualified under those securities laws;

•        where required by law, that the purchaser is purchasing as principal and not as agent;

•        the purchaser has reviewed the text above under Resale Restrictions; and

•        the purchaser acknowledges and consents to the provision of specified information concerning its purchase of our securities to the regulatory authority that by law is entitled to collect the information.

Rights of Action — Ontario Purchasers Only

Under Ontario securities legislation, certain purchasers who purchase a security offered by this prospectus during the period of distribution will have a statutory right of action for damages, or while still the owner of our securities, for rescission against us in the event that this prospectus contains a misrepresentation without regard to whether the purchaser relied on the misrepresentation. The right of action for damages is exercisable not later than the earlier of 180 days from the date the purchaser first had knowledge of the facts giving rise to the cause of action and three years from the date on which payment is made for our securities. The right of action for rescission is exercisable not later than 180 days from the date on which payment is made for our securities. If a purchaser elects to exercise the right of action for rescission, the purchaser will have no right of action for damages against us. In no case will the amount recoverable in any action exceed the price at which our securities were offered to the purchaser and if the purchaser is shown to have purchased the securities with knowledge of the misrepresentation, we will have no liability. In the case of an action for damages, we will not be liable for all or any portion of the damages that are proven to not represent the depreciation in value of our securities as a result of the misrepresentation relied upon. These rights are in addition to, and without derogation from, any other rights or remedies available at law to an Ontario purchaser. The foregoing is a summary of the rights available to an Ontario purchaser. Ontario purchasers should refer to the complete text of the relevant statutory provisions.

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Enforcement of Legal Rights

All of our directors and officers as well as the experts named herein are located outside of Canada and, as a result, it may not be possible for Canadian purchasers to effect service of process within Canada upon us or those persons. All of our assets and the assets of those persons are located outside of Canada and, as a result, it may not be possible to satisfy a judgment against us or those persons in Canada or to enforce a judgment obtained in Canadian courts against us or those persons outside of Canada.

Collection of Personal Information

If a Canadian purchaser is resident in or otherwise subject to the securities laws of the Province of Ontario, the Purchaser authorizes the indirect collection of personal information pertaining to the Canadian purchaser by the Ontario Securities Commission, or the OSC, and each Canadian purchaser will be required to acknowledge and agree that the Canadian purchaser has been notified by us (i) of the delivery to the OSC of personal information pertaining to the Canadian purchaser, including, without limitation, the full name, residential address and telephone number of the Canadian purchaser, the number and type of securities purchased and the total purchase price paid in respect of the securities, (ii) that this information is being collected indirectly by the OSC under the authority granted to it in securities legislation, (iii) that this information is being collected for the purposes of the administration and enforcement of the securities legislation of Ontario, and (iv) that the title, business address and business telephone number of the public official in Ontario who can answer questions about the OSC’s indirect collection of the information is the Administrative Assistant to the Director of Corporate Finance, the Ontario Securities Commission, Suite 1903, Box 5520, Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 3S8, Telephone: (416) 593-8086, Facsimile: (416) 593-8252.

Cayman Islands

No offer or invitation to subscribe for shares may be made to the public in the Cayman Islands.

Switzerland

The Units may not be publicly offered in Switzerland and will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, or SIX, or on any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. This prospectus has been prepared without regard to the disclosure standards for issuance prospectuses under art. 652a or art. 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or the disclosure standards for listing prospectuses under art. 27 ff. of the SIX Listing Rules or the listing rules of any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. Neither this prospectus nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the Units or the offering may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.

Neither this prospectus nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the offering, the company or the securities have been or will be filed with or approved by any Swiss regulatory authority. In particular, this prospectus will not be filed with, and the offer of securities will not be supervised by, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA, or FINMA, and the offer of securities has not been and will not be authorized under the Swiss Federal Act on Collective Investment Schemes, or CISA. The investor protection afforded to acquirers of interests in collective investment schemes under the CISA does not extend to acquirers of Units.

Italy

This prospectus has not been submitted to the Commissione Nazionale per le Società e la Borsa, the Italian Securities Exchange Commission (“CONSOB”), for clearance and will not be subject to formal review or clearance by CONSOB.

Accordingly, the Units may not be offered, and copies of this prospectus or any other document relating to the shares may not be distributed in Italy except:

(a)     to “qualified investors” (investitori qualificati), as defined pursuant to Article 34-ter, first paragraph, letter b), of CONSOB regulation No. 11971 of May 14, 1999, as amended, concerning issuers (“Regulation No. 11971”), but excluding (i) small and medium enterprises and natural persons indicated in Regulation No. 11971 that have not been included in the register of qualified investors, (ii) management companies and financial intermediaries authorized to manage individual portfolios on behalf of third parties and (iii) fiduciary companies managing portfolio investments regulated by Article 60, paragraph 4 of Legislative Decree No. 415 of July 23, 1996; or

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(b)    in other circumstances that are exempt from the rules on public offers pursuant to Article 100 of the Legislative Decree No. 58 of February 24, 1998, as amended (the “Italian Financial Act”), and its implementing CONSOB regulations, including Regulation No. 11971.

Any such offer, sale or delivery of the Units offered hereby or distribution of copies of this Prospectus, or any other document relating to the offering in the Republic of Italy must be in compliance with the selling restrictions under

(i)     made by soggetti abilitati (including investment firms (imprese di investimento), banks or financial intermediaries, as defined by Article 1, first paragraph, letter r), of the Italian Financial Act), to the extent duly authorized to engage in the offering and/or underwriting and/or purchase of financial instruments in the Republic of Italy in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Italian Financial Act, CONSOB Regulation 16190 of October 29, 2007, as amended, Legislative Decree No. 385 of September 1, 1993, as amended (the “Italian Banking Act”) and any other applicable laws and regulations; and

(ii)    in compliance with any other applicable requirements or limitations which may be imposed by CONSOB, the Bank of Italy or any other Italian regulatory authority.

Any investor purchasing the Units offered hereby is solely responsible for ensuring that any offer or resale of the shares it purchased occurs in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

In accordance with Article 100-bis of the Italian Financial Act, the subsequent resale on the secondary market in the Republic of Italy of the Units offered hereby (which were part of an offer made pursuant to an exemption from the obligation to publish a prospectus) constitutes a distinct and autonomous offer that must be made in compliance with the public offer and prospectus requirement rules provided under the Italian Financial Act and the Regulation No. 11971 unless an exemption applies. Failure to comply with such rules may result in the subsequent resale of such shares being declared null and void and the intermediary transferring the shares may be liable for any damage suffered by the investors.

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LEGAL MATTERS

Loeb & Loeb LLP, is acting as United States counsel in connection with the registration of our securities under the Securities Act and will pass on the validity of the units, shares, warrants and rights offered in the prospectus. Legal matters as to Cayman Islands’ law, as well as the validity of the issuance of the ordinary shares offered in this prospectus, will be passed upon for us by Ogier. Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP is acting as counsel for the underwriters in this offering.

EXPERTS

The financial statements of Aquarius I Acquisition Corp. for the period from April 15, 2021 (inception) through April 22, 2021 appearing in this prospectus have been audited by UHY LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report, thereon (which contains an explanatory paragraph relating to substantial doubt about the ability of Aquarius I Acquisition Corp. to continue as a going concern as described in Note 1 to the financial statements), appearing elsewhere in this prospectus, and are included in reliance on such report given on the authority of such firm as an experts in auditing and accounting.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1, which includes exhibits, schedules and amendments, under the Securities Act, with respect to this offering of our securities. Although this prospectus, which forms a part of the registration statement, contains all material information included in the registration statement, parts of the registration statement have been omitted as permitted by rules and regulations of the SEC. We refer you to the registration statement and its exhibits for further information about us, our securities and this offering. The registration statement and its exhibits, as well as our other reports filed with the SEC, can be inspected and copied at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. The public may obtain information about the operation of the public reference room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. In addition, the SEC maintains a web site at http://www.sec.gov which contains the Form S-1 and other reports, proxy and information statements and information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC.

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AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Page

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

F-2

Balance Sheet

 

F-3

Statement of Operations

 

F-4

Statement of Changes in Shareholder’s Equity

 

F-5

Statement of Cash Flows

 

F-6

Notes to Financial Statements

 

F-7 – F-15

F-1

Table of Contents

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and

Shareholder of Aquarius I Acquisition Corp.

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of Aquarius I Acquisition Corp. (the Company) as of April 22, 2021, and the related statements of operations, shareholder’s equity, and cash flows as of and for the period from April 15, 2021 (inception) to April 22, 2021, 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 April 22, 2021, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the period from April 15, 2021 (inception) to April 22, 2021, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Substantial Doubt about the Company’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, the Company has no revenue, its business plan is dependent on the completion of a financing transaction and the Company’s cash and working capital as April 22, 2021 are not sufficient to complete its planned activities for the upcoming year. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s evaluation of the events and conditions and management’s plans regarding these matters are also described in Note 1 to the financial statements. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty. Our opinion is not modified with respect to that matter.

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 provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ UHY LLP

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2021.

New York, New York

May 26, 2021, except for Notes 2 and 6 as to which the date is July 6, 2021, and Notes 1, 4 and 8 as to which the date is July 27, 2021

F-2

Table of Contents

AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.
BALANCE SHEET
AS OF APRIL 22, 2021
(Currency expressed in United States Dollars (“US$”), except for number of shares)

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

Deferred offering costs

 

$

73,330

 

   

 

 

 

TOTAL ASSETS

 

$

73,330

 

   

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDER’S DEFICIT

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

Accrued liabilities

 

$

28,977

 

Amount due to a related party

 

 

23,330

 

   

 

 

 

Total Current Liabilities

 

 

52,307

 

   

 

 

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES

 

 

52,307

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Shareholder’s Equity:

 

 

 

 

Ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value; 500,000,000 shares authorized; 1,437,500 shares issued and outstanding(1)

 

 

144

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

24,856

 

Accumulated deficit

 

 

(3,977

)

   

 

 

 

Total Shareholder’s Equity

 

 

21,023

 

   

 

 

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDER’S EQUITY

 

$

73,330

 

____________

(1)      Includes up to an aggregate of 187,500 ordinary shares subject to forfeiture to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part.

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

F-3

Table of Contents

AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE PERIOD FROM APRIL 15, 2021 (INCEPTION) THROUGH APRIL 22, 2021
(Currency expressed in United States Dollars (“US$”), except for number of shares)

Formation and operating costs

 

$

3,977

 

   

 

 

 

NET LOSS

 

$

(3,977

)

   

 

 

 

Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding(1)

 

 

1,250,000

 

   

 

 

 

Basic and diluted net loss per share

 

$

(0.00

)

____________

(1)      Excludes up to an aggregate of 187,500 ordinary shares subject to forfeiture to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

F-4

Table of Contents

AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDER’S EQUITY
FOR THE PERIOD FROM APRIL 15, 2021 (INCEPTION) THROUGH APRIL 22, 2021
(Currency expressed in United States Dollars (“US$”), except for number of shares)

 

Ordinary Shares

 

Additional
Paid-in
Capital

 

Accumulated
Deficit

 

Total
Shareholder’s
Equity

   

Shares

 

Amount

 

Balance as of April 15, 2021 (inception)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

   

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issuance of ordinary shares to the founder(1)

 

1,437,500

 

$

144

 

$

24,856

 

$

 

 

$

25,000

 

       

 

   

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss during the period

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(3,977

)

 

 

(3,977

)

       

 

   

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance as of April 22, 2021

 

1,437,500

 

$

144

 

$

24,856

 

 

(3,977

)

 

$

21,023

 

____________

(1)      Includes up to an aggregate of 187,500 ordinary shares subject to forfeiture to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

F-5

Table of Contents

AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE PERIOD FROM APRIL 15, 2021 (INCEPTION) THROUGH APRIL 22, 2021
(Currency expressed in United States Dollars (“US$”))

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(3,977

)

Change in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

Accrued expenses and offering costs

 

 

3,977

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

Deferred offering costs

 

 

 

Advances from a related party

 

 

 

Net cash used in financing activities

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET CHANGE IN CASH

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

CASH, BEGINNING OF PERIOD

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

CASH, END OF PERIOD

 

$

 

   

 

 

 

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

Deferred offering costs included in accrued offering costs

 

$

25,000

 

Deferred offering costs paid by Sponsor in exchange of issuance of founder shares

 

$

25,000

 

Deferred offering costs paid by the Sponsor

 

$

23,330

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

F-6

Table of Contents

AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1. ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS BACKGROUND

Aquarius I Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) is a blank check company incorporated in the Cayman Islands on April 15, 2021. The Company was formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses (“Business Combination”).

Although the Company is not limited to a particular industry or geographic location for purposes of consummating a Business Combination, the Company intends to focus on businesses that have a connection to the Asian market. The Company is an early stage and emerging growth company and, as such, the Company is subject to all of the risks associated with early stage and emerging growth companies.

At April 22, 2021, the Company had not yet commenced any operations. All activity through April 22, 2021 relates to the Company’s formation and the proposed initial public offering (the “Proposed Offering”). The Company will not generate any operating revenues until after the completion of a Business Combination, at the earliest. The Company will generate non-operating income in the form of interest income from the proceeds derived from the Proposed Offering. The Company has selected December 31 as its fiscal year end.

Aquarius Sponsor Ltd. (the “Sponsor”) is the sole shareholder of the Company which incorporated in the British Virgin Islands and is owned by Lion Wealth Management Limited and Grandshores Technology (Hong Kong) Limited as to 51% and 49%, respectively.

The Company’s ability to commence operations is contingent upon obtaining adequate financial resources through a Proposed Offering of 5,000,000 units at $10.00 per unit (or 5,750,000 units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) (the “Units” and, with respect to the ordinary shares included in the Units being offered, the “Public Shares”), which is discussed in Note 3 and the sale of 310,000 Units (or 332,500 Units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) (the “Private Placement Units”) at a price of $10.00 per Unit in a private placement to the Sponsor, and the underwriters that will close simultaneously with the Proposed Offering.

The Company intends to list the Units on the Nasdaq Capital Market (“NASDAQ”). The Company’s management has broad discretion with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds of the Proposed Offering and sale of the Private Placement Units, although substantially all of the net proceeds are intended to be applied generally toward consummating a Business Combination. NASDAQ rules provide that the Business Combination must be with one or more target businesses that together have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the balance in the Trust Account (as defined below) (less any deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on interest earned) at the time of the signing of an agreement to enter into a Business Combination. The Company will only complete a Business Combination if the post-Business Combination company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, 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 Offering, management has agreed that $10.10 per Unit sold in the Proposed Offering, including the proceeds of the sale of the Private Placement Units, will be held in a trust account (“Trust Account”) and invested in U.S. government securities, within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act, with a maturity of 185 days or less, or in any open-ended investment company that holds itself out as a money market fund meeting the conditions of Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act, as determined by the Company, until the earlier of: (i) the consummation of a Business Combination or (ii) the distribution of the funds in the Trust Account to the Company’s shareholders, as described below.

The Company will provide its shareholders with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their Public Shares upon the completion of a Business Combination either (i) in connection with a shareholder meeting called to approve the Business Combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer. In connection with a proposed Business Combination, the Company may seek shareholder approval of a Business Combination at a meeting called for such purpose at which shareholders may seek to redeem their shares, regardless of whether they vote for or against a Business Combination. The Company will proceed with a Business Combination only if the Company has net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 upon such consummation of a Business Combination and, if the Company seeks shareholder approval, a majority of the outstanding shares voted are voted in favor of the Business Combination.

F-7

Table of Contents

AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1. ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS BACKGROUND (cont.)

If a shareholder vote is not required and the Company does not decide to hold a shareholder vote for business or other legal reasons, the Company will, pursuant to its Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, offer such redemption pursuant to the tender offer rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and file tender offer documents containing substantially the same information as would be included in a proxy statement with the SEC prior to completing a Business Combination.

The shareholders will be entitled to redeem their Public Shares for a pro rata portion of the amount then in the Trust Account (initially $10.10 per Public Share, subject to increase of up to an additional $0.30 per Public Share in the event that the Sponsor elects to extend the period of time to consummate a Business Combination (see below), plus any pro rata interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay its tax obligations). The per-share amount to be distributed to shareholders who redeem their Public Shares will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commissions the Company will pay to the underwriter (as discussed in Note 7). There will be no redemption rights upon the completion of a Business Combination with respect to the Company’s rights or warrants. The ordinary shares will be recorded at redemption value and classified as temporary equity upon the completion of the Proposed Offering, in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 480 “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity.”

The Sponsor and any of the Company’s officers or directors that may hold Founder Shares (as defined in Note 5) (the “initial shareholders”) and the underwriters will agree (a) to vote their Founder Shares, the ordinary shares included in the Private Placement Units (the “Private Shares”) and any Public Shares purchased during or after the Proposed Offering in favor of a Business Combination, (b) not to propose an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association with respect to the Company’s pre-Business Combination activities prior to the consummation of a Business Combination unless the Company provides dissenting public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their Public Shares in conjunction with any such amendment; (c) not to redeem any shares (including the Founder Shares) and Private Shares into the right to receive cash from the Trust Account in connection with a shareholder vote to approve a Business Combination (or to sell any shares in a tender offer in connection with a Business Combination if the Company does not seek shareholder approval in connection therewith) or a vote to amend the provisions of the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association relating to shareholders’ rights of pre-Business Combination activity and (d) that the Founder Shares and Private Shares shall not participate in any liquidating distributions upon winding up if a Business Combination is not consummated. However, the initial shareholders will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account with respect to any Public Shares purchased during or after the Proposed Offering if the Company fails to complete its Business Combination.

The Company will have 12 months from the closing of the Proposed Offering to consummate a Business Combination. However, if the Company anticipates that it may not be able to consummate a Business Combination within 12 months, the Company may extend the period of time to consummate a Business Combination up to three times, each by an additional three-month intervals (for a total of 21 months to complete a Business Combination (the “Combination Period”)). In order to extend the time available for the Company to consummate a Business Combination, the Sponsor or its affiliate or designees must deposit into the Trust Account $500,000, or $575,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full (approximately $0.10 per Public Share in either case), up to an aggregate of $1,500,000 (or $1,725,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), or $0.30 per Public Share, on or prior to the date of the applicable deadline, for each three-month intervals extension. Any funds which may be provided to extend the time frame will be in the form of a loan to the Company from the Sponsor. The terms of any such loan have not been definitely negotiated, provided, however, any loan will be interest free and will be repayable only if the Company competes a Business Combination.

If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period, the Company 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, redeem 100% of the outstanding Public Shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, including a pro rata portion of any interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us or necessary to pay our taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public shareholders’

F-8

Table of Contents

AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1. ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS BACKGROUND (cont.)

rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the remaining shareholders and the Company’s board of directors, proceed to commence a voluntary liquidation and thereby a formal dissolution of the Company, subject in each case to its obligations to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of applicable law. The underwriter has agreed to waive its rights to the deferred underwriting commission held in the Trust Account in the event the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period 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 the Public Shares. In the event of such distribution, it is possible that the per share value of the assets remaining available for distribution will be less than the Proposed Offering price per Unit ($10.00).

The Sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to the Company, if and to the extent any claims by a vendor for services rendered or products sold to the Company, or a prospective target business with which the Company has discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amounts in the Trust Account to below (i) $10.00 per 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 the value of the trust assets, except as to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the Trust Account and except as to any claims under the Company’s indemnity of the underwriters of the Proposed Offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). In the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, the Sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims. The Company will seek to reduce the possibility that the Sponsor will have to indemnify the Trust Account due to claims of creditors by endeavoring to have all vendors, service providers, prospective target businesses or other entities with which the Company does business, execute agreements with the Company waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to monies held in the Trust Account.

Going Concern Consideration

At April 22, 2021, the Company had a working capital deficit of $52,307, excluding deferring offering costs and a net loss of $3,799 for the period from April 15, 2021 (Inception) to April 22, 2021. The Company has incurred and expects to continue to incur significant costs in pursuit of its financing and acquisition plans. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued. Management plans to address this uncertainty through a Proposed Offering as discussed in Note 3. There is no assurance that the Company’s plans to raise capital or to consummate a Business Combination will be successful or successful within the Combination Period. On April 20, 2021, the Sponsor agreed to loan the Company up to an aggregate amount of $300,000 to be used, in part, for transaction costs incurred in connection with the Proposed Offering. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

NOTE 2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying financial statements are presented in U.S. Dollars and conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC.

Emerging Growth Company

The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”), and it may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404

F-9

Table of Contents

AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (cont.)

of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.

Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. The Company has elected not to opt out of such extended transition period which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of the Company’s 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 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 revenues and expenses during the reporting period.

Making estimates requires management to exercise significant judgment. It is at least reasonably possible that the estimate of the effect of a condition, situation or set of circumstances that existed at the date of the financial statements, which management considered in formulating its estimate, could change in the near term due to one or more future confirming events. Accordingly, the actual results could differ significantly 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 April 22, 2021.

Deferred Offering Costs

Deferred offering costs consist of underwriting, legal, accounting and other expenses incurred through the balance sheet date that are directly related to the Proposed Offering and that will be charged to shareholder’s equity upon the completion of the Proposed Offering. Should the Proposed Offering prove to be unsuccessful, these deferred costs, as well as additional expenses incurred, will be charged to operations.

Income Taxes

The Company complies with the accounting and reporting requirements of ASC Topic 740, “Income Taxes,” which requires an asset and liability approach to financial accounting and reporting for income taxes. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are computed for differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities that will result in future taxable or deductible amounts, based on enacted tax laws and rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.

ASC Topic 740 prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions 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. The Company’s management determined that the Cayman Islands is the Company’s only major tax jurisdiction. The Company

F-10

Table of Contents

AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (cont.)

recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits, if any, as income tax expense. There were no unrecognized tax benefits as of April 22, 2021 and no amounts accrued for interest and penalties. The Company is currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviation from its position.

The Company may be subject to potential examination by foreign taxing authorities in the area of income taxes. These potential examinations may include questioning the timing and amount of deductions, the nexus of income among various tax jurisdictions and compliance with foreign tax laws. The Company’s management does not expect that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits will materially change over the next twelve months.

The Company is considered to be an exempted Cayman Islands company with no connection to any other taxable jurisdiction and is presently not subject to income taxes or income tax filing requirements in the Cayman Islands or the United States. As such, the Company’s tax provision was zero for the periods presented.

Warrants

The Company will assess the warrants as either equity instruments or liabilities in accordance with ASC 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (“ASC 480”) and ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC 815”). Based on the Company preliminary assessment of the key terms of the warrants to be issued, it appears the warrants would be classified as equity upon issuance.

Net Loss Per Share

Net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period. Weighted average shares were reduced for the effect of an aggregate of 187,500 shares of common stock that are subject to forfeiture if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised by the underwriters (see Note 5). At April 22, 2021, the Company did not have any dilutive securities and other contracts that could, potentially, be exercised or converted into ordinary shares and then share in the earnings of the Company. As a result, diluted loss per share is the same as basic loss per share for the periods presented.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities approximates the carrying amounts represented in the accompanying balance sheets, primarily due to their short-term nature.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting pronouncements, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.

NOTE 3. PROPOSED OFFERING

Pursuant to the Proposed Offering, the Company will offer for sale up to 5,000,000 Units (or 5,750,000 Units if the underwriters’ overallotment option is exercised in full) at a purchase price of $10.00 per Unit. Each Unit will consist of one ordinary share, one right (“Public Right”) and one redeemable warrant (“Public Warrant”). Each Public Right will convert into one-tenth (1/10) of one ordinary share. Each Public Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one-half of one ordinary share at an exercise price of $11.50 per share (see Note 6).

F-11

Table of Contents

AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 4. PRIVATE PLACEMENT

The Sponsor has agreed to purchase an aggregate of 310,000 Private Placement Units (or 332,500 Private Placement Units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) at a price of $10.00 per Private Placement Unit, ($3,100,000 in the aggregate, or $3,325,000 in the aggregate if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), in each case, from the Company in a private placement that will occur simultaneously with the closing of the Proposed Offering. The proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Units will be added to the net proceeds from the Proposed Offering held in the Trust Account. The Private Placement Units are identical to the Units sold in the Proposed Offering. If the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period, the proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Units will be used to fund the redemption of the Public Shares (subject to the requirements of applicable law) and the Private Placement Units and underlying securities will be worthless.

NOTE 5. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Founder Shares

In April 2021, the Company issued an aggregate of 1,437,500 ordinary shares (for purposes hereof referred to as the “Founder Shares”) including an aggregate of up to 187,500 shares subject to forfeiture by the Sponsor to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part, so that the Sponsor will collectively own 20% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares after the Proposed Offering (assuming the initial shareholders do not purchase any Public Units in the Proposed Offering and excluding the Private Shares underlying the Private Placement Units) (see Note 4).for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000.

The founders and the Company’s officers and directors have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the Founder Shares (except to certain permitted transferees) until, the earlier of (i) six months after the date of the consummation of a Business Combination, or (ii) if, subsequent to a Business Combination, the Company consummates a subsequent liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the Company’s shareholders having the right to exchange their ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property. Further, our founders and the Company’s officers and directors have also agreed to place the private units and underlying securities the private units into escrow with American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as escrow agent, until the date of the consummation of our initial business combination

Advance from Related Party

As of April 22, 2021, the Sponsor had advanced the Company an aggregate amount of $23,330. The advances are non-interest bearing and due on demand.

On April 20, 2021, the Company issued an unsecured promissory note to the Sponsor, pursuant to which the Company may borrow up to an aggregate principal amount of $300,000 (the “Promissory Note”). The Promissory Note is non-interest bearing and payable on the earlier of (i) December 31, 2021 or (ii) the date on which the Company determines not to conduct an initial public offering.

Administrative Services Arrangement

An affiliate of the Sponsor will agree that, commencing from the date that the Company’s securities are first listed on NASDAQ through the earlier of the Company’s consummation of a Business Combination and its liquidation, to make available to the Company certain general and administrative services, including office space, administrative and support services, as the Company may require from time to time. The Company has agreed to pay the sponsor $10,000 per month for these services.

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AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 5. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (cont.)

Related Party 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 directors and officers 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 proceeds held outside the Trust Account to repay the Working Capital Loans, but no proceeds held in the Trust Account would be used to repay the Working Capital Loans. 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. The Working Capital Loans would either be repaid upon consummation of a Business Combination, without interest, or, at the lender’s discretion, up to certain amount of such Working Capital Loans may be convertible into units of the post-Business Combination entity at a price of $10.00 per unit. The units would be identical to the Private Placement Units.

Related Party Extension Loans

As discussed in Note 1, the Company may extend the period of time to consummate a Business Combination up to three times, each by an additional three-month intervals (for a total of 21 months to complete a Business Combination). In order to extend the time available for the Company to consummate a Business Combination, the Sponsor or its affiliates or designees must deposit into the Trust Account $500,000, or $575,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full (approximately $0.10 per Public Share in either case), up to an aggregate of $1,500,000 (or $1,725,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), or $0.30 per Public Share, on or prior to the date of the applicable deadline, for each three-month extension. Any such payments would be made in the form of a loan. The terms of the promissory note to be issued in connection with any such loans have not yet been negotiated. If the Company completes a Business Combination, the Company would repay such loaned amounts out of the proceeds of the Trust Account released to the Company. If the Company does not complete a Business Combination, the Company will not repay such loans. Furthermore, the letter agreement with the initial shareholders contains a provision pursuant to which the Sponsor has agreed to waive its right to be repaid for such loans in the event that the Company does not complete a Business Combination. The Sponsor and its affiliates or designees are not obligated to fund the Trust Account to extend the time for the Company to complete a Business Combination.

NOTE 6. SHAREHOLDER’S EQUITY

Ordinary Shares — The Company is authorized to issue 500,000,000 ordinary shares, with a par value of $0.0001 per share. Holders of the ordinary shares are entitled to one vote for each ordinary share. At April 22, 2021, there were 1,437,500 ordinary shares issued and outstanding include an aggregate of up to 187,500 shares subject to forfeiture by the Sponsor to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised in full or in part, so that the Sponsor will collectively own 20% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares after the Proposed Offering (assuming the initial shareholders do not purchase any Public Units in the Proposed Offering and excluding the Private Shares underlying the Private Placement Units).

Warrants — Each holder of one whole warrant shall entitle to purchase one-half (1/2) of one ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share. Public Warrants may only be exercised for a whole number of shares. Only whole warrants are exercisable. No fractional Public Warrants will be issued upon separation of the units and only whole warrants will trade. The Public Warrants will become exercisable on the later of (a) 30 days after the consummation of a Business Combination or (b) 12 months from the effective date of the registration statement relating to the Proposed Offering. No Public Warrants will be exercisable for cash unless the Company has an effective and current registration statement covering the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrants and a current prospectus relating to such ordinary shares. The Company has agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 30 business days after the closing of a Business Combination, the Company will use its best efforts to file, and within 90 business days following a Business Combination to have declared effective, a registration statement covering the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a registration statement covering the ordinary

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AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 6. SHAREHOLDER’S EQUITY (cont.)

shares issuable upon the exercise of the Public Warrants is not effective within 90 days, the holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when the Company shall have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise the Public Warrants on a cashless basis pursuant to an available exemption from registration under the Securities Act. If an exemption from registration is not available, holders will not be able to exercise their Public Warrants on a cashless basis. The Public Warrants will expire five years from the consummation of a Business Combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.

The Company may call the warrants for redemption:

•        in whole and not in part,

•        at a price of $0.01 per warrant,

•        upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption to each Public Warrants holder, and

•        if, and only if, the reported last sale price of the ordinary shares equal or exceed $18.00 per share, (as adjusted for share splits, share capitalizations, rights issuances, subdivisions, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within a 30 trading day period ending on the third trading day prior to the notice of redemption to warrant holders.

If the Company calls the Public Warrants for redemption, management will have the option to require all holders that wish to exercise the Public Warrants to do so on a “cashless basis,” as described in the warrant agreement. The exercise price and number of ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a share dividend, extraordinary dividend or recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation. However, the warrants will not be adjusted for issuances of ordinary shares at a price below its exercise price. Additionally, in no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the warrants. If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period and the Company liquidates the funds held in the Trust Account, holders of warrants will not receive any of such funds with respect to their warrants, nor will they receive any distribution from the Company’s assets held outside of the Trust Account with respect to such warrants. Accordingly, the warrants may expire worthless.

The Private Placement Warrants will be identical to the Public Warrants underlying the Units being sold in the Proposed Offering.

NOTE 7. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Risks and Uncertainties

Management continues to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and has concluded that while it is reasonably possible that the virus could have a negative effect on the Company’s financial position, results of its operations and/or search for a target company, 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.

Registration Rights

The holders of the Founder Shares, Private Placement Units (and their underlying securities) and any Units that may be issued upon conversion of the Working Capital Loans (and underlying securities) will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration rights agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of the Proposed Offering requiring the Company to register such securities for resale. The holders of these securities are entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form demands, that the Company register such securities. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the completion of a Business Combination and rights to require the Company to register for resale such securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. The Company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.

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AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 7. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (cont.)

Unit Purchase Option

The Company agreed to sell to Maxim Group, the underwriter and/or its designees, at the time of the closing of the Proposed Public Offering for $100, an option to purchase up to a total of 250,000 units (or up to 287,500 units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) exercisable, in whole or in part, at $11.00 per unit. The units will be exercisable at any time, in whole or in part, between the first and fifth anniversary dates commencing after the date that the registration statement is declared effective by the SEC. The units issuable upon exercise of this option are identical to those offered in the prospectus, subject to compliance with FINRA Rule 5110.

Underwriter Agreement

The Company will grant the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to 750,000 Units (over and above 5,000,000 units referred to above) solely to cover over-allotments at the Proposed Offering price, less the underwriting discounts and commissions.

The underwriters will be entitled to a cash underwriting discount of 5.5% of the gross proceeds of the Proposed Public Offering, of which 2% will be paid at the closing of the Proposed Public Offering and the balance will be deferred until the closing of the initial business combination.

Professional fee

The Company has promised to pay Loeb & Loeb, LLP professional fee of $225,000 upon the IPO closing, $500,000 after business combination, and $4,000 per month for Exchange Act Filings until the business combination is completed or the SPAC is unwound.

NOTE 8. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

The Company evaluated subsequent events and transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date up to July 27, 2021. Based upon this evaluation, other than as described below, the Company did not identify any subsequent events that would have required adjustment or disclosure in the financial statements.

In July 2021, the Company decided to add an additional $0.10 per unit to the offering proceeds to be held in the Trust account. Of the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units, $50,500,000, or $10.10 per unit ($58,075,000, or $10.10 per unit, if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), will be placed in the Trust account.

On July 20, 2021, the sponsor of the Company has transferred an aggregate of 120,000 ordinary shares to the directors and management officers of the Company.

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$50,000,000

Aquarius I Acquisition Corp.

5,000,000 Units

_______________________

PROSPECTUS

_______________________

Sole Book-Running Manager

Maxim Group LLC

____________, 2021

Until ____, 2021, all dealers that effect transactions in these securities, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the dealers’ obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.

No dealer, salesperson or any other person is authorized to give any information or make any representations in connection with this offering other than those contained in this prospectus and, if given or made, the information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by us. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security other than the securities offered by this prospectus, or an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities by anyone in any jurisdiction in which the offer or solicitation is not authorized or is unlawful.

 

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 13. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The estimated expenses payable by us in connection with the offering described in this registration statement (other than the underwriting discount and commissions) will be as follows:

Initial Trustees’ fee

 

$

20,000

(1)

SEC Registration Fee

 

 

12,732

 

FINRA filing fee

 

 

15,469

 

Accounting fees and expenses

 

 

53,000

 

Nasdaq listing fees

 

 

75,000

 

Printing and engraving expenses

 

 

40,000

 

Legal fees and expenses

 

 

245,000

 

Miscellaneous

 

 

438,799

(2)

Total

 

$

900,000

 

____________

(1)      In addition to the initial acceptance fee that is charged by American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as trustee, the registrant will be required to pay to American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC $20,000 for acting as trustee, as transfer agent of the registrant’s ordinary shares, as warrant agent for the registrant’s warrants, as rights agent for the registrant’s rights, and as escrow agent.

(2)      This amount represents additional expenses that may be incurred by the Company in connection with the offering over and above those specifically listed above, including distribution and mailing costs.

Item 14. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Cayman Islands law does not limit the extent to which a company’s memorandum and articles of association may provide for indemnification of officers and directors, except to the extent any such provision may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against civil fraud or the consequences of committing a crime. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will provide for indemnification of our officers and directors to the maximum extent permitted by law, including for any liability incurred in their capacities as such, except through their own actual fraud, willful default or willful neglect.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is theretofore unenforceable.

Item 15. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.

During the past three years, we sold the following ordinary shares without registration under the Securities Act:

•        In April 2021, the Company issued 1,437,500 ordinary shares resulting in an aggregate of 1,437,500 ordinary shares outstanding, which we refer to throughout this prospectus as the “insider shares,” for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000, or approximately $0.017 per share. In connection with the Company’s organization pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.

•        In addition, our sponsor has committed to purchase an aggregate of 310,000 private units from the Company on a private placement basis simultaneously with the consummation of this offering. Our sponsor has also agreed that if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised by the underwriters in full or in part, they will purchase from the Company at a price of $10.00 per private unit up to an additional 22,500 private units. These issuances will be made pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.

No underwriting discounts or commissions were paid with respect to such sales.

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Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

(a)    The following exhibits are filed as part of this Registration Statement:

Exhibit No.

 

Description

1.1**

 

Form of Underwriting Agreement.

3.1**

 

Memorandum and Articles of Association.

3.2**

 

Form of Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association.

4.1**

 

Specimen Unit Certificate.

4.2**

 

Specimen Ordinary Share Certificate.

4.3**

 

Specimen Warrant Certificate.

4.4**

 

Specimen Right Certificate.

4.5**

 

Form of Warrant Agreement between American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC and the Registrant.

4.6**

 

Form of Rights Agreement between American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC and the Registrant.

4.7**

 

Form of Unit Purchase Option between the Registrant and Maxim Group LLC

5.1**

 

Opinion of Ogier

5.2**

 

Opinion of Loeb & Loeb LLP.

10.1**

 

Form of Letter Agreement among the Registrant, Maxim Group LLC and the Company’s officers, directors and shareholders.

10.2**

 

Form of Investment Management Trust Agreement between American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC and the Registrant.

10.3**

 

Form of Escrow Agreement between the Registrant, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC and the Initial Shareholders.

10.4**

 

Form of Registration Rights Agreement among the Registrant and the Initial Shareholders and Maxim Group LLC.

10.5**

 

Form of Securities Subscription Agreement among the Registrant and the Initial Shareholders.

10.6**

 

Form of Promissory Note issued to Aquarius Sponsor Ltd.

10.7**

 

Form of Administrative Services Agreement between the Registrant and Aquarius Sponsor Ltd.

14**

 

Form of Code of Ethics.

23.1**

 

Consent of UHY LLP.

23.2**

 

Consent of Ogier (included in Exhibit 5.1).

23.3**

 

Consent of Loeb & Loeb LLP (included in Exhibit 5.2).

24*

 

Power of Attorney (included on signature page)

99.1**

 

Form of Audit Committee Charter.

99.2**

 

Form of Nominating Committee Charter.

99.3**

 

Form of Compensation Committee Charter.

____________

*        Filed previously.

**      Filed herewith.

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

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reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;

iii.     To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement.

(2)    That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3)    To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4)    That for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933 in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

i.       Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

ii.      Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

iii.     The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

iv.      Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

(5)    That for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser, if the registrant is subject to Rule 430C, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.

(b)    The undersigned hereby undertakes to provide to the 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.

(c)     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful

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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.

(d)    The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:

(1)    For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.

(2)    For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Hong Kong, on 27th of July, 2021.

 

AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.

         
   

By:

 

/s/ Sze Hau Lee

   

Name:

 

Sze Hau Lee

   

Title:

 

Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Sze Hau Lee and Di Wu his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign any and all amendments including post-effective amendments to this registration statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact or his or her substitute, each acting alone, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Name

 

Position

 

Date

/s/ Sze Hau Lee

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

July 27, 2021

Sze Hau Lee

 

(Principal executive officer) and Director

   

/s/ Di Wu

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

July 27, 2021

Di Wu

 

(Principal financial and accounting officer)

   

/s/ Chunning Wang

 

Director

 

July 27, 2021

Chunning Wang

       

/s/ Ngai Wong

 

Director

 

July 27, 2021

Ngai Wong

       

/s/ Chi Fai Choi

 

Independent Director

 

July 27, 2021

Chi Fai Choi

       

/s/ Walter R. Cook

 

Independent Director

 

July 27, 2021

Walter R. Cook

       

/s/ Boyu Xu

 

Independent Director

 

July 27, 2021

Boyu Xu

       

/s/ Feng Wu

 

Independent Director

 

July 27, 2021

Feng Wu

       

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AUTHORIZED U.S. REPRESENTATIVE

Pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of Aquarius I Acquisition Corp. has signed this registration statement in New York, on July 27, 2021.

 

Cogency Global Inc.

   

By:

 

/s/ Colleen A. De Vries  

   

Name:

 

Colleen A. De Vries  

   

Title:

 

Senior Vice-President on behalf of Cogency Global Inc.

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EX-1.1 2 fs12021a1ex1-1_aquarius1.htm FORM OF UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

Exhibit 1.1

 

5,000,000 UNITS

AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

 

____, 2021

 

MAXIM GROUP LLC

405 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10174

 

As Representative of the Underwriters

named on Schedule A hereto

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

The undersigned, Aquarius I Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (“Company”), hereby confirms its agreement with Maxim Group LLC (hereinafter referred to as “you”, “Maxim”, or as the “Representative”) and with the other underwriters named on Schedule A hereto for which you are acting as representative (the Representative and the other Underwriters being collectively referred to herein as the “Underwriters” or, individually, an “Underwriter”), as follows:

 

1. Purchase and Sale of Securities.

 

1.1. Firm Securities.

 

1.1.1. Purchase of Firm Units. On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell, severally and not jointly, to the several Underwriters, an aggregate of 5,000,000 units (the “Firm Units”) of the Company at a purchase price (net of discounts and commissions, including the Deferred Underwriting Commission described in Section 1.3 below) of $9.45 per Firm Unit, subject to certain adjustments set forth in Section 1.3 below. The Underwriters, severally and not jointly, agree to purchase from the Company the number of Firm Units set forth opposite their respective names on Schedule A attached hereto and made a part hereof at a purchase price (net of discounts and commissions, including the Deferred Underwriting Commission described in Section 1.3 below) of $9.45 per Firm Unit. The Firm Units (and the Option Units (as hereinafter defined), if any) are to be offered initially to the public (the “Offering”) at the offering price of $10.00 per Firm Unit. Each Firm Unit consists of one ordinary share of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (“Ordinary Share”) and one redeemable warrant (“Warrant(s)”) to purchase one-half of one Ordinary Share, and one right (“Right(s)”) to receive one-tenth of an Ordinary Share upon the consummation of a Business Combination (as defined below). The Ordinary Shares, Warrants and Rights included in the Units (as defined below) will not be separately transferable until the 52nd business day after the Effective Date (as defined below) or the announcement by the Company of the Representative’s decision to allow earlier trading, subject, however, to the Company filing a Current Report on Form 8-K (“Form 8-K”) with the Commission (as defined below) containing an audited balanced sheet reflecting the Company’s receipt of the gross proceeds of the Offering and issuing a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. In no event will the Company allow separate trading until (i) the preparation of an audited balance sheet of the Company reflecting receipt by the Company of the proceeds of the Offering and the filing of such audited balance sheet with the Commission (as herein defined) on a Form 8-K or similar form by the Company which includes such balance sheet and (ii) the issuance of a press release announcing when such separate trading shall begin. Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one-half of one Ordinary Share at a price of $11.50 per full share (the Warrants may only be exercised for whole numbers of shares only an even number of Warrants may be exercised at any given time) during the period commencing on the later of (a) 30 days after the completion of an initial Business Combination (as defined below), and (b) 12 months from the date that the Registration Statement (as defined below) is declared effective (the “Effective Date”), and terminating on the five year anniversary of the completion of a Business Combination. As used herein, the term “Business Combination” shall mean any share exchange, share reconstruction and amalgamation, purchasing all or substantially all of the assets of, entering into contractual arrangements with, or engaging in any other similar business combination with, one or more operating businesses by the Company. The Company has the right to redeem the Warrants, with the prior consent of the Representative, upon not less than thirty (30) days written notice at a price of $0.01 per Warrant at any time after the Warrants become exercisable; so long as the last sales price of the Ordinary Shares has been at least $18.00 per share for any twenty (20) trading days within a thirty (30) trading day period ending on the third (3rd) trading day prior to the day on which notice is given. As used herein, the term “Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or any day on which national banks in New York, New York are not open for business.

 

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1.1.2. Payment and Delivery. Delivery and payment for the Firm Units shall be made at 10:00 A.M., New York time, on the second (2nd) Business Day following the Effective Date of the Registration Statement (or the third Business Day following the Effective Date, if the Registration Statement is declared effective at or after 4:00 p.m.) or at such earlier time as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company at the offices of Maxim or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company. The closing of the public offering contemplated by this Agreement is referred to herein as the “Closing” and the hour and date of delivery and payment for the Firm Units is referred to herein as the “Closing Date.” Payment for the Firm Units shall be made on the Closing Date at the Representative’s election by wire transfer in Federal (same day) funds or by certified or bank cashier’s check(s) in New York Clearing House funds. $50,500,000 ($58,075,000 if the Over-allotment Option (as defined in Section 1.2) is exercised in full), or approximately $10.10 per unit, of the proceeds received by the Company for the Firm Units and from the Private Placement (as defined in Section 1.6) shall be deposited in the trust account established by the Company for the benefit of the public shareholders as described in the Registration Statement (the “Trust Account”) pursuant to the terms of an Investment Management Trust Agreement (the “Trust Agreement”). Such amount includes an aggregate of $1,750,000 ($2,012,500 if the Over-allotment Option is exercised in full), or $0.35 per unit, payable to Maxim as a Deferred Underwriting Commission in accordance with Section 1.3 hereof, to be placed by the Underwriters in the Trust Account. The proceeds (less commissions, expense allowance and actual expense payments or other fees payable pursuant to this Agreement) shall be paid to the order of the Company upon delivery to the Representative of certificates (in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters) representing the Firm Units (or through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”)) for the account of the Underwriters. The Firm Units shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denominations as the Representative may request in writing at least two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing Date. The Company will permit the Representative to examine and package the Firm Units for delivery at least one (1) full Business Day prior to the Closing Date. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or deliver the Firm Units except upon tender of payment by the Representative for all the Firm Units.

 

1.2. Over-Allotment Option.

 

1.2.1. Option Units. For the purpose of covering any over-allotments in connection with the distribution and sale of the Firm Units, the Underwriters are hereby granted, severally and not jointly, an option to purchase up to an additional 750,000 units from the Company (the “Over-allotment Option”). Such additional 750,000 units shall be identical in all respects to the Firm Units and are hereinafter referred to as “Option Units.” The Firm Units and the Option Units are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Units,” and the Units, the Ordinary Shares, the Rights and the Warrants included in the Units and the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Rights and the Warrants are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Public Securities.” The purchase price to be paid for the Option Units (net of discounts and commissions), including the Deferred Underwriting Commission described in Section 1.3 below will be $9.45 per Option Unit. The Option Units are to be offered initially to the public at the offering price of $10.00 per Option Unit.

 

1.2.2. Exercise of Option. The Over-allotment Option granted pursuant to Section 1.2.1 hereof may be exercised by the Representative as to all (at any time) or any part (from time to time) of the Option Units within 45 days after the Effective Date. The Underwriters will not be under any obligation to purchase any Option Units prior to the exercise of the Over-allotment Option. The Over-allotment Option granted hereby may be exercised by the giving of oral notice to the Company from the Representative, which must be confirmed in writing by overnight mail or facsimile or e-mail transmission setting forth the number of Option Units to be purchased and the date and time for delivery of and payment for the Option Units, which will not be later than five Business Days after the date of the notice or such other time as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Representative, at the offices of the Representative or at such other place or in such other manner as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Representative. If such delivery and payment for the Option Units does not occur on the Closing Date, the date and time of the closing for such Option Units will be as set forth in the notice (hereinafter the “Option Closing Date”). Upon exercise of the Over-allotment Option, the Company will become obligated to convey to the Underwriters, and, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Underwriters will become obligated to purchase, the number of Option Units specified in such notice.

 

1.2.3. Payment and Delivery. Delivery and payment for the Option Units shall be made at 10:00 AM, New York time, on the Option Closing Date or at such earlier time as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company at the offices of the Representative or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company. Payment for the Option Units shall be made on the Option Closing Date (or at such earlier time as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company) at the Representative’s election by wire transfer in Federal (same day) funds or by certified or bank cashier’s check(s) in New York Clearing House funds, by deposit of the sum of $9.45 per Option Unit in the Trust Account pursuant to the Trust Agreement upon delivery to the Representative of certificates (in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters) representing the Option Units (or through the facilities of DTC) for the account of the Underwriters. The Underwriters shall also place an aggregate of $0.35 per Option Unit (up to $262,500), payable to the Representative, as Deferred Underwriting Commission, in accordance with Section 1.3 hereof, in the Trust Account. The certificates representing the Option Units to be delivered will be in such denominations and registered in such names as the Representative requests not less than two Business Days prior to the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, and will be made available to the Representative for inspection, checking and packaging at the aforesaid office of the Company’s transfer agent or correspondent not less than one full Business Day prior to such Closing Date or Option Closing Date.

  

1.3. Deferred Underwriting Commission. The Underwriters agree that 3.5% of the gross proceeds from the sale of the Firm Units ($1,750,000) and 3.5% of the gross proceeds from the sale of the Option Units (up to $262,500) (the “Deferred Underwriting Commission”) will be deposited in and held in the Trust Account and payable directly from the Trust Account, without accrued interest, to Maxim for its own account upon consummation of the Business Combination. In the event that the Company is unable to consummate a Business Combination and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (“AST”), as the trustee of the Trust Account (in this context, the “Trustee”), commences liquidation of the Trust Account as provided in the Trust Agreement, the Underwriter agrees that: (i) the Underwriters hereby forfeit any rights or claims to the Deferred Underwriting Commission; and (ii) the Deferred Underwriting Commission, together with all other amounts on deposit in the Trust Account, shall be distributed on a pro-rata basis among the public shareholders.

 

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1.4. Representative’s Purchase Option.

 

1.4.1 Purchase Option. As additional consideration, the Company hereby agrees to issue and sell to the Representative (and/or its designees) on the Effective Date an option (“Representative’s Purchase Option”) for the purchase of an aggregate of 250,000 (or 287,500 Units if the Over-allotment Option is exercised in full) Units (the “Representative’s Units”) for an aggregate purchase price of $100.00. The Representative’s Units are identical to the Firm Units, except that the Representative’s Units, if Representative’s Purchase Option is exercised, will be purchased pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and will become tradable only after certain conditions are met or the resale of such Representative Units is registered under the Securities Act. The Representative’s Purchase Option shall be exercisable, in whole or in part, commencing on the first anniversary of the Effective Date, and expiring on the fifth anniversary of the Effective Date, for cash or on a cashless basis, at an initial exercise price per Representative’s Unit of $11.00, which is equal to one hundred and ten percent (110%) of the initial public offering price of a Unit.

 

Each Representative’s Unit consists of one Ordinary Share of the Company, one redeemable Warrant with each redeemable Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one-half of one Ordinary Share at a price of $11.50 per full share, and one Right to receive one-tenth of an Ordinary Share upon the consummation of a Business Combination. The Representative’s Purchase Option, the Representative’s Units, the Rights included in the Representative’s Units (the “Representative’s Rights”) and the Warrants included in the Representative’s Units (the “Representative’s Warrants”) and the Ordinary Shares included in the Representative’s Units and the Ordinary Shares issuable pursuant to the terms of the Representative’s Rights and the Representative’s Warrants (the “Representative’s Shares”) are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Representative’s Securities.” The Representative understands and agrees that there are significant restrictions against transferring the Representative’s Purchase Option during the 180 days after the Effective Date, as set forth in Section 3 of the Representative’s Purchase Option. 

 

1.4.2 Delivery and Payment. Delivery and payment for the Representative’s Purchase Option shall be made on the Closing Date. The Company shall deliver to the Representative and their designees upon payment therefor, certificates for the Representative’s Purchase Option in the name or names and in such authorized denominations as the Representative may request.

 

1.5 Founder Shares.

 

1.5.1 On April 20, 2021, the Company issued to Aquarius Sponsor Ltd, a British Virgin Islands company (the “Sponsor”), for an aggregate consideration of $25,000, 1,437,500 of the Company’s Ordinary Shares, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Founder Shares”). No underwriting discounts, commissions, or placement fees have been or will be payable in connection with the purchase of Founder Shares. Except as described in the Registration Statement, none of the Founder Shares may be sold, assigned or transferred by the Sponsor until the earlier of: (1) six months after the completion of the initial business combination; or (2) after the date of the consummation of the initial business combination, and subsequently, we consummate a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the shareholders having the right to exchange their ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property. The Founder Shares shall be subject to restrictions on transfer as set forth in the Insider Letter (as defined in Section 2.25.1 herein).

 

1.5.2 The holders of Founder Shares shall have no right to any liquidating distributions with respect to any portion of the Founder Shares in the event the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination. within 12 months (or up to 21 months, if applicable) from the closing of the Offering. The holders of the Founder Shares shall not have redemption rights with respect to the Founder Shares. In the event that the Over-allotment Option is not exercised in full, the Sponsor will be required to forfeit such number of Founder Shares (up to 187,500 Founder Shares) such that the Founder Shares then outstanding will comprise 20% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company (but not including any Placement Shares (as defined below)) after giving effect to the Offering and exercise, if any, of the Over-allotment Option.

 

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1.6  Private Placement. Simultaneously with the consummation of the Offering, the Sponsor shall purchase from the Company pursuant to the Subscription Agreement (as defined in Section 2.25.2 hereof) an aggregate of 310,000 Units (the “Placement Units”) at a purchase price of $10.00 per Placement Unit in a private placement (the “Private Placement”). Simultaneously with the Option Closing Date (if any), the Sponsor will purchase from the Company pursuant to the Subscription Agreement, up to an additional 22,500 Placement Units at a purchase price of $10.00 per Placement Unit. The Placement Units and the Ordinary Shares, Warrants included in the Placement Units (the “Placement Warrants”), and the Rights included in the Placement Units (the “Placement Rights”), the Ordinary Shares included in the Placement Units and the Ordinary Shares issuable pursuant to the terms of the Placement Warrants and the Placement Rights are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Placement Securities.” Each Placement Unit shall be substantially identical to the Firm Units. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, there will be no placement agent in the Private Placement and no party shall be entitled to a placement fee or expense allowance from the sale of the Placement Securities. The Public Securities, the Representative’s Securities, the Founder Shares and the Placement Securities are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Securities.”

 

 

2. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to the Underwriters as follows:

 

2.1. Filing of Registration Statement.

 

2.1.1. Pursuant to the Act. The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement and an amendment or amendments thereto, on Form S-1 (File No. 333-257706), including any related preliminary prospectus (the “Preliminary Prospectus”, including any prospectus that is included in the Registration Statement immediately prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement), for the registration of the Public Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), which registration statement and amendment or amendments have been prepared by the Company in conformity in all material respects with the requirements of the Act, and the rules and regulations (the “Regulations”) of the Commission under the Act. The conditions for use of Form S-1 to register the Offering under the Act, as set forth in the General Instructions to such Form, have been satisfied in all material respects. Except as the context may otherwise require, such registration statement, as amended, on file with the Commission at the time the registration statement becomes effective (including the prospectus, financial statements, schedules, exhibits and all other documents filed as a part thereof or incorporated therein and all information deemed to be a part thereof as of such time pursuant to Rule 430A of the Regulations), is hereinafter called the “Registration Statement,” and the form of the final prospectus dated the Effective Date included in the Registration Statement (or, if applicable, the form of final prospectus containing information permitted to be omitted at the time of effectiveness by Rule 430A of the Regulations filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 of the Regulations), is hereinafter called the “Prospectus.” For purposes of this Agreement, “Time of Sale”, as used in the Act, means 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date of this Agreement. If the Company has filed, or is required pursuant to the terms hereof to file, a registration statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Act registering additional Public Securities (a “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement”), then, unless otherwise specified, any reference herein to the term “Registration Statement” shall be deemed to include such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. Other than a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, which, if filed, becomes effective upon filing, no other document with respect to the Registration Statement has heretofore been filed with the Commission. All of the Public Securities have been registered under the Act pursuant to the Registration Statement or, if any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement is filed, will be duly registered under the Act with the filing of such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. The Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission on the date hereof. If, subsequent to the date of this Agreement, the Company or the Representative has determined that at the Time of Sale the Prospectus included an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted a statement of material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and have agreed to provide an opportunity to purchasers of the Firm Units to terminate their old purchase contracts and enter into new purchase contracts, the Prospectus will be deemed to include any additional information available to purchasers at the time of entry into the first such new purchase contract.

 

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2.1.2. Pursuant to the Exchange Act. The Company has filed with the Commission a Form 8-A (File Number __________) providing for the registration under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), of the Units, the Ordinary Shares, the Warrants and the Rights. The registration of the Units, Ordinary Shares, Warrants and Rights under the Exchange Act will be declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the Effective Date.

 

2.2. No Stop Orders, Etc. Neither the Commission nor, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, any state regulatory authority has issued any order or threatened to issue any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or has instituted or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, threatened to institute any proceedings with respect to such an order. 

 

2.3. Disclosures in Registration Statement.

 

2.3.1. 10b-5 Representation. At the time the Registration Statement became effective, upon the filing or first use (within the meaning of the Regulations) of the Prospectus and at the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus contained or will contain all material statements that are required to be stated therein in accordance with the Act and the Regulations, and did or will in all material respects conform to the requirements of the Act and the Regulations. Neither the Registration Statement nor any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, nor any amendment or supplement thereto, on their respective dates, did or will contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made), not misleading. When any Preliminary Prospectus was first filed with the Commission (whether filed as part of the Registration Statement for the registration of the Securities or any amendment thereto or pursuant to Rule 424(a) of the Regulations) or first used (within the meaning of the Regulations) and when any amendment thereof or supplement thereto was first filed with the Commission or first used (within the meaning of the Regulations), such Preliminary Prospectus and any amendments thereof and supplements thereto complied or will have been corrected in the Prospectus to comply in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Act and the Regulations and did not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The representation and warranty made in this Section 2.3.1 does not apply to statements made or statements omitted in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company with respect to the Underwriters by the Representative expressly for use in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto. It is understood the following identified statements set forth in the Prospectus under the heading “Underwriting” constitute, for the purposes of this Agreement, information furnished by the Representative with respect to the Underwriters: (i) the names of the Underwriters; (ii) the table of underwriters in the first paragraph of the section captioned “Underwriting”, and (iii) the subsections titled “Price Stabilization, Short Positions,” and “Electronic Distribution” included in the section captioned “Underwriting.”

 

2.3.2. Disclosure of Agreements. The agreements and documents described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus conform to the descriptions thereof contained therein and there are no agreements or other documents required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or to be filed with the Commission as exhibits to the Registration Statement, that have not been so described or filed. Each agreement or other instrument (however characterized or described) to which the Company is a party or by which its property or business is or may be bound or affected and (i) that is referred to in the Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or attached as an exhibit thereto, or (ii) is material to the Company’s business, has been duly and validly executed by the Company, is in full force and effect in all material respects and is enforceable against the Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, the other parties thereto, in accordance with its terms, except (x) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (y) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under the federal and state securities laws, and (z) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought, and none of such agreements or instruments has been assigned by the Company, and neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any other party is in breach or default thereunder and, to the Company’s knowledge, no event has occurred that, with the lapse of time or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a breach or default thereunder. To the best of the Company’s knowledge, performance by the Company of the material provisions of such agreements or instruments will not result in a material violation of any existing applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any governmental agency or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its assets or businesses, including, without limitation, those relating to environmental laws and regulations.

 

2.3.3. Prior Securities Transactions. No securities of the Company have been sold by the Company or by or on behalf of, or for the benefit of, any person or persons controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company since the date of the Company’s formation, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement.

 

2.3.4. Regulations. The disclosures in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus concerning the effects of federal, state and local regulation on the Company’s business as currently contemplated fairly summarize, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, such effects and do not omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.

 

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2.4. Changes After Dates in Registration Statement.

 

2.4.1. No Material Adverse Change. Except as contemplated or disclosed in the Prospectus, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus (i) there has been no material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or business prospects of the Company; (ii) there have been no material transactions entered into by the Company, other than as contemplated pursuant to this Agreement; (iii) no member of the Company’s board of directors or management has resigned from any position with the Company and (iv) no event or occurrence has taken place which materially impairs, or would likely materially impair, with the passage of time, the ability of the members of the Company’s board of directors or management to act in their capacities with the Company as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

 

2.4.2. Recent Securities Transactions, Etc. Except as contemplated in the Prospectus, subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and except as may otherwise be indicated or contemplated herein or therein, the Company has not: (i) issued any securities or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, for borrowed money; or (ii) declared or paid any dividend or made any other distribution on or in respect to its shares.

 

2.5. Independent Accountants. To the best of the Company’s knowledge, UHY LLP (“UHY”), whose report is filed with the Commission as part of the Registration Statement and included in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, are independent accountants as required by the Act and the Regulations and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (including the rules and regulations promulgated by such entity, the “PCAOB”). To the best of the Company’s knowledge, UHY is duly registered and in good standing with the PCAOB. UHY has not, during the periods covered by the financial statements included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, provided to the Company any non-audit services, as such term is used in Section 10A(g) of the Exchange Act.

 

2.6. Financial Statements; Statistical Data.

 

2.6.1. Financial Statements. The financial statements, including the notes thereto and supporting schedules, included in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus fairly present the financial position and the results of operations of the Company at the dates and for the periods to which they apply; and such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied throughout the periods involved; and the supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement present fairly the information required to be stated therein. To the best of the Company’s knowledge, no other financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus. The Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus disclose all material off-balance sheet transactions, arrangements, obligations (including contingent obligations), and other relationships of the Company with unconsolidated entities or other persons that may have a material current or future effect on the Company’s financial condition, changes in financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures, capital resources, or significant components of revenues or expenses. To the best of the Company’s knowledge, there are no pro forma or as adjusted financial statements which are required to be included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus in accordance with Regulation S-X which have not been included as so required.

 

2.6.2. Statistical Data. The statistical, industry-related and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources which the Company reasonably and in good faith believes are reliable and accurate, and such data agree with the sources from which they are derived.

 

2.7. Authorized Capital; Options, Etc. The Company had at the date or dates indicated in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, as the case may be, duly authorized, issued and outstanding capitalization as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus. Based on the assumptions stated in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company will have on the Closing Date the adjusted share capitalization set forth therein. Except as set forth in, or contemplated by, the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, on the Effective Date and on the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, there will be no options, warrants, or other rights to purchase or otherwise acquire any authorized, but unissued Ordinary Shares of the Company or any security convertible into Ordinary Shares of the Company, or any contracts or commitments to issue or sell Ordinary Shares or any such options, warrants, rights or convertible securities.

  

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2.8. Valid Issuance of Securities, Etc.

 

2.8.1. Outstanding Securities. All issued and outstanding securities of the Company (including, without limitation, the Placement Securities) have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof have no rights of rescission with respect thereto, and are not subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; and none of such securities were issued in violation of the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company. The Public Securities conform in all material respects to all statements relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus. Subject to the disclosure contained in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus with respect to the Placement Securities, the offers and sales of the outstanding Ordinary Shares were at all relevant times either registered under the Act and the applicable state securities or Blue Sky laws or, based in part on the representations and warranties of the purchasers of such Ordinary Shares, exempt from such registration requirements.

 

2.8.2. Securities Sold. The Public Securities have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance and when issued and paid for, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; the Public Securities are not and will not be subject to the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company; and all corporate actions required to be taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of the Public Securities have been duly and validly taken. When issued, the Warrants and the Rights will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company to issue and sell, upon exercise thereof and payment of the exercise price therefor, the number and type of securities of the Company called for thereby in accordance with the terms thereof, and such Warrants and Rights are enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except: (i) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally; (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under federal and state securities laws; and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought. The Ordinary Shares issuable underlying the Warrants and the Rights have been reserved for issuance upon the exercise of the Warrants and the Rights, when issued in accordance with the terms of the Warrants and the Rights, will be duly and validly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and the holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders. The Securities conform in all material respects to all statements with respect thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, as the case may be.

 

2.8.3. Representative’s Purchase Option. The Representative’s Securities have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance and when the Representative’s Purchase Option is exercised in accordance with its terms and any exercise price is paid, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; the Representative’s Securities are not and will not be subject to the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company; and all corporate actions required to be taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of the Representative’s Securities have been duly and validly taken. When issued, the Representative’s Purchase Option, the Representative’s Rights and the Representative’s Warrants will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company to issue and sell, upon exercise thereof and payment of the respective exercise prices therefor, the number and type of securities of the Company called for thereby in accordance with the terms thereof and such Representative’s Purchase Option, Representative’s Rights and Representative’s Warrants are enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except: (i) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally; (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under federal and state securities laws; and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought. The Ordinary Shares underlying the Representative’s Purchase Option, the Representative’s Rights and the Representative’s Warrants have been reserved for issuance upon the exercise of the Representative’s Purchase Option, the Representative’s Rights and the Representative’s Warrants, respectively, and, when issued in accordance with the terms of such securities, will be duly and validly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders.

 

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2.8.3. Placement Securities. The Placement Securities have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance and when issued and paid for, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; the Placement Securities are not and will not be subject to the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company; and all corporate actions required to be taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of the Placement Securities have been duly and validly taken. When issued, the Placement Warrants and the Placement Rights will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company to issue and sell, upon exercise thereof and payment of the exercise price therefor, the number and type of securities of the Company called for thereby in accordance with the terms thereof, and such Placement Warrants and Placement Rights are enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except: (i) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally; (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under federal and state securities laws; and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought. The Ordinary Shares issuable underlying the Placement Warrants and the Placement Rights have been reserved for issuance upon the exercise of the Placement Warrants and the Placement Rights, when issued in accordance with the terms of the Placement Warrants and the Placement Rights, will be duly and validly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and the holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders.

 

2.8.4. No Integration. Subject to the disclosure contained in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus with respect to the Placement Securities, neither the Company nor any of its affiliates has, prior to the date hereof, made any offer or sale of any securities which are required to be “integrated” pursuant to the Act or the Regulations with the offer and sale of the Public Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement.

 

2.9. Registration Rights of Third Parties. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, no holders of any securities of the Company or any rights exercisable for or convertible or exchangeable into securities of the Company have the right to require the Company to register any such securities of the Company under the Act or to include any such securities in a registration statement to be filed by the Company.

 

2.10. Validity and Binding Effect of Agreements. This Agreement, the Warrant Agreement (as defined in Section 2.24 hereof), the Trust Agreement (as defined in Section 2.26 hereof), the Rights Agreement (as defined in Section 2.27 hereof), the Registration Rights Agreement (as defined in Section 2.25.3 hereof), the Subscription Agreement (as defined in Section 2.25.2 hereof), the Representative’s Purchase Option and the Administrative Services Agreement (as defined in Section 2.25.4 hereof) have been duly and validly authorized by the Company and constitute valid and binding agreements of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except: (i) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally; (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under the federal and state securities laws; and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.

 

2.11. No Conflicts, Etc. The execution, delivery, and performance by the Company of this Agreement, the Warrant Agreement, the Trust Agreement, the Representative’s Purchase Option, the Rights Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, and the Subscription Agreement, the consummation by the Company of the transactions herein and therein contemplated and the compliance by the Company with the terms hereof and thereof do not and will not, with or without the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both: (i) result in a material breach of, or conflict with any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a material default under, or result in the creation, modification, termination or imposition of any material lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company pursuant to the terms of any agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party; (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the Memorandum and Articles of the Company; or (iii) violate any existing applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any governmental agency or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties or business.

 

2.12. No Defaults; Violations. No material default exists in the due performance and observance of any term, covenant or condition of any material license, contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, note, loan or credit agreement, or any other agreement or instrument evidencing an obligation for borrowed money, or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company may be bound or to which any of the properties or assets of the Company is subject. The Company is not in violation of any material agreement, license, permit, applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment or decree of any governmental agency or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties or businesses, except for such violations which would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company. The Company is not in violation of any term or provision of its Memorandum and Articles of Association.

 

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2.13. Corporate Power; Licenses; Consents.

 

2.13.1. Conduct of Business. The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority, and has all necessary authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, certificates and permits of and from all governmental regulatory officials and bodies that it needs as of the date hereof to conduct its business for the purposes described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus. To the Company’s knowledge, the disclosures in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus concerning the effects of federal, state and local regulation on the Offering and the Company’s business purpose as currently contemplated are correct in all material respects and do not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein (with respect to the Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made), not misleading. Since its formation, the Company has conducted no business and has incurred no liabilities other than in connection with and in furtherance of the Offering.

 

2.13.2. Transactions Contemplated Herein. The Company has all corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to carry out the provisions and conditions hereof, and all consents, authorizations, approvals and orders required in connection therewith have been obtained. No consent, authorization or order of, and no filing with, any court, government agency or other body is required for the valid issuance, sale and delivery, of the Securities and the consummation of the transactions and agreements contemplated by this Agreement, the Warrant Agreement, the Trust Agreement, Representative’s Purchase Option, the Rights Agreement, the Subscription Agreement, the Administrative Services Agreement, and the Registration Rights Agreement and as contemplated by the Prospectus, except with respect to applicable federal and state securities laws and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).

 

2.14. D&O Questionnaires. All information contained in the questionnaires (the “Questionnaires”) completed by each of the Company’s shareholders immediately prior to the Offering (the “Initial Shareholders”) and each of the Company’s officers and directors and included by the Company in the Registration Statement is true and correct and the Company has not become aware of any information which would cause the information disclosed in the Questionnaires completed by each Initial Shareholder, officer or director, to become inaccurate and incorrect.

 

2.15. Litigation; Governmental Proceedings. There is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry, arbitration, investigation, litigation or governmental proceeding pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against, or involving the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any of its officers, directors or Initial Shareholders which is required to be disclosed and has not been disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Questionnaires, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus.

 

2.16. Good Standing. The Company has been duly incorporated, is validly existing and is in good standing under the laws of its country of incorporation and is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign company in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of business requires such qualification, except where the failure to qualify would not have a material adverse effect on the Company.

 

2.17. No Contemplation of a Business Combination. Prior to the date hereof, neither the Company, its officers and directors nor the Initial Shareholders had, and as of the Closing, the Company and such officers and directors and Initial Shareholders will not have had: (i) any specific Business Combination under consideration or contemplation; or (ii) any substantive interactions or discussions with any target business regarding a possible Business Combination.

 

2.18. Transactions Affecting Disclosure to FINRA.

 

2.18.1. Except as described in the Preliminary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus, there are no claims, payments, arrangements, agreements or understandings relating to the payment of a finder’s, consulting or origination fee by the Company or its officers or directors or any Initial Shareholder with respect to the sale of the Securities hereunder or any other arrangements, agreements or understandings of the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any of its officers, directors or Initial Shareholders that may affect the Underwriters’ compensation, as determined by FINRA.

 

2.18.2. The Company has not made any direct or indirect payments (in cash, securities or otherwise) to: (i) any person, as a finder’s fee, consulting fee or otherwise, in consideration of such person raising capital for the Company or introducing to the Company persons who raised or provided capital to the Company; (ii) to any FINRA member participating in the offering as defined in FINRA Rule 5110(j)(15) (“Participating Member”); or (iii) to any person or entity that has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any Participating Member, within the twelve (12) months prior to the Effective Date, other than payments to the Representative.

 

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2.18.3. No officer, director, or beneficial owner of any class of the Company’s securities (whether debt or equity, registered or unregistered, regardless of the time acquired or the source from which derived) (any such individual or entity, a “Company Affiliate”) is a member, a person associated, or affiliated with a Participating Member.

 

2.18.4. No Company Affiliate is an owner of stock or other securities of any Participating Member (other than securities purchased on the open market).

 

2.18.5. No Company Affiliate has made a subordinated loan to any Participating Member.

 

2.18.6. No proceeds from the sale of the Public Securities (excluding underwriting compensation) or the Placement Securities will be paid to any Participating Member, or any persons associated or affiliated with a Participating Member, except as specifically authorized herein and in the Subscription Agreement.

 

2.18.7. Except with respect to the Representative, the Company has not issued any warrants or other securities, or granted any options, directly or indirectly to anyone who is a Participating Member within the 180-day period prior to the initial filing date of the Registration Statement.

 

2.18.8. No person to whom securities of the Company have been privately issued within the 180-day period prior to the initial filing date of the Registration Statement has any relationship or affiliation or association with any Participating Member.

 

2.18.9. No Participating Member has a conflict of interest with the Company. For this purpose, a “conflict of interest” exists when a member of FINRA and its associated persons, parent or affiliates in the aggregate beneficially own 10% or more of the Company’s outstanding subordinated debt or common equity, or 10% or more of the Company’s preferred equity.

 

2.18.10. Except with respect to the Representative in connection with the Offering, the Company has not entered into any agreement or arrangement (including, without limitation, any consulting agreement or any other type of agreement) during the 180-day period prior to the initial filing date of the Registration Statement, which arrangement or agreement provides for the receipt of any item of value and/or the transfer of any warrants, options, or other securities from the Company to a FINRA member, any person associated with a Participating Member.

 

2.19. Taxes.

 

2.19.1. There are no transfer taxes or other similar fees or charges under Cayman Islands law, U.S. federal law or the laws of any U.S. state or any political subdivision thereof, required to be paid in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the issuance or sale by the Company of the Public Securities.

 

2.19.2. The Company has filed all non-U.S. and U.S. federal, state and local tax returns that are required to be a filed or has requested extensions thereof, except in any case in which the failure to so file would not have a Material Adverse Effect, and has paid all taxes required to be paid by it and any other assessment, fine or penalty levied against it, to the extent that any of the foregoing in due and payable, except for any such assessment, fine or penalty that is currently being contested in good faith or as would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

2.19.3. Assuming the Company satisfies the “start-up exception” (as described in the Registration Statement) to the “passive foreign investment company” (“PFIC”) provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and subject to the discussion of PFICs and other Federal income tax issues set forth in the Registration Statement under the heading “TAXATION — United States Federal Income Taxation”, the Company will not be a PFIC for Federal income tax purposes for its taxable year ending December 31, 2021. 

 

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2.20. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any of its officers, directors or Initial Shareholders or any other person acting on behalf of the Company has, directly or indirectly, given or agreed to give any money, gift or similar benefit (other than legal price concessions to customers in the ordinary course of business) to any customer, supplier, employee or agent of a customer or supplier, or official or employee of any governmental agency or instrumentality of any government (domestic or foreign) or any political party or candidate for office (domestic or foreign) or any political party or candidate for office (domestic or foreign) or other person who was, is, or may be in a position to help or hinder the business of the Company (or assist it in connection with any actual or proposed transaction) that: (i) might subject the Company to any damage or penalty in any civil, criminal or governmental litigation or proceeding; (ii) if not given in the past, might have had a material adverse effect on the assets, business or operations of the Company as reflected in any of the financial statements contained in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus; or (iii) if not continued in the future, might adversely affect the assets, business, operations or prospects of the Company. The Company’s internal accounting controls and procedures are sufficient to cause the Company to comply with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.

 

2.21. Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act. The operations of the Company are and have been conducted at all times in material compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transaction Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, 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 involving the Company with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened.

 

2.22. Bank Secrecy Act; Patriot Act. Neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any officer, director or Initial Shareholder has violated: (i) the Bank Secrecy Act of 1970, as amended; (ii) the Money Laundering Laws; or (iii) the Uniting and Strengthening of America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT ACT) Act of 2001, and/or the rules and regulations promulgated under any such law, or any successor law.

 

2.23. Officers’ Certificate. Any certificate signed by any duly authorized officer of the Company and delivered to the Representative or to the Representative’s counsel shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to the Underwriters as to the matters covered thereby.

 

2.24. Warrant Agreement. The Company has entered into a warrant agreement with respect to the Warrants and the Placement Warrants with AST substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the “Warrant Agreement”).

 

2.25. Agreements With Officers, Directors and Initial Shareholders.

 

2.25.1. Insider Letter. The Company has caused to be duly executed legally binding and enforceable agreements (except: (i) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally; (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification, contribution or non-compete provision may be limited under the federal and state securities laws; and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought) annexed as exhibits to the Registration Statement (the “Insider Letter”), pursuant to which each of the officers, directors and Initial Shareholders of the Company agree to certain matters, including but not limited to, certain matters described as being agreed to by them under the “Proposed Business” Section of the Prospectus. 

 

2.25.2. Subscription Agreement. The Sponsor has executed and delivered an agreement, annexed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the “Subscription Agreement”), pursuant to which the Sponsor, among other things, has purchased an aggregate of 310,000 Placement Units and may purchase up to an additional of 22,500 units in the Private Placement if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised. Pursuant to the Subscription Agreement, all of the proceeds from the sale of the Placement Units will be deposited by the Company in the Trust Account in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement prior to the Closing.

 

2.25.3. Registration Rights Agreement. The Company, the Sponsor, the Initial Shareholders and Maxim have entered into a registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) substantially in the form annexed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, whereby the parties will be entitled to certain registration rights with respect to their securities, as set forth in such Registration Rights Agreement and described more fully in the Registration Statement.

 

2.25.4. Administrative Services. The Company has entered into an administrative services agreement (the “Services Agreement”) with Aquarius Sponsor Ltd, the Sponsor, pursuant to which such affiliate will make available to the Company general and administrative services including office space, utilities, receptionist and secretarial support for the Company’s use for $10,000 per month for up to twenty-one months.

 

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2.26. Investment Management Trust Agreement. The Company has entered into the Trust Agreement with respect to certain proceeds of the Offering and the Private Placement substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.

 

2.27. Rights Agreement. The Company has entered into a rights agreement with respect to the Rights, the Representative’s Rights and the Placement Rights with AST, substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the “Rights Agreement”).

 

2.28. Covenants Not to Compete. To the Company’s knowledge, no officer, director or Initial Shareholder of the Company is subject to any non-competition agreement or non-solicitation agreement with any employer or prior employer which could materially affect his or her ability to be an Initial Shareholder, employee, officer or director of the Company.

 

2.29. Investments. No more than 45% of the “value” (as defined in Section 2(a)(41) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”)) of the Company’s total assets consist of, and no more than 45% of the Company’s net income after taxes is derived from, securities other than “Government Securities” (as defined in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act).

 

2.30. Subsidiaries. The Company does not own an interest in any company, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other business entity.

 

2.31. Related Party Transactions. No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among any of the Company or any Company Affiliate, on the one hand, and any director, officer, shareholder, customer or supplier of the Company or any Company Affiliate, on the other hand, which is required by the Act, the Exchange Act or the Regulations to be described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus which is not so described and described as required. There are no outstanding loans, advances (except normal advances for business expenses in the ordinary course of business) or guarantees of indebtedness by the Company to or for the benefit of any of the officers or directors of the Company or any of their respective family members, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus. The Company has not extended or maintained credit, arranged for the extension of credit, or renewed an extension of credit, in the form of a personal loan to or for any director or officer of the Company.

  

2.32. No Influence. The Company has not offered, or caused the Underwriters to offer, the Firm Units to any person or entity with the intention of unlawfully influencing: (i) a customer or supplier of the Company or any Company Affiliate to alter the customer’s or supplier’s level or type of business with the Company or such affiliate; or (ii) a journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information about the Company or any such affiliate.

 

2.33. Trading of the Public Securities on the Nasdaq Capital Market. As of the Effective Date and the Closing Date, the Public Securities will have been authorized for listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market and no proceedings have been instituted or threatened which would effect, and no event or circumstance has occurred as of the Effective Date which is reasonably likely to effect, the listing of the Public Securities on the Nasdaq Capital Market.

 

2.34. Free-Writing Prospectus and Testing-the-Waters. The Company has not made any offer relating to the Public Securities that would constitute an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433 under the Act, or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act. The Company (a) has not engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communication other than Testing-the-Waters Communications with the consent of the Representative with entities that are qualified institutional buyers within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Act or institutions that are accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Act and (b) has not authorized anyone to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications other than its officers and the Representative and individuals engaged by the Representative. The Company has not distributed any Written Testing-the-Waters Communications other than those listed on Schedule B hereto. “Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of the Act.

 

2.35. Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Company maintains effective “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined under Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act), to the extent required by such rule.

 

2.36. Definition of “Knowledge”. As used in herein, the term “knowledge of the Company” (or similar language) shall mean the knowledge of the officers and directors of the Company who are named in the Prospectus, with the assumption that such officers and directors shall have made reasonable and diligent inquiry of the matters presented.

 

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3. Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees as follows:

 

3.1. Amendments to Registration Statement. The Company will deliver to the Representative, prior to filing, any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus proposed to be filed after the Effective Date and will not file any such amendment or supplement to which the Representative shall reasonably object in writing.

 

3.2. Federal Securities Laws.

 

3.2.1. Compliance. During the time when a Prospectus is required to be delivered under the Act, the Company will use all reasonable efforts to comply with all requirements imposed upon it by the Act, the Regulations and the Exchange Act and by the regulations under the Exchange Act, as from time to time in force, so far as necessary to permit the continuance of sales of or dealings in the Public Securities in accordance with the provisions hereof and the Prospectus. If at any time when a Prospectus relating to the Public Securities is required to be delivered under the Act, any event shall have occurred as a result of which, in the opinion of counsel for the Company or counsel for the Underwriters, the Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it is necessary during such period to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with the Act, the Company will notify the Representative promptly and prepare and file with the Commission, subject to Section 3.1 hereof, an appropriate amendment to the Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to the Prospectus (at the expense of the Company) so as to correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance.

 3.2.2. Filing of Final Prospectus. The Company will file the Prospectus (in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative) with the Commission pursuant to the requirements of Rule 424 of the Regulations.

 

3.2.3. Exchange Act Registration. For a period of five (5) years from the Effective Date, or until such earlier time upon which the Company is required to be liquidated, the Company will use its reasonable efforts to maintain the registration of the Units, Ordinary Shares, Rights and Warrants under the provisions of the Exchange Act. The Company will not deregister the Units, Ordinary Shares, Rights and Warrants under the Exchange Act without the prior written consent of the Representative.

 

3.2.4. Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company will not make any offer relating to the Public Securities that would constitute an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433 under the Act.

 

3.2.5. Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance. As soon as it is legally required to do so, the Company shall take all actions necessary to obtain and thereafter maintain material compliance with each applicable provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and related or similar rules and regulations promulgated by any other governmental or self-regulatory entity or agency with jurisdiction over the Company.

 

3.3. Blue Sky Filing. Unless the Public Securities are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market or another national securities exchange, the Company at its expense will endeavor in good faith, in cooperation with the Representative, at or prior to the time the Registration Statement becomes effective, to qualify the Public Securities for offering and sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Representative may reasonably designate, provided that no such qualification shall be required in any jurisdiction where, as a result thereof, the Company would be subject to service of general process or to taxation as a foreign company doing business in such jurisdiction. In each jurisdiction where such qualification shall be effected, the Company will, unless the Representative agrees that such action is not at the time necessary or advisable, use all reasonable efforts to file and make such statements or reports at such times as are or may be required by the laws of such jurisdiction.

 

3.4. Delivery to Underwriters of Prospectuses. The Company will deliver to each of the several Underwriters, without charge, from time to time during the period when the Prospectus is required to be delivered under the Act or the Exchange Act such number of copies of each Preliminary Prospectus and Prospectus and all amendments and supplements to such documents as such Underwriters may reasonably request and, as soon as the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto becomes effective, deliver to the Representative two original executed Registration Statements, including exhibits, and all post-effective amendments thereto and copies of all exhibits filed therewith or incorporated therein by reference and all original executed consents of certified experts.

 

3.5. Effectiveness and Events Requiring Notice to the Representative. The Company will use its reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statement to remain effective and will notify the Representative immediately and confirm the notice in writing: (i) of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto; (ii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or any post-effective amendment thereto or preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or of the initiation, or the threatening, of any proceeding for that purpose; (iii) of the issuance by any state securities commission of any proceedings for the suspension of the qualification of the Public Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction or of the initiation, or the threatening, of any proceeding for that purpose; (iv) of the mailing and delivery to the Commission for filing of any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus; (v) of the receipt of any comments or request for any additional information from the Commission; and (vi) of the happening of any event during the period described in Section 3.4 hereof that, in the judgment of the Company, makes any statement of a material fact made in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus untrue or that requires the making of any changes in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein (with respect to the Prospectus in light of the circumstances under which they were made), not misleading. If the Commission or any state securities commission shall enter a stop order or suspend such qualification at any time, the Company will make every reasonable effort to obtain promptly the lifting of such order.

  

3.6. Review of Financial Statements. Until the earlier of five (5) years from the Effective Date, or until such earlier date upon which the Company is required to be liquidated, the Company, at its expense, shall cause its regularly engaged independent certified public accountants to review (but not audit) the Company’s financial statements for each of the first three fiscal quarters prior to the announcement or filing of quarterly financial information, if any.

 

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3.7. Affiliated Transactions.

 

3.7.1. Business Combinations. The Company will not consummate a Business Combination with any entity which is affiliated with any of its officers, directors or Initial Shareholders unless the Company obtains an opinion from an independent investment banking firm regulated by FINRA stating the Business Combination is fair to the Company’s shareholders from a financial perspective.

 

3.7.2. Compensation. Except as set forth in this Section 3.7.2, the Company shall not pay any of its officers, directors or Initial Shareholders or any of their affiliates any fees or compensation from the Company, for services rendered to the Company prior to, or in connection with, this Offering or the consummation of a Business Combination; provided that the officers, directors and the Initial Shareholder shall be entitled to reimbursement from the Company for their out-of-pocket expenses incurred on the Company’s behalf, which includes any loans and advances made to the Company prior to the Closing.

  

3.8. Secondary Market Trading. In the event the Public Securities are not listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market or such other national securities exchange, the Company will apply to be included in Mergent, Inc. Manual for a period of five (5) years from the consummation of a Business Combination. Promptly after the consummation of the Offering, the Company shall take such commercially reasonable steps as may be necessary to obtain a secondary market trading exemption for the Company’s securities in all applicable jurisdictions. The Company shall also take such other action as may be reasonably requested by the Representative to obtain a secondary market trading exemption in such other states as may be requested by the Representative; provided that no qualification shall be required in any jurisdiction where, as a result thereof, the Company would be subject to service of general process or to taxation as a foreign entity doing business in such jurisdiction.

 

3.9. Financial Public Relations Firm. Promptly after the execution of a definitive agreement for a Business Combination, the Company shall retain a financial public relations firm reasonably acceptable to the Representative for a term to be agreed upon by the Company and the Representative.

 

 3.10. Reports to the Representative.

 

3.10.1. Periodic Reports, Etc. For a period of five (5) years from the Effective Date or until such earlier time upon which the Company is dissolved, the Company will furnish to the Representative and its counsel 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 its securities, and promptly furnish to the Representative: (i) a copy of each periodic report the Company shall be required to file with the Commission; (ii) a copy of every press release and every news item and article with respect to the Company or its affairs which was released by the Company; (iii) a copy of each Form 8-K or Schedules 13D, 13G, 14D-1 or 13E-4 received or prepared by the Company; (iv) five (5) copies of each Registration Statement; and (v) such additional documents and information with respect to the Company and the affairs of any future subsidiaries of the Company as the Representative may from time to time reasonably request; provided that the Representative shall sign, if requested by the Company, a Regulation FD compliant confidentiality agreement which is reasonably acceptable to the Representative and its counsel in connection with the Representative’s receipt of such information. Documents filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (“EDGAR”) shall be deemed to have been delivered to the Representative pursuant to this section.

 

3.10.2. Transfer Sheets. For a period of five (5) years following the Effective Date or until such earlier time upon which the Company is dissolved, the Company shall retain a transfer and warrant agent acceptable to the Representative (the “Transfer Agent”). In the event the Public Securities are not listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market or such other national securities exchange, the Company will furnish to the Underwriters at the Company’s sole cost and expense such transfer sheets of the Company’s securities as the Representative may request, including the daily and monthly consolidated transfer sheets of the Transfer Agent and DTC. AST is an acceptable Transfer Agent to the Representative.

 

3.10.3. Trading Reports. If the Public Securities are quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board (or any successor trading market) or a market operated by the OTC Market Group Inc. (or similar publisher of quotations), then during such time the Company shall provide to the Representative, at its expense, such reports published by the OTC Bulletin Board or the OTC Market Group Inc. relating to price trading of the Public Securities, as the Representative shall reasonably request. In addition to the requirements of the preceding sentence, if the Public Securities are not listed on a national securities exchange, for a period of two (2) years from the Closing Date, the Company, at its expense, shall provide the Representative a subscription to the Company’s weekly Depository Transfer Company Security Position Reports.

 

3.11. Disqualification of Form S-1. For a period of seven (7) years from the date hereof, the Company will not take any action or actions which may prevent or disqualify the Company’s use of Form S-1 (or other appropriate form) for the registration of the Warrants and the Representative’s Purchase Option and the securities underlying the Representative’s Purchase Option under the Act.

 

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3.12. Payment of Expenses.

 

3.12.1. General Expenses Related to the Offering. The Company hereby agrees to pay on each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, to the extent not paid at Closing Date, all expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement, including, but not limited to: (i) the preparation, printing, filing and mailing (including the payment of postage with respect to such mailing) of the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and/or the final Prospectus and the printing and mailing of this Agreement and related documents, including the cost of all copies thereof and any amendments thereof or supplements thereto supplied to the Underwriters in quantities as may be required by the Underwriters; (ii) the printing, engraving, issuance and delivery of the Units, Ordinary Shares, Rights and the Warrants included in the Units and the Representative’s Purchase Option, including any transfer or other taxes payable thereon; (iii) if the public securities are not listed on a national securities exchange, the qualification of the Public Securities under state or foreign securities or Blue Sky laws, including the costs of printing and mailing the “Preliminary Blue Sky Memorandum,” and all amendments and supplements thereto, fees and disbursements for counsel of Maxim’s choice retained for such purpose; (iv) filing fees incurred in registering the Offering with FINRA (including all Public Offering System filing fees); (v) fees and disbursements of the transfer, right and warrant agent; (vi) the Company’s expenses associated with “road show” marketing “due diligence” meetings arranged by the Representative (none of which will be received or paid on behalf of an underwriter and related person); (vii) the preparation of leather bound volumes and Lucite cube or similar commemorative items in a style as reasonably requested by the Representative; (viii) background checks on the Company’s directors, director nominees and executive officers as requested by the Representative; (ix) transfer taxes, all fees and any expenses and fees incurred by Maxim’s counsel, transfer and warrant agent and registrar fees; and (x) all other reasonable costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder which are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section 3.12.1. The Representative may deduct from the net proceeds of the Offering payable to the Company on the Closing Date, or the Option Closing Date, if any, the expenses set forth above to be paid by the Company to the Representative and others, as agreed to by the Company in writing; provided, however, that such fees and expenses deducted from the net proceeds of the Offering payable to the Company shall not exceed $125,000 in the aggregate (less any amounts previously paid).

  

3.12.2 Fee on Termination of Offering. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, upon termination of the Offering the Company shall: (A) reimburse the Representative for, or otherwise pay and bear, the expenses and fees to be paid and borne by the Company as provided for in Section 3.12.1 above, as applicable, and (B) reimburse the Representative for the full amount of its accountable out-of-pocket expenses actually incurred to such date (which shall include, but shall not be limited to, all fees and disbursements of the Representative’s counsel, travel, lodging and other “road show” expenses, mailing, printing and reproduction expenses, and any expenses incurred by the Representative in conducting its due diligence, including background checks of the Company’s officers and directors), up to an aggregate amount of $50,000, less the amounts previously paid and any amounts previously paid to the Representative in reimbursement for such expenses. If applicable, and solely in the event of a termination of this Offering, the Representative shall refund to the Company any portion of the Advance previously received by the Representative which is in excess of the accountable out-of-pocket expenses actually incurred to such date by the Representative.

 

3.13. Application of Net Proceeds. The Company will apply the net proceeds from the Offering received by it in a manner consistent with the application described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Prospectus.

 

3.14. Delivery of Earnings Statements to Security Holders. The Company will make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable, but not later than the first day of the fifteenth (15th) full calendar month following the Effective Date, an earnings statement (which need not be certified by independent public or independent certified public accountants unless required by the Act or the Regulations, but which shall satisfy the provisions of Rule 158(a) under Section 11(a) of the Act) covering a period of at least twelve (12) consecutive months beginning after the Effective Date.

 

3.15. Notice to FINRA.

 

3.15.1. Business Combination. 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, the Company will provide the following to the Representative prior to the consummation of the Business Combination: (i) complete details of all services and copies of agreements governing such services; and (ii) justification as to why the person or entity providing the merger and acquisition services should not be considered a Participating Member with respect to the Offering. The Company also agrees that proper disclosure of such arrangement or potential arrangement will be made in any proxy or tender offer statement which the Company files in connection with the Business Combination.

 

3.15.2. Broker/Dealer. In the event the Company intends to register as a broker/dealer, merge with or acquire a registered broker/dealer, or otherwise become a member of FINRA, it shall promptly notify FINRA.

 

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3.16. Stabilization. Neither the Company, nor, to its knowledge, any of its employees, directors or shareholders (without the consent of the Representative) has taken or will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that has constituted or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act, or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Units.

 3.17. Internal Controls. The Company will maintain 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 generally accepted accounting principles 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. 

 

3.18. Accountants. For a period of five years from the Effective Date or until such earlier time upon which the Company is required to be liquidated, the Company shall retain UHY or other independent public accountants reasonably acceptable to the Representative.

 

3.19. Form 8-K. The Company shall, on the date hereof, retain its independent public accountants to audit the financial statements of the Company as of the Closing Date (the “Audited Financial Statements”) reflecting the receipt by the Company of the proceeds of the Offering and the Private Placement, as well as the proceeds from the exercise of the Over-Allotment if such exercise has occurred on the date of the Prospectus. Within four Business Days of the Closing Date, the Company will file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Commission, which Report shall contain the Audited Financial Statements.

 

3.20. FINRA. The Company shall advise FINRA if it is aware that any 10% or greater shareholder of the Company becomes an affiliate or associated person of a Participating Member.

 

3.21. Corporate Proceedings. All corporate proceedings and other legal matters necessary to carry out the provisions of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall have been done to the reasonable satisfaction of counsel for the Underwriters.

 

3.22. Investment Company. The Company shall cause the proceeds of the Offering to be held in the Trust Account to be invested only in “government securities” with specific maturity dates or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act as set forth in the Trust Agreement and disclosed in 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 be engaged in a business other than that of investing, reinvesting, owning, holding or trading securities.

 

3.23. Business Combination Announcement. Within four (4) Business Days following the consummation by the Company of a Business Combination, the Company shall cause an announcement (“Business Combination Announcement”) to be issued by a press release service announcing the consummation of the Business Combination and indicating that the Representative was one of the co-managing underwriters in the Offering and also indicating the name and location of any other financial advisors engaged by the Company as its merger and acquisitions advisor. 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. The Company will not issue the Business Combination Announcement without the final approval of the Representative, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

3.24. Press Releases. The Company agrees that it will not issue press releases or engage in any other publicity, without Maxim’s prior written consent (not to be unreasonably withheld), for a period of forty five (45) days from the Effective Date.

 

3.25. Electronic Prospectus. The Company shall cause to be prepared and delivered to the Representative, at its expense, within one (1) Business Day from the Effective Date, an Electronic Prospectus to be used by the Underwriters in connection with the Offering. As used herein, the term “Electronic Prospectus” means a form of prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto, that meets each of the following conditions: (i) it shall be encoded in an electronic format, satisfactory to the Representative, that may be transmitted electronically by the other Underwriters to offerees and purchasers of the Units for at least the period during which a Prospectus relating to the Units is required to be delivered under the Act; (ii) it shall disclose the same information as the paper prospectus and prospectus filed pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent that graphic and image material cannot be disseminated electronically, in which case such graphic and image material shall be replaced in the electronic prospectus with a fair and accurate narrative description or tabular representation of such material, as appropriate; and (iii) it shall be in or convertible into a paper format or an electronic format, satisfactory to the Representative, that will allow recipients thereof to store and have continuously ready access to the prospectus at any future time, without charge to such recipients (other than any fee charged for subscription to the Internet as a whole and for on-line time). The Company hereby confirms that it has included or will include in the Prospectus filed pursuant to EDGAR or otherwise with the Commission and in the Registration Statement at the time it was declared effective an undertaking that, upon receipt of a request by an investor or his or her representative within the period when a prospectus relating to the Units is required to be delivered under the Act, the Company shall transmit or cause to be transmitted promptly, without charge, a paper copy of the Prospectus.

 

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3.26. Reservation of Shares. The Company will reserve and keep available that maximum number of its authorized but unissued securities which are issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, Rights, the Representative’s Securities, and the Placement Securities outstanding from time to time.

 

3.27. Private Placement Proceeds. Immediately upon establishment of the Trust Account and prior to the Closing, the Company shall deposit all of the proceeds from the Private Placement in the Trust Account and shall provide the Representative with evidence of the same.

 

3.28. No Amendment to Memorandum and Articles of Association .

 

(i) Prior to the closing of a Business Combination, the Company covenants and agrees it will not seek to amend or modify its Memorandum and Articles of Association without the prior approval of its Board of Directors and the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power of the Ordinary Shares.

 

(ii) The Company acknowledges that the purchasers of the Units in this Offering shall be deemed to be third party beneficiaries of this Section 3.28.

 

(iii) The Representative and the Company specifically agree that this Section 3.28 shall not be modified or amended in any way without the approval of at least 65% of the voting power of the Ordinary Shares that were issued in the Offering.

 

3.29. Financial Printer. The Company shall retain a financial printer, reasonably acceptable to the Representative, for the purpose of facilitating the Company’s EDGAR filings and the printing of the Preliminary Prospectus and Prospectus.

 

3.30. Listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market. The Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the listing of the Public Securities on the Nasdaq Capital Market or such other national securities exchange until the earlier of five (5) years from the Effective Date or until the Public Securities are no longer registered under the Exchange Act.

 

3.31. Payment of Deferred Underwriting Commission on Business Combination. Upon the consummation of a Business Combination, the Company agrees that it will cause the Trustee to pay the Deferred Underwriting Commission directly from the Trust Account to Maxim, in accordance with Section 1.3.

 

3.32. Right of First Refusal. The Company agrees that if the Firm Units are sold in accordance with the terms of this Underwriting Agreement, the Company shall grant Representative the right of first refusal to act as a lead left book-running managing underwriter with at least 75% of the economics; or, in the case of a three-handed deal 50% of the economics, for any and all future public and private equity, equity linked and debt offerings of the Company, or any successor to or any subsidiary of the Company. The right of first refusal shall terminate on the earlier of the eighteen (18) month anniversary of the closing of a Business Combination or the three year anniversary of the commencement of sales of this Offering in compliance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(6). The Company and any such subsidiary or successor will use its reasonable efforts to offer the Representative the opportunity to purchase or sell any securities in such a proposed financing on terms not more favorable to the Company or any such subsidiary or successor, as the case may be, than it or they can secure elsewhere. If the Representative fails to accept such offer within ten (10) Business Days after the mailing of a notice containing the material terms of the proposed financing by registered mail or overnight courier service addressed to the Representative, then the Representative shall have no further claim or right with respect to the financing proposal contained in such notice. If, however, the terms of such financing proposal are subsequently modified in any material respect, the preferential right referred to herein shall apply to such modified proposal as if the original proposal had not been made. The Representative’s failure to exercise its preferential right with respect to any particular proposal shall not affect its preferential rights relative to future proposals.

 

4. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Units, as provided herein, shall be subject to the continuing accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company as of the date hereof and as of each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, to the accuracy of the statements of officers of the Company made pursuant to the provisions hereof and to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the following conditions:

 

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4.1 Regulatory Matters.

 

4.1.1. Effectiveness of Registration Statement. The Registration Statement shall have become effective not later than 5:00 P.M., New York time, on the date of this Agreement or such later date and time as shall be consented to in writing by the Representative, and, at each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for the purpose shall have been instituted or shall be pending or contemplated by the Commission and any request on the part of the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP (“EGS”).

 

4.1.2. FINRA Clearance. By the Effective Date, the Representative shall have received clearance from FINRA as to the terms and arrangements and amount of compensation allowable or payable to the Underwriters as described in the Registration Statement.

 

4.1.3. No Commission Stop Order. At each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, the Commission has not issued any order or threatened to issue any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or any part thereof, and has not instituted or threatened to institute any proceedings with respect to such an order.

 

4.1.4. No Blue Sky Stop Orders. No order suspending the sale of the Units in any jurisdiction designated by the Representative pursuant to Section 3.3 hereof, if any, shall have been issued on either the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or shall be contemplated.

 

4.1.5. The Nasdaq Capital Market. By the Effective Date, the Securities shall have been approved for trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market.

 

4.2. Company Counsel Matters.

 

4.2.1. Closing Date Opinion of Counsel. On the Closing Date, the Representative shall have received the favorable opinion of Loeb & Loeb LLP (“Loeb”), U.S. counsel to the Company, and Ogier (“Ogier”), Cayman Islands counsel to the Company, dated as of the Closing Date, addressed to the Representative and the other Underwriters and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative.

 

The opinion of Loeb and Ogier shall further include a statement to the effect that such counsel has participated in conferences with officers and other representatives of the Company, representatives of the independent public accountants for the Company and representatives of the Underwriters at which the contents of the Registration Statement, final Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and related matters were discussed and although such counsel is not passing upon and does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement, final Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus (except as otherwise set forth in such opinion), no facts have come to the attention of such counsel which lead them to believe that either the Registration Statement, final Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, as of the date of such opinion contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (it being understood that such counsel need express no opinion with respect to the financial statements and related notes and schedules and other financial and statistical data included in the Registration Statement, final Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or matters relating to the sale of securities in any jurisdiction outside the U.S.).

 

4.2.2. Option Closing Date Opinion of Counsel. On each Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received the favorable opinions of Loeb and Ogier, dated as of each Option Closing Date, addressed to the Representative and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel to the Representative, confirming as of each Option Closing Date, the statements made by Loeb and Ogier, as applicable, in its opinion delivered on the Closing Date.

 

4.2.3. Reliance. In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely: (i) as to matters involving the application of laws other than the laws of the United States and jurisdictions in which they are admitted, to the extent such counsel deems proper and to the extent specified in such opinion, if at all, upon an opinion or opinions (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative) of other counsel reasonably acceptable to the Representative, familiar with the applicable laws; and (ii) as to matters of fact, to the extent they deem proper, on certificates or other written statements of officers of the Company and officers of departments of various jurisdictions having custody of documents respecting the corporate existence or good standing of the Company, provided that copies of any such statements or certificates shall be delivered to the Underwriters’ counsel if requested. The opinions of Loeb and Ogier and any opinion relied upon by such counsel for the Company shall include a statement to the effect that it may be relied upon by counsel for the Underwriters in its opinion delivered to the Underwriters.

 

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4.3. Cold Comfort Letter. At the time this Agreement is executed, and at each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received a letter, addressed to the Representative and in form and substance satisfactory in all respects (including the nature of the changes or decreases, if any, referred to in clause (iii) below) to the Representative from UHY dated, respectively, as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any:

 

(i) Confirming that they are an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Act and the applicable Regulations;

 

(ii) Stating that in their opinion the financial statements of the Company included in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the Regulations thereunder;

 

(iii) Stating that, on the basis of limited procedures which included a reading of the latest available minutes of the shareholders and board of directors and the various committees of the board of directors, consultations with officers and other employees of the Company responsible for financial and accounting matters and other specified procedures and inquiries, nothing has come to their attention which would lead them to believe that: (a) at a date not later than five (5) days prior to the Effective Date, Closing Date or Option Closing Date, as the case may be, there was any change in the share capital or long-term debt of the Company, other than as set forth in or contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, or, if there was any decrease, setting forth the amount of such decrease; and (c) during the period from April 22, 2021 (balance sheet date) to a specified date not later than five (5) days prior to the Effective Date, Closing Date or Option Closing Date, as the case may be, there was any decrease in net earnings or net earnings per Ordinary Shares, in each case as compared with Statement of Operations for the period from April 15, 2021 (inception) to April 22, 2021, other than as set forth in or contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, or, if there was any such decrease, setting forth the amount of such decrease;

  

(iv) Stating they have compared specific dollar amounts, numbers of shares, percentages of earnings, statements and other financial information pertaining to the Company set forth in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus in each case to the extent that such amounts, numbers, percentages, statements and information may be derived from the general accounting records, including work sheets, of the Company and excluding any questions requiring an interpretation by legal counsel, with the results obtained from the application of specified readings, inquiries and other appropriate procedures (which procedures do not constitute an examination in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB) set forth in the letter and found them to be in agreement; and

 

(v) Statements as to such other matters incident to the transaction contemplated hereby as the Representative may reasonably request.

 

4.4. Officers’ Certificates.

 

4.4.1. Officers’ Certificate. At each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received a certificate of the Company signed by the Chief Executive Officer or the President and the Chief Financial Officer or Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company, dated the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, to the effect that the Company has performed all covenants and complied with all conditions required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by the Company prior to and as of the Closing Date, or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, and that the conditions set forth in Section 4.5 hereof have been satisfied as of such date and that, as of Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 2 hereof are true and correct. In addition, the Representative will have received such other and further certificates of officers of the Company as the Representative may reasonably request.

 

4.4.2. Chief Financial Officer’s Certificate. At each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received a certificate of the Company signed by the Chief Financial Officer or Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company, dated the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, respectively, certifying: (i) that the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company are true and complete, have not been modified and are in full force and effect; (ii) that the board resolutions relating to the Offering are in full force and effect and have not been modified; (iii) all correspondence between the Company or its counsel and the Commission; (iv) all correspondence between the Company or its counsel and the Nasdaq Stock Market; and (v) as to the incumbency of the officers of the Company. The documents referred to in such certificate shall be attached to such certificate.

 

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4.5. No Material Changes. Prior to and on each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any: (i) there shall have been no material adverse change or development that is likely to result in a material adverse change in the condition or prospects or the business activities, financial or otherwise, of the Company from the latest dates as of which such condition is set forth in the Registration Statement and Prospectus; (ii) no action suit or proceeding, at law or in equity, shall have been pending or threatened against the Company or any Initial Shareholder before or by any court or federal or state commission, board or other administrative agency wherein an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding may materially adversely affect the business, operations, prospects or financial condition or income of the Company, except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and Prospectus; (iii) no stop order shall have been issued under the Act and no proceedings therefor shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; and (iv) the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto shall contain all material statements which are required to be stated therein in accordance with the Act and the Regulations and shall conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the Regulations, and neither the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus nor the Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement thereto shall contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of the Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made), not misleading.

  

4.6. Delivery of Agreements.

 

4.6.1. Effective Date Deliveries. On the Effective Date, the Company shall have delivered to the Representative executed copies of the Trust Agreement, the Warrant Agreement, the Rights Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, Administrative Services Agreement, the Insider Letter and the Subscription Agreement.

 

5. Indemnification.

 

5.1. Indemnification of Underwriters.

 

5.1.1. General. Subject to the conditions set forth below, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each of the Underwriters and each dealer selected by the Representative that participates in the offer and sale of the Units (each a “Selected Dealer”) and each of their respective directors, officers and employees and each person, if any, who controls any such Underwriter (“Controlling Person”) within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act, 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, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever, whether arising out of any action between any of the Underwriters and the Company or between any of the Underwriters and any third party or otherwise) to which they or any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or any other federal, state or local statute, law, rule, regulation or ordinance or at common law or otherwise or under the laws, rules and regulation of foreign countries, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in: (i) any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, or the Prospectus (as from time to time each may be amended and supplemented); (ii) in any post-effective amendment or amendments or any new registration statement and prospectus in which is included Representative’s Shares or securities of the Company issued or issuable upon exercise of the Representative’s Purchase Option, Representative’s Warrants or Representative’s Rights; or (iii) any application or other document or written communication (in this Section 5, collectively called “Application”) executed by the Company or based upon written information furnished by the Company in any jurisdiction in order to qualify the Units under the securities laws thereof or filed with the Commission, any state securities commission or agency, the Nasdaq Stock Market or any securities exchange; or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, unless such statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company with respect to an Underwriter by or on behalf of such Underwriter expressly for use in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereof. With respect to any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in the Preliminary Prospectus, the indemnity agreement contained in this paragraph shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter to the extent that any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense of such Underwriter results from the fact that a copy of the Prospectus was not given or sent to the person asserting any such loss, liability, claim or damage at or prior to the written confirmation of sale of the Securities to such person as required by the Act and the Regulations, and if the untrue statement or omission has been corrected in the Prospectus, unless such failure to deliver the Prospectus was a result of non-compliance by the Company with its obligations under Section 3.4 hereof. The Company agrees to promptly notify the Representative of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against the Company or any of its officers, directors or Controlling Persons in connection with the issue and sale of the Securities or in connection with the Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, or the Prospectus. For purposes of this Section 5, the term Underwriter or Underwriters shall refer to each Underwriter whether acting as an underwriter or as a qualified independent underwriter.

  

5.1.2. Procedure. If any action is brought against an Underwriter or Controlling Person in respect of which indemnity may be sought against the Company pursuant to Section 5.1.1, such Underwriter shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the institution of such action and the Company shall assume the defense of such action, including the employment and fees of counsel (subject to the reasonable approval of such Underwriter) and payment of actual expenses. Such Underwriter or Controlling Person shall have the right to employ its or their own counsel in any such case, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Underwriter or such Controlling Person unless: (i) the employment of such counsel at the expense of the Company shall have been authorized in writing by the Company in connection with the defense of such action within reasonable time under the circumstances; (ii) the Company shall not have employed counsel to have charge of the defense of such action; or (iii) such indemnified party or parties shall have reasonably concluded that there may be defenses available to it or them which are different from or additional to those available to the Company (in which case the Company shall not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party or parties), in any of which events the reasonable fees and expenses of not more than one additional firm of attorneys selected by the Underwriter and/or Controlling Person shall be borne by the Company. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if the Underwriter or Controlling Person shall assume the defense of such action as provided above, the Company shall have the right to approve the terms of any settlement of such action which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

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5.2. Indemnification of the Company. Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, officers and employees and agents who control the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the foregoing indemnity from the Company to the several Underwriters, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions made in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or in any Application, in reliance upon, and in strict conformity with, written information furnished to the Company with respect to such Underwriter by or on behalf of the Underwriter expressly for use in such Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto or in any such Application, which furnished written information, it is expressly agreed, consists solely of the information described in the last sentence of Section 2.3.1. In case any action shall be brought against the Company or any other person so indemnified based on any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto or any Application, and in respect of which indemnity may be sought against any Underwriter, such Underwriter shall have the rights and duties given to the Company, and the Company and each other person so indemnified shall have the rights and duties given to the several Underwriters by the provisions of Section 5.1.2.

 

5.3. Contribution.

 

5.3.1. Contribution Rights. In order to provide for just and equitable contribution under the Act in any case in which: (i) any person entitled to indemnification under this Section 5 makes a claim for indemnification pursuant hereto but it is judicially determined (by the entry of a final judgment or decree by a court of competent jurisdiction and the expiration of time to appeal or the denial of the last right of appeal) that such indemnification may not be enforced in such case notwithstanding the fact that this Section 5 provides for indemnification in such case; or (ii) contribution under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise may be required on the part of any such person in circumstances for which indemnification is provided under this Section 5, then, and in each such case, the Company and the Underwriters shall contribute to the aggregate losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses of the nature contemplated by said indemnity agreement incurred by the Company and the Underwriters, as incurred, in such proportions that the Underwriters are responsible for that portion represented by the percentage that the underwriting discount appearing on the cover page of the Prospectus bears to the initial offering price appearing thereon and the Company is responsible for the balance; provided, that, no person guilty of a fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5.3.1, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Public Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay in respect of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses. For purposes of this Section, each director, officer and employee of an Underwriter or the Company, as applicable, and each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter or the Company, as applicable, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Underwriters or the Company, as applicable.

  

5.3.2. Contribution Procedure. Within fifteen (15) days after receipt by any party to this Agreement (or its representative) of notice of the commencement of any action, suit or proceeding, such party will, if a claim for contribution in respect thereof is to be made against another party (“Contributing Party”), notify the Contributing Party of the commencement thereof, but the omission to so notify the Contributing Party will not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any other party other than for contribution hereunder. In case any such action, suit or proceeding is brought against any party, and such party notifies a Contributing Party or its representative of the commencement thereof within the aforesaid fifteen (15) days, the Contributing Party will be entitled to participate therein with the notifying party and any other Contributing Party similarly notified. Any such Contributing Party shall not be liable to any party seeking contribution on account of any settlement of any claim, action or proceeding effected by such party seeking contribution without the written consent of such Contributing Party. The contribution provisions contained in this Section are intended to supersede, to the extent permitted by law, any right to contribution under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise available. The Underwriters’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 5.3 are several and not joint.

 

6. Default by an Underwriter.

 

6.1. Default Not Exceeding 10% of Firm Units or Option Units. If any Underwriter or Underwriters shall default in its or their obligations to purchase the Firm Units or the Option Units, if the Over-allotment Option is exercised, hereunder, and if the number of the Firm Units or Option Units with respect to which such default relates does not exceed in the aggregate 10% of the number of Firm Units or Option Units that all Underwriters have agreed to purchase hereunder, then such Firm Units or Option Units to which the default relates shall be purchased by the non-defaulting Underwriters in proportion to their respective commitments hereunder.

 

6.2. Default Exceeding 10% of Firm Units or Option Units. In the event that the default addressed in Section 6.1 above relates to more than 10% of the Firm Units or Option Units, the Representative may in its discretion arrange for itself or for another party or parties to purchase such Firm Units or Option Units to which such default relates on the terms contained herein. If, within one (1) Business Day after such default relating to more than 10% of the Firm Units or Option Units, the Representative does not arrange for the purchase of such Firm Units or Option Units, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of one (1) Business Day within which to procure another party or parties satisfactory to the Company and the Representative to purchase said Firm Units or Option Units on such terms. In the event the Representative does not arrange for the purchase of the Firm Units or Option Units to which a default relates as provided in this Section 6, this Agreement may be terminated by the Company without liability on the part of the Company (except as provided in Sections 3.12 and 5 hereof) or the several Underwriters (except as provided in Section 5 hereof); provided, however, that if such default occurs with respect to the Option Units, this Agreement will not terminate as to the Firm Units; and provided further that nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of its liability, if any, to the other several Underwriters and to the Company for damages occasioned by its default hereunder.

 

6.3. Postponement of Closing Date. In the event the Firm Units or Option Units to which the default relates are to be purchased by the non-defaulting Underwriters, or are to be purchased by another party or parties as aforesaid, the Representative or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date or Option Closing Date for a reasonable period, but not in any event exceeding five (5) Business Days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus, as the case may be, or in any other documents and arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendment to, or to supplement, the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and/or the Prospectus, as the case may be, that in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters may thereby be made necessary. The term “Underwriter” as used in this Agreement shall include any party substituted under this Section 6 with like effect as if it had originally been a party to this Agreement with respect to such Securities.

 

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7. Additional Covenants.

 

7.1. Additional Shares or Options. The Company hereby agrees that until the Company consummates a Business Combination, it shall not issue any Ordinary Shares or any options or other securities convertible into Ordinary Shares, or any class of shares which participate in any manner in the Trust Account or which vote as a class with the Ordinary Shares on a Business Combination.

  

7.2. Trust Account Waiver Acknowledgments. The Company hereby agrees that it will not commence its due diligence investigation of any operating business or businesses which the Company seeks to acquire (each, a “Target Business”) unless and until such Target Business acknowledges in writing, whether through a letter of intent, memorandum of understanding or other similar document (and subsequently acknowledges the same in any definitive document replacing any of the foregoing), that: (i) it has read the Prospectus and understands that the Company has established the Trust Account, initially in an amount of $50,500,000 for the benefit of the public shareholders, and that (ii) for and in consideration of the Company agreeing to evaluate such Target Business for purposes of consummating a Business Combination with it, such Target Business agrees that it does not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies of the Trust Account (“Claim”) and waives any Claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with the Company and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever. The Company further agrees that it will use its reasonable efforts, prior to obtaining the services of any vendor, to obtain a written acknowledgment from such vendor, whether through a letter of intent, memorandum of understanding or other similar document (and subsequently acknowledges the same in any definitive document replacing any of the foregoing), that: (i) such vendor has read the Prospectus and understands that the Company has established the Trust Account, initially in an amount of $50,500,000 for the benefit of the public shareholders, and that (ii) for and in consideration of the Company agreeing to engage the services of the vendor, such vendor agrees that it does not have any Claim and waives any Claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with the Company and will not seek recourse against the Trust Account for any reason whatsoever. The foregoing letters shall substantially be in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A and B, respectively. Furthermore, each officer and director of the Company shall execute a waiver letter in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C.

 

7.3. Insider Letters. The Company shall not take any action or omit to take any action which would cause a breach of any of the Insider Letters executed between each of the Company’s officers, directors and Initial Shareholders or the Subscription Agreement and will not allow any amendments to, or waivers of, such Insider Letters or the Subscription Agreement without the prior written consent of the Representative.

 

7.4. Memorandum and Articles of Association. The Company shall not take any action or omit to take any action that would cause the Company to be in material breach or violation of its Memorandum and Articles of Association. Except as provided in Section 3.28, prior to the consummation of a Business Combination, the Company will not amend its Memorandum and Articles of Association, without the prior written consent of the Representative.

 

7.5. Tender Offer Documents, Proxy Materials and Other Information. The Company shall provide counsel to the Representative with copies of all tender offer documents or proxy information and all related material filed with the Commission in connection with a Business Combination concurrently with such filing with the Commission. In addition, the Company shall furnish any other state in which the Offering was registered, such information as may be requested by such state.

 

7.6. Acquisition/Liquidation Procedure. The Company agrees that it will comply with Article 37 of its Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination or the failure to consummate a Business Combination within 12 months from the Effective Date (subject to extension to up to 21 months as described in the Prospectus).

 

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7.7. Rule 419. The Company agrees that it will use its reasonable efforts to prevent the Company from becoming subject to Rule 419 under the Act prior to the consummation of any Business Combination, including, but not limited to, using its reasonable 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.

 

7.8. Presentation of Potential Target Businesses. The Company shall cause each of the Initial Shareholders to agree that, in order to minimize potential conflicts of interest which may arise from multiple affiliations, the Initial Shareholders will present to the Company for its consideration, prior to presentation to any other person or company, any suitable opportunity to acquire an operating business, until the earlier of the consummation by the Company of a Business Combination or the liquidation of the Company, subject to any pre-existing fiduciary obligations the Initial Shareholders might have.

 

8. Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery. Except as the context otherwise requires, all representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to be representations, warranties and agreements at the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, if any, and such representations, warranties and agreements of the Underwriters and the Company, including the indemnity agreements contained in Section 5 hereof, shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, the Company or any Controlling Person, and shall survive termination of this Agreement or the issuance and delivery of the Securities to the several Underwriters until the earlier of the expiration of any applicable statute of limitations and the seventh anniversary of the later of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, if any, at which time the representations, warranties and agreements shall terminate and be of no further force and effect.

 

9. Effective Date of This Agreement and Termination Thereof.

 

9.1. Effective Date. This Agreement shall become effective on the Effective Date at the time the Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission.

 

9.2. Termination. The Representative shall have the right to terminate this Agreement at any time prior to any Closing Date: (i) if any domestic or international event or act or occurrence has materially disrupted, or in the Representative’s opinion will in the immediate future materially disrupt, general securities markets in the United States; or (ii) if trading on the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE American or the Nasdaq Stock Market shall have been suspended, or minimum or maximum prices for trading shall have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities shall have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities shall have been required on the over the counter markets or by order of the Commission or any other government authority having jurisdiction; or (iii) if the United States shall have become involved in a war or an initiation or increase in major hostilities, or (iv) if a banking moratorium has been declared by a New York State or federal authority, or (v) if a moratorium on foreign exchange trading has been declared which materially adversely impacts the United States securities markets; or (vi) if the Company shall have sustained a material loss by fire, flood, accident, hurricane, earthquake, theft, sabotage or other calamity or malicious act which, whether or not such loss shall have been insured, will, in the Representative’s opinion, make it inadvisable to proceed with the delivery of the Units; or (vii) if any of the Company’s representations, warranties or covenants hereunder are breached; or (viii) if the Representative shall have become aware after the date hereof of such a material adverse change in the conditions or prospects of the Company, or such material adverse change in general market conditions, including, without limitation, as a result of terrorist activities after the date hereof, as in the Representative’s judgment would make it impracticable to proceed with the offering, sale and/or delivery of the Units or to enforce contracts made by the Underwriters for the sale of the Units.

 

9.3. Expenses. In the event this Agreement shall not be carried out for any reason whatsoever, except as a result of the Representative’s or any Underwriters’ breach or default with respect to any of its material obligations pursuant to this Agreement, within the time specified herein or any extensions thereof pursuant to the terms herein, the obligations of the Company to pay the out-of-pocket expenses actually incurred by the Representative related to the transactions contemplated herein shall be governed by Section 3.12 hereof.

 

9.4. Indemnification. Notwithstanding any contrary provision contained in this Agreement, any election hereunder or any termination of this Agreement, and whether or not this Agreement is otherwise carried out, the provisions of Section 5 shall not be in any way affected by such election or termination or failure to carry out the terms of this Agreement or any part hereof.

 

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10. Miscellaneous.

 

10.1. Notices. All communications hereunder, except as herein otherwise specifically provided, shall be in writing and shall be mailed, delivered by hand or reputable overnight courier or delivered by facsimile transmission (with printed confirmation of receipt) and confirmed, or by electronic transmission via PDF, and shall be deemed given when so mailed, delivered or faxed or transmitted (or if mailed, three (3) days after such mailing):

 

If to the Representative:

 

Maxim Group LLC

405 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10174

Attn.: Clifford A. Teller, Executive Managing Director, Investment Banking

Fax: 212-895-3783

Email: cteller@maximgrp.com

  

Copy to (which copy shall not be deemed to constitute notice to the Representative):

 

Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP

1345 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10105

Fax No.: (212) 370-7889

Attn: Barry I. Grossman, Esq.

Email: bigrossman@egsllp.com

 

If to the Company:

 

Aquarius I Acquisition Corp.

Unit A-C, 33/F, Tower A, Billion Centre

1 Wang Kwong Road

Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong SAR

Attn: Sze Hau Lee, Chief Executive Officer

E-mail: alex.lee@liongrouphl.com

 

Copy to (which copy shall not be deemed to constitute notice to the Company):

 

Loeb& Loeb LLP

2206-19 Jardine House

1 Connaught Place

Central, Hong Kong SAR

Attn: Lawrence Venick, Esq.

E-mail: lvenick@loeb.com

 

10.2. Headings. The headings contained herein are for the sole purpose of convenience of reference, and shall not in any way limit or affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement.

  

10.3. Amendment. This Agreement may only be amended by a written instrument executed by each of the parties hereto.

 

10.4. Entire Agreement. This Agreement (together with the other agreements and documents being delivered pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement) constitutes the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof (and thereof), and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings of the parties, oral and written, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

10.5. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall inure solely to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the Representative, the Underwriters, the Company and the Controlling Persons, directors and officers referred to in Section 5 hereof, and their respective successors, legal representatives and assigns, and no other person shall have or be construed to have any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of or by virtue of this Agreement or any provisions herein contained.

 

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10.6. Governing Law, Venue, etc.

 

10.6.1. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to the conflict of laws principles thereof. Each of the Representative and the Company (and any individual signatory hereto): (i) agrees that any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement and/or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be instituted exclusively in New York Supreme Court, County of New York, or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York; (ii) waives any objection which such party may have or hereafter have to the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding; and (iii) irrevocably and exclusively consents to the jurisdiction of the New York Supreme Court, County of New York, and the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in any such suit, action or proceeding.

 

10.6.2. Each of the Representative and the Company (and any individual signatory hereto) further agrees to accept and acknowledge service of any and all process which may be served in any such suit, action or proceeding in the New York Supreme Court, County of New York, or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and agrees that service of process upon the Company or any such individual mailed by certified mail to the Company’s address shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Company or any such individual in any such suit, action or proceeding, and service of process upon the Representative mailed by certified mail to the Representative’s addresses shall be deemed in every respect effective service process upon the Representative, in any such suit, action or proceeding.

 

10.6.3. THE COMPANY (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ON BEHALF OF ITS EQUITY HOLDERS AND CREDITORS) HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY CLAIM BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT, THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND THE PROSPECTUS.

 

10.6.4. The Company agrees that the prevailing party(ies) in any such action shall be entitled to recover from the other party(ies) all of its reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses relating to such action or proceeding and/or incurred in connection with the preparation therefor.

 

10.7. Execution in Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts has been signed by each of the parties hereto and delivered to each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of a signed counterpart of this Agreement by fax or email/.pdf transmission shall constitute valid and sufficient delivery thereof.

 

10.8. Waiver, Etc. The failure of any of the parties hereto to at any time enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement shall not be deemed or construed to be a waiver of any such provision, nor to in any way effect the validity of this Agreement or any provision hereof or the right of any of the parties hereto to thereafter enforce each and every provision of this Agreement. No waiver of any breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be effective unless set forth in a written instrument executed by the party or parties against whom or which enforcement of such waiver is sought; and no waiver of any such breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment shall be construed or deemed to be a waiver of any other or subsequent breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment.

 

10.9. No Fiduciary Relationship. The Company hereby acknowledges that the Underwriters are acting solely as underwriters in connection with the Offering. The Company further acknowledges that the Underwriters are acting pursuant to a contractual relationship created solely by this Agreement entered into on an arm’s length basis and in no event do the parties intend that the Underwriters act or be responsible as a fiduciary to the Company, its management, shareholders, creditors or any other person in connection with any activity that the Underwriters may undertake or have undertaken in furtherance of the Offering, either before or after the date hereof. The Underwriters hereby expressly disclaim any fiduciary or similar obligations to the Company, either in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any matters leading up to such transactions, and the Company hereby confirms its understanding and agreement to that effect. The Company and the Underwriters agree that they are each responsible for making their own independent judgments with respect to any such transactions, and that any opinions or views expressed by the Underwriters to the Company regarding such transactions, including but not limited to any opinions or views with respect to the price or market for the Company’s securities, do not constitute advice or recommendations to the Company. 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 breach or alleged breach of any fiduciary or similar duty to the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any matters leading up to such transactions.

 

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

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If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding between the Underwriters and the Company, please so indicate in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon this letter shall constitute a binding agreement between us.

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.
     
  By:  
  Name: Sze Hau Lee
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

Agreed to and accepted on the date first above written.

 

Maxim Group LLC, as Representative of the several Underwriters

 

By:      
  Name: Clifford Teller    
  Title: Executive Managing Director, Head of Investment Banking    

 

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SCHEDULE A

 

AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.

 

5,000,000 Units

 

Underwriter 

Number of Firm
Units

to be Purchased

 
Maxim Group LLC     
TOTAL   5,000,000 

 

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SCHEDULE B

 

AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.

 

 

Written Communications

 

28

 

  

EXHIBIT A

 

Form of Target Business Letter

Sze Hau Lee

Chief Executive Officer

Aquarius I Acquisition Corp.

Unit A-C, 33/F, Tower A, Billion Centre

1 Wang Kwong Road

Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong SAR

 

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Reference is made to the Final Prospectus of Aquarius I Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”), dated ________, 2021 (the “Prospectus”). Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in Prospectus.

 

We have read the Prospectus and understand that the Company has established a “trust account”, initially in an amount of at least $50,500,000 for the benefit of the “public shareholders” and the underwriters of the Company’s initial public offering (the “Underwriters”) and that, except for interest earned on the trust account that may be released to the Company to pay any taxes it incurs, proceeds in the trust account will not be released until (a) the consummation of a Business Combination, or (b) the dissolution and liquidation of the Company if it is unable to consummate a Business Combination within the allotted time.

 

For and in consideration of the Company agreeing to evaluate the undersigned for purposes of consummating a business combination or other form of acquisition with it, the undersigned hereby agrees that it does not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the trust account (the “Claim”) and hereby waives any Claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with the Company and will not seek recourse against the trust account for any reason whatsoever.

 

   
  Print Name of Target Business
   
   
  Authorized Signature of Target Business

 

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EXHIBIT B

 

Form of Vendor Letter

 

Sze Hau Lee

Chief Executive Officer

Aquarius I Acquisition Corp.

Unit A-C, 33/F, Tower A, Billion Centre

1 Wang Kwong Road

Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong SAR

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Reference is made to the Final Prospectus of Aquarius I Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”), dated ________, 2021 (the “Prospectus”). Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in Prospectus.

 

We have read the Prospectus and understand that the Company has established a “trust account”, initially in an amount of at least $50,500,000 for the benefit of the “public shareholders” and the underwriters of the Company’s initial public offering (the “Underwriters”) and that, except for interest earned on the trust account that may be released to the Company to pay any taxes it incurs, proceeds in the trust account will not be released until (a) the consummation of a Business Combination, or (b) the dissolution and liquidation of the Company if it is unable to consummate a Business Combination within the allotted time.

 

For and in consideration of the Company agreeing to use the products or services of the undersigned, the undersigned hereby agrees that it does not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the trust account (the “Claim”) and hereby waives any Claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with the Company and will not seek recourse against the trust account for any reason whatsoever.

 

   
  Print Name of Vendor
   
   
  Authorized Signature of Vendor

 

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EXHIBIT C

 

Form of Director/Officer Letter

 

Sze Hau Lee

Chief Executive Officer

Aquarius I Acquisition Corp.

Unit A-C, 33/F, Tower A, Billion Centre

1 Wang Kwong Road

Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong SAR

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

The undersigned officer or director of Aquarius I Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) hereby acknowledges that the Company has established the “trust account”, initially in an amount of at least $50,500,000 for the benefit of the “public shareholders” and the underwriters of the Company’s initial public offering (the “Underwriters”) and that, except for interest earned on the trust account that may be released to the Company to pay any taxes it incurs, proceeds in the trust account will not be released until (a) the consummation of a Business Combination, or (b) the dissolution and liquidation of the Company if it is unable to consummate a Business Combination within the allotted time.

 

The undersigned hereby agrees that, except for its liquidation rights with respect to any Units and/or Ordinary Shares acquired in the Offering or in the aftermarket, it does not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the trust account (the “Claim”) and hereby waives any Claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any contracts or agreements with the Company and will not seek recourse against the trust account for any reason whatsoever.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, such waiver shall not apply to any shares acquired by the undersigned in the public market.

 

   
  Print Name of Officer/Director
   
   
  Authorized Signature of Officer/Director

 

 

31

 

EX-3.1 3 fs12021a1ex3-1_aquarius1.htm MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

Exhibit 3.1

 

Dated 15 April 2021

 

 

 

 

 

Companies Act (Revised)

 

Company Limited by Shares

 

 

 

Aquarius I Acquisition Corp.

 

 

 

 

memorandum of association

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Companies Act (Revised)

 

Company Limited by Shares

 

Memorandum of Association

 

of

 

Aquarius I Acquisition Corp.

 

1The name of the Company is Aquarius I Acquisition Corp..

 

2The Company's registered office will be situated at the office of Ogier Global (Cayman) Limited, 89 Nexus Way, Camana Bay, Grand Cayman, KY1-9009, Cayman Islands or at such other place in the Cayman Islands as the directors may at any time decide.

 

3The Company's objects are unrestricted. As provided by section 7(4) of the Companies Act (Revised), the Company has full power and authority to carry out any object not prohibited by any law of the Cayman Islands.

 

4The Company has unrestricted corporate capacity. Without limitation to the foregoing, as provided by section 27 (2) of the Companies Act (Revised), the Company has and is capable of exercising all the functions of a natural person of full capacity irrespective of any question of corporate benefit.

 

5Unless licensed to do so, the Company will not trade in the Cayman Islands with any person, firm or corporation except in furtherance of its business carried on outside the Cayman Islands. Despite this, the Company may effect and conclude contracts in the Cayman Islands and exercise in the Cayman Islands any of its powers necessary for the carrying on of its business outside the Cayman Islands.

 

6The Company is a company limited by shares and accordingly the liability of each member is limited to the amount (if any) unpaid on that member's shares.

 

7The share capital of the Company is USD50,000 divided into 500,000,000 Ordinary shares of par value USD0.0001 each. There is no limit on the number of shares of any class which the Company is authorised to issue. However, subject to the Companies Act (Revised) and the Company's articles of association, the Company has power to do any one or more of the following:

 

(a)to redeem or repurchase any of its shares; and

 

(b)to increase or reduce its capital; and

 

2

 

 

(c)to issue any part of its capital (whether original, redeemed, increased or reduced):

 

(i)with or without any preferential, deferred, qualified or special rights, privileges or conditions; or

 

(ii)subject to any limitations or restrictions

 

and unless the condition of issue expressly declares otherwise, every issue of shares (whether declared to be ordinary, preference or otherwise) is subject to this power; or

 

(d)to alter any of those rights, privileges, conditions, limitations or restrictions.

 

8The Company has power to register by way of continuation as a body corporate limited by shares under the laws of any jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands and to be deregistered in the Cayman Islands.

 

3

 

 

We, the subscriber to this memorandum of association, wish to be formed into a company pursuant to this memorandum; and we agree to take the number of shares in the capital of the Company shown opposite our name in the table below.

 

Dated 15 April 2021

 

Name and address of Subscriber Number of shares taken Signature

Ogier Global Subscriber (Cayman) Limited

1  
    per:    
89 Nexus Way    
    Name:
Camana Bay    
    Authorised Signatory
Grand Cayman, KY1-9009    
     
Cayman Islands    
     
Witness to above signature

 

 

 

 

Name:

  

Ogier Global (Cayman) Limited

89 Nexus Way

Camana Bay

Grand Cayman, KY1-9009

Cayman Islands

 

Occupation: Administrator

 

 

4

 

 

Dated 15 April 2021

 

 

 

 

 

Companies Act (Revised)

 

Company Limited by Shares

 

 

Aquarius I Acquisition Corp.

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONTENTS

 

1 Definitions, interpretation and exclusion of Table A 1
Definitions 1
Interpretation 2
Exclusion of Table A Articles 3
   
2 Shares 4
Power to issue Shares and options, with or without special rights 4
Power to issue fractions of a Share 4
Power to pay commissions and brokerage fees 4
Trusts not recognised 4
Power to vary class rights 5
Effect of new Share issue on existing class rights 5
Capital contributions without issue of further Shares 5
No bearer Shares or warrants 6
Treasury Shares 6
Rights attaching to Treasury Shares and related matters 6
   
3 Share certificates 7
Issue of share certificates 7
Renewal of lost or damaged share certificates 7
   
4 Lien on Shares 8
Nature and scope of lien 8
Company may sell Shares to satisfy lien 8
Authority to execute instrument of transfer 8
Consequences of sale of Shares to satisfy lien 9
Application of proceeds of sale 9
   
5 Calls on Shares and forfeiture 9
Power to make calls and effect of calls 9
Time when call made 10
Liability of joint holders 10
Interest on unpaid calls 10
Deemed calls 10
Power to accept early payment 10
Power to make different arrangements at time of issue of Shares 11
Notice of default 11
Forfeiture or surrender of Shares 11
Disposal of forfeited or surrendered Share and power to cancel forfeiture or surrender 11
Effect of forfeiture or surrender on former Member 12
Evidence of forfeiture or surrender 12
Sale of forfeited or surrendered Shares 12

 

i

 

 

6 Transfer of Shares 13
Form of transfer 13
Power to refuse registration 13
Notice of refusal to register 13
Power to suspend registration 13
Fee, if any, payable for registration 13
Company may retain instrument of transfer 13
   
7 Transmission of Shares 14
Persons entitled on death of a Member 14
Registration of transfer of a Share following death or bankruptcy 14
Indemnity 15
Rights of person entitled to a Share following death or bankruptcy 15
   
8 Alteration of capital 15
Increasing, consolidating, converting, dividing and cancelling share capital 15
Dealing with fractions resulting from consolidation of Shares 16
Reducing share capital 16
   
9 Redemption and purchase of own Shares 16
Power to issue redeemable Shares and to purchase own Shares 16
Power to pay for redemption or purchase in cash or in specie 17
Effect of redemption or purchase of a Share 17
   
10 Meetings of Members 17
Power to call meetings 17
Content of notice 18
Period of notice 19
Persons entitled to receive notice 19
Publication of notice on a website 19
Time a website notice is deemed to be given 19
Required duration of publication on a website 20
Accidental omission to give notice or non-receipt of notice 20
   
11 Proceedings at meetings of Members 20
Quorum 20
Lack of quorum 20
Use of technology 21
Chairman 21
Right of a director to attend and speak 21
Adjournment 21
Method of voting 21
Outcome of vote by show of hands 22
Withdrawal of demand for a poll 22
Taking of a poll 22
Chairman’s casting vote 22
Amendments to resolutions 23

 

ii

 

 

Written resolutions 23
Sole-member company 24
   
12 Voting rights of Members 24
Right to vote 24
Rights of joint holders 25
Representation of corporate Members 25
Member with mental disorder 25
Objections to admissibility of votes 26
Form of proxy 26
How and when proxy is to be delivered 26
Voting by proxy 27
   
13 Number of directors 27
     
14 Appointment, disqualification and removal of directors 28
First directors 28
No age limit 28
Corporate directors 28
No shareholding qualification 28
Appointment of directors 28
Removal of directors 29
Resignation of directors 29
Termination of the office of director 29
   
15 Alternate directors 30
Appointment and removal 30
Notices 31
Rights of alternate director 31
Appointment ceases when the appointor ceases to be a director 31
Status of alternate director 31
Status of the director making the appointment 32
   
16 Powers of directors 32
Powers of directors 32
Appointments to office 32
Remuneration 33
Disclosure of information 33
   
17 Delegation of powers 34
Power to delegate any of the directors’ powers to a committee 34
Power to appoint an agent of the Company 34
Power to appoint an attorney or authorised signatory of the Company 34
Power to appoint a proxy 35
   
18 Meetings of directors 35
Regulation of directors’ meetings 35

 

iii

 

 

Calling meetings 35
Notice of meetings 35
Period of notice 35
Use of technology 36
Place of meetings 36
Quorum 36
Voting 36
Validity 36
Recording of dissent 36
Written resolutions 37
Sole director’s minute 37
   
19 Permissible directors’ interests and disclosure 37
Permissible interests subject to disclosure 37
Notification of interests 38
Voting where a director is interested in a matter 38
   
20 Minutes 38
     
21 Accounts and audit 39
Accounting and other records 39
No automatic right of inspection 39
Sending of accounts and reports 39
Time of receipt if documents are published on a website 39
Validity despite accidental error in publication on website 40
When accounts are to be audited 40
   
22 Financial year 40
     
23 Record dates 40
     
24 Dividends 40
Declaration of dividends by Members 40
Payment of interim dividends and declaration of final dividends by directors 41
Apportionment of dividends 41
Right of set off 42
Power to pay other than in cash 42
How payments may be made 42
Dividends or other moneys not to bear interest in absence of special rights 43
Dividends unable to be paid or unclaimed 43
   
25 Capitalisation of profits 43
Capitalisation of profits or of any share premium account or capital redemption reserve 43
Applying an amount for the benefit of members 44
   
26 Share premium account 44
Directors to maintain share premium account 44
Debits to share premium account 44

 

iv

 

 

27 Seal 44
Company seal 44
Duplicate seal 45
When and how seal is to be used 45
If no seal is adopted or used 45
Power to allow non-manual signatures and facsimile printing of seal 45
Validity of execution 45
   
28 Indemnity 46
Indemnity 46
Release 46
Insurance 46
   
29 Notices 47
Form of notices 47
Electronic communications 47
Persons authorised to give notices 48
Delivery of written notices 48
Joint holders 48
Signatures 48
Evidence of transmission 48
Giving notice to a deceased or bankrupt Member 48
Date of giving notices 49
Saving provision 50
   
30 Authentication of Electronic Records 50
Application of Articles 50
Authentication of documents sent by Members by Electronic means 50
Authentication of document sent by the Secretary or Officers of the Company by Electronic means 50
Manner of signing 51
Saving provision 51
   
31 Transfer by way of continuation 51
     
32 Winding up 52
Distribution of assets in specie 52
No obligation to accept liability 52
The directors are authorised to present a winding up petition 52
   
33 Amendment of Memorandum and Articles 52
Power to change name or amend Memorandum 52
Power to amend these Articles 53

 

v

 

 

Companies Act (Revised)

 

Company Limited by Shares

 

Articles of Association

 

of

 

Aquarius I Acquisition Corp.

 

 

1Definitions, interpretation and exclusion of Table A

 

Definitions

 

1.1In these Articles, the following definitions apply:

 

Articles means, as appropriate:

 

(a)these Articles of Association as amended from time to time: or

 

(b)two or more particular Articles of these Articles;

 

and Article refers to a particular Article of these Articles.

 

Business Day means a day other than a public holiday in the place where the Company’s registered office is located, a Saturday or a Sunday.

 

Clear Days, in relation to a period of notice, means that period excluding:

 

(a)the day when the notice is given or deemed to be given; and

 

(b)the day for which it is given or on which it is to take effect.

 

Company means the above-named company.

 

Default Rate means 10% (ten per cent) per annum.

 

Electronic has the meaning given to that term in the Electronic Transactions Act (Revised).

 

Electronic Record has the meaning given to that term in the Electronic Transactions Act (Revised).

 

Electronic Signature has the meaning given to that term in the Electronic Transactions Act (Revised).

 

1

 

 

Fully Paid and Paid Up:

 

(a)in relation to a Share with par value, means that the par value for that Share and any premium payable in respect of the issue of that Share, has been fully paid or credited as paid in money or money’s worth;

 

(b)in relation to a Share without par value, means that the agreed issue price for that Share has been fully paid or credited as paid in money or money’s worth.

 

Islands means the British Overseas Territory of the Cayman Islands.

 

Act means the Companies Act (Revised).

 

Member means any person or persons entered on the register of members from time to time as the holder of a Share.

 

Memorandum means the Memorandum of Association of the Company as amended from time to time.

 

Officer means a person appointed to hold an office in the Company; and the expression includes a director, alternate director or liquidator, but does not include the Secretary.

 

Ordinary Resolution means a resolution of a duly constituted general meeting of the Company passed by a simple majority of the votes cast by, or on behalf of, the Members entitled to vote. The expression also includes a unanimous written resolution.

 

Secretary means a person appointed to perform the duties of the secretary of the Company, including a joint, assistant or deputy secretary.

 

Share means a share in the share capital of the Company; and the expression:

 

(a)includes stock (except where a distinction between shares and stock is expressed or implied); and

 

(b)where the context permits, also includes a fraction of a share.

 

Special Resolution has the meaning given to that term in the Act; and the expression includes a unanimous written resolution.

 

Treasury Shares means Shares of the Company held in treasury pursuant to the Act and Article 2.12.

 

Interpretation

 

1.2In the interpretation of these Articles, the following provisions apply unless the context otherwise requires:

 

2

 

 

(a)A reference in these Articles to a statute is a reference to a statute of the Islands as known by its short title, and includes:

 

(i)any statutory modification, amendment or re-enactment; and

 

(ii)any subordinate legislation or regulations issued under that statute.

 

Without limitation to the preceding sentence, a reference to a revised Act of the Cayman Islands is taken to be a reference to the revision of that Act in force from time to time as amended from time to time.

 

(b)Headings are inserted for convenience only and do not affect the interpretation of these Articles, unless there is ambiguity.

 

(c)If a day on which any act, matter or thing is to be done under these Articles is not a Business Day, the act, matter or thing must be done on the next Business Day.

 

(d)A word which denotes the singular also denotes the plural, a word which denotes the plural also denotes the singular, and a reference to any gender also denotes the other genders.

 

(e)A reference to a person includes, as appropriate, a company, trust, partnership, joint venture, association, body corporate or government agency.

 

(f)Where a word or phrase is given a defined meaning another part of speech or grammatical form in respect to that word or phrase has a corresponding meaning.

 

(g)All references to time are to be calculated by reference to time in the place where the Company’s registered office is located.

 

(h)The words written and in writing include all modes of representing or reproducing words in a visible form, but do not include an Electronic Record where the distinction between a document in writing and an Electronic Record is expressed or implied.

 

(i)The words including, include and in particular or any similar expression are to be construed without limitation.

 

Exclusion of Table A Articles

 

1.3The regulations contained in Table A in the First Schedule of the Act and any other regulations contained in any statute or subordinate legislation are expressly excluded and do not apply to the Company.

 

3

 

 

2Shares

 

Power to issue Shares and options, with or without special rights

 

2.1Subject to the provisions of the Act and the Articles about the redemption and purchase of the Company’s own Shares, the directors have general and unconditional authority to allot (with or without confirming rights of renunciation), grant options over or otherwise deal with any unissued Shares of the Company to such persons, at such times and on such terms and conditions as they may decide. No Share may be issued at a discount except in accordance with the provisions of the Act.

 

2.2Without limitation to the preceding Article, the directors may so deal with the unissued Shares of the Company:

 

(a)either at a premium or at par;

 

(b)with or without preferred, deferred or other special rights or restrictions whether in regard to dividend, voting, return of capital or otherwise.

 

Power to issue fractions of a Share

 

2.3Subject to the Act, the Company may issue fractions of a Share of any class. A fraction of a Share shall be subject to and carry the corresponding fraction of liabilities (whether with respect to calls or otherwise), limitations, preferences, privileges, qualifications, restrictions, rights and other attributes of a Share of that class of Shares.

 

Power to pay commissions and brokerage fees

 

2.4The Company may pay a commission to any person in consideration of that person:

 

(a)subscribing or agreeing to subscribe, whether absolutely or conditionally; or

 

(b)procuring or agreeing to procure subscriptions, whether absolute or conditional

 

for any Shares in the Company. That commission may be satisfied by the payment of cash or the allotment of Fully Paid or partly-paid Shares or partly in one way and partly in another.

 

2.5The Company may employ a broker in the issue of its capital and pay him any proper commission or brokerage.

 

Trusts not recognised

 

2.6Except as required by law:

 

4

 

 

(a)no person shall be recognised by the Company as holding any Share on any trust; and

 

(b)no person other than the Member shall be recognised by the Company as having any right in a Share.

 

Power to vary class rights

 

2.7If the share capital is divided into different classes of Shares then, unless the terms on which a class of Shares was issued state otherwise, the rights attaching to a class of Shares may only be varied if one of the following applies:

 

(a)the Members holding two thirds of the issued Shares of that class consent in writing to the variation; or

 

(b)the variation is made with the sanction of a Special Resolution passed at a separate general meeting of the Members holding the issued Shares of that class.

 

2.8For the purpose of paragraph (b) of the preceding Article, all the provisions of these Articles relating to general meetings apply, mutatis mutandis, to every such separate meeting except that:

 

(a)the necessary quorum shall be one or more persons holding, or representing by proxy, not less than one third of the issued Shares of the class; and

 

(b)any Member holding issued Shares of the class, present in person or by proxy or, in the case of a corporate Member, by its duly authorised representative, may demand a poll.

 

Effect of new Share issue on existing class rights

 

2.9Unless the terms on which a class of Shares was issued state otherwise, the rights conferred on the Member holding Shares of any class shall not be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of further Shares ranking pari passu with the existing Shares of that class.

 

Capital contributions without issue of further Shares

 

2.10With the consent of a Member, the directors may accept a voluntary contribution to the capital of the Company from that Member without issuing Shares in consideration for that contribution. In that event, the contribution shall be dealt with in the following manner:

 

(a)It shall be treated as if it were a share premium.

 

(b)Unless the Member agrees otherwise:

 

5

 

 

(i)if the Member holds Shares in a single class of Shares - it shall be credited to the share premium account for that class of Shares;

 

(ii)if the Member holds Shares of more than one class - it shall be credited rateably to the share premium accounts for those classes of Shares (in the proportion that the sum of the issue prices for each class of Shares that the Member holds bears to the total issue prices for all classes of Shares that the Member holds).

 

(c)It shall be subject to the provisions of the Act and these Articles applicable to share premiums.

 

No bearer Shares or warrants

 

2.11The Company shall not issue Shares or warrants to bearers.

 

Treasury Shares

 

2.12Shares that the Company purchases, redeems or acquires by way of surrender in accordance with the Act shall be held as Treasury Shares and not treated as cancelled if:

 

(a)the directors so determine prior to the purchase, redemption or surrender of those shares; and

 

(b)the relevant provisions of the Memorandum and Articles and the Act are otherwise complied with.

 

Rights attaching to Treasury Shares and related matters

 

2.13No dividend may be declared or paid, and no other distribution (whether in cash or otherwise) of the Company’s assets (including any distribution of assets to members on a winding up) may be made to the Company in respect of a Treasury Share.

 

2.14The Company shall be entered in the Register as the holder of the Treasury Shares. However:

 

(a)the Company shall not be treated as a member for any purpose and shall not exercise any right in respect of the Treasury Shares, and any purported exercise of such a right shall be void;

 

(b)a Treasury Share shall not be voted, directly or indirectly, at any meeting of the Company and shall not be counted in determining the total number of issued shares at any given time, whether for the purposes of these Articles or the Act.

 

6

 

 

2.15Nothing in the preceding Article prevents an allotment of Shares as fully paid bonus shares in respect of a Treasury Share and Shares allotted as fully paid bonus shares in respect of a Treasury Share shall be treated as Treasury Shares.

 

2.16Treasury Shares may be disposed of by the Company in accordance with the Act and otherwise on such terms and conditions as the directors determine.

 

3Share certificates

 

Issue of share certificates

 

3.1Upon being entered in the register of members as the holder of a Share, a Member shall be entitled:

 

(a)without payment, to one certificate for all the Shares of each class held by that Member (and, upon transferring a part of the Member’s holding of Shares of any class, to a certificate for the balance of that holding); and

 

(b)upon payment of such reasonable sum as the directors may determine for every certificate after the first, to several certificates each for one or more of that Member’s Shares.

 

3.2Every certificate shall specify the number, class and distinguishing numbers (if any) of the Shares to which it relates and whether they are Fully Paid or partly paid up. A certificate may be executed under seal or executed in such other manner as the directors determine.

 

3.3The Company shall not be bound to issue more than one certificate for Shares held jointly by several persons and delivery of a certificate for a Share to one joint holder shall be a sufficient delivery to all of them.

 

Renewal of lost or damaged share certificates

 

3.4If a share certificate is defaced, worn-out, lost or destroyed, it may be renewed on such terms (if any) as to:

 

(a)evidence;

 

(b)indemnity;

 

(c)payment of the expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in investigating the evidence; and

 

(d)payment of a reasonable fee, if any, for issuing a replacement share certificate as the directors may determine, and (in the case of defacement or wearing-out) on delivery to the Company of the old certificate.

 

7

 

 

4Lien on Shares

 

Nature and scope of lien

 

4.1The Company has a first and paramount lien on all Shares (whether Fully Paid or not) registered in the name of a Member (whether solely or jointly with others). The lien is for all moneys payable to the Company by the Member or the Member’s estate:

 

(a)either alone or jointly with any other person, whether or not that other person is a Member; and

 

(b)whether or not those moneys are presently payable.

 

4.2At any time the directors may declare any Share to be wholly or partly exempt from the provisions of this Article.

 

Company may sell Shares to satisfy lien

 

4.3The Company may sell any Shares over which it has a lien if all of the following conditions are met:

 

(a)the sum in respect of which the lien exists is presently payable;

 

(b)the Company gives notice to the Member holding the Share (or to the person entitled to it in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of that Member) demanding payment and stating that if the notice is not complied with the Shares may be sold; and

 

(c)that sum is not paid within 14 Clear Days after that notice is deemed to be given under these Articles.

 

4.4The Shares may be sold in such manner as the directors determine.

 

4.5To the maximum extent permitted by law, the directors shall incur no personal liability to the Member concerned in respect of the sale.

 

Authority to execute instrument of transfer

 

4.6To give effect to a sale, the directors may authorise any person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Shares sold to, or in accordance with the directions of, the purchaser. The title of the transferee of the Shares shall not be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings in respect of the sale.

 

8

 

 

Consequences of sale of Shares to satisfy lien

 

4.7On sale pursuant to the preceding Articles:

 

(a)the name of the Member concerned shall be removed from the register of members as the holder of those Shares; and

 

(b)that person shall deliver to the Company for cancellation the certificate for those Shares.

 

Despite this, that person shall remain liable to the Company for all monies which, at the date of sale, were presently payable by him to the Company in respect of those Shares. That person shall also be liable to pay interest on those monies from the date of sale until payment at the rate at which interest was payable before that sale or, failing that, at the Default Rate. The directors may waive payment wholly or in part or enforce payment without any allowance for the value of the Shares at the time of sale or for any consideration received on their disposal.

 

Application of proceeds of sale

 

4.8The net proceeds of the sale, after payment of the costs, shall be applied in payment of so much of the sum for which the lien exists as is presently payable. Any residue shall be paid to the person whose Shares have been sold:

 

(a)if no certificate for the Shares was issued, at the date of the sale; or

 

(b)if a certificate for the Shares was issued, upon surrender to the Company of that certificate for cancellation

 

but, in either case, subject to the Company retaining a like lien for all sums not presently payable as existed on the Shares before the sale.

 

5Calls on Shares and forfeiture

 

Power to make calls and effect of calls

 

5.1Subject to the terms of allotment, the directors may make calls on the Members in respect of any moneys unpaid on their Shares including any premium. The call may provide for payment to be by instalments. Subject to receiving at least 14 Clear Days’ notice specifying when and where payment is to be made, each Member shall pay to the Company the amount called on his Shares as required by the notice.

 

5.2Before receipt by the Company of any sum due under a call, that call may be revoked in whole or in part and payment of a call may be postponed in whole or in part. Where a call is to be paid in instalments, the Company may revoke the call in respect of all or any remaining instalments in whole or in part and may postpone payment of all or any of the remaining instalments in whole or in part.

 

9

 

 

5.3A Member on whom a call is made shall remain liable for that call notwithstanding the subsequent transfer of the Shares in respect of which the call was made. He shall not be liable for calls made after he is no longer registered as Member in respect of those Shares.

 

Time when call made

 

5.4A call shall be deemed to have been made at the time when the resolution of the directors authorising the call was passed.

 

Liability of joint holders

 

5.5Members registered as the joint holders of a Share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls in respect of the Share.

 

Interest on unpaid calls

 

5.6If a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable the person from whom it is due and payable shall pay interest on the amount unpaid from the day it became due and payable until it is paid:

 

(a)at the rate fixed by the terms of allotment of the Share or in the notice of the call; or

 

(b)if no rate is fixed, at the Default Rate.

 

The directors may waive payment of the interest wholly or in part.

 

Deemed calls

 

5.7Any amount payable in respect of a Share, whether on allotment or on a fixed date or otherwise, shall be deemed to be payable as a call. If the amount is not paid when due the provisions of these Articles shall apply as if the amount had become due and payable by virtue of a call.

 

Power to accept early payment

 

5.8The Company may accept from a Member the whole or a part of the amount remaining unpaid on Shares held by him although no part of that amount has been called up.

 

10

 

 

Power to make different arrangements at time of issue of Shares

 

5.9Subject to the terms of allotment, the directors may make arrangements on the issue of Shares to distinguish between Members in the amounts and times of payment of calls on their Shares.

 

Notice of default

 

5.10If a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable the directors may give to the person from whom it is due not less than 14 Clear Days’ notice requiring payment of:

 

(a)the amount unpaid;

 

(b)any interest which may have accrued;

 

(c)any expenses which have been incurred by the Company due to that person’s default.

 

5.11The notice shall state the following:

 

(a)the place where payment is to be made; and

 

(b)a warning that if the notice is not complied with the Shares in respect of which the call is made will be liable to be forfeited.

 

Forfeiture or surrender of Shares

 

5.12If the notice under the preceding Article is not complied with, the directors may, before the payment required by the notice has been received, resolve that any Share the subject of that notice be forfeited. The forfeiture shall include all dividends or other moneys payable in respect of the forfeited Share and not paid before the forfeiture. Despite the foregoing, the directors may determine that any Share the subject of that notice be accepted by the Company as surrendered by the Member holding that Share in lieu of forfeiture.

 

Disposal of forfeited or surrendered Share and power to cancel forfeiture or surrender

 

5.13A forfeited or surrendered Share may be sold, re-allotted or otherwise disposed of on such terms and in such manner as the directors determine either to the former Member who held that Share or to any other person. The forfeiture or surrender may be cancelled on such terms as the directors think fit at any time before a sale, re-allotment or other disposition. Where, for the purposes of its disposal, a forfeited or surrendered Share is to be transferred to any person, the directors may authorise some person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Share to the transferee.

 

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Effect of forfeiture or surrender on former Member

 

5.14On forfeiture or surrender:

 

(a)the name of the Member concerned shall be removed from the register of members as the holder of those Shares and that person shall cease to be a Member in respect of those Shares; and

 

(b)that person shall surrender to the Company for cancellation the certificate (if any) for the forfeited or surrendered Shares.

 

5.15Despite the forfeiture or surrender of his Shares, that person shall remain liable to the Company for all moneys which at the date of forfeiture or surrender were presently payable by him to the Company in respect of those Shares together with:

 

(a)all expenses; and

 

(b)interest from the date of forfeiture or surrender until payment:

 

(i)at the rate of which interest was payable on those moneys before forfeiture; or

 

(ii)if no interest was so payable, at the Default Rate.

 

The directors, however, may waive payment wholly or in part.

 

Evidence of forfeiture or surrender

 

5.16A declaration, whether statutory or under oath, made by a director or the Secretary shall be conclusive evidence of the following matters stated in it as against all persons claiming to be entitled to forfeited Shares:

 

(a)that the person making the declaration is a director or Secretary of the Company, and

 

(b)that the particular Shares have been forfeited or surrendered on a particular date.

 

Subject to the execution of an instrument of transfer, if necessary, the declaration shall constitute good title to the Shares.

 

Sale of forfeited or surrendered Shares

 

5.17Any person to whom the forfeited or surrendered Shares are disposed of shall not be bound to see to the application of the consideration, if any, of those Shares nor shall his title to the Shares be affected by any irregularity in, or invalidity of the proceedings in respect of, the forfeiture, surrender or disposal of those Shares.

 

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6Transfer of Shares

 

Form of transfer

 

6.1Subject to the following Articles about the transfer of Shares, a Member may transfer Shares to another person by completing an instrument of transfer, in a common form or in a form approved by the directors, executed:

 

(a)where the Shares are Fully Paid, by or on behalf of that Member; and

 

(b)where the Shares are partly paid, by or on behalf of that Member and the transferee.

 

Power to refuse registration

 

6.2The directors may refuse to register the transfer of a Share to any person. They may do so in their absolute discretion, without giving any reason for their refusal, and irrespective of whether the Share is Fully Paid or the Company has no lien over it.

 

Notice of refusal to register

 

6.3If the directors refuse to register a transfer of a Share, they must send notice of their refusal to the existing Member within two months after the date on which the transfer was lodged with the Company.

 

Power to suspend registration

 

6.4The directors may suspend registration of the transfer of Shares at such times and for such periods, not exceeding 30 days in any calendar year, as they determine.

 

Fee, if any, payable for registration

 

6.5If the directors so decide, the Company may charge a reasonable fee for the registration of any instrument of transfer or other document relating to the title to a Share.

 

Company may retain instrument of transfer

 

6.6The Company shall be entitled to retain any instrument of transfer which is registered; but an instrument of transfer which the directors refuse to register shall be returned to the person lodging it when notice of the refusal is given.

 

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7Transmission of Shares

 

Persons entitled on death of a Member

 

7.1If a Member dies, the only persons recognised by the Company as having any title to the deceased Members’ interest are the following:

 

(a)where the deceased Member was a joint holder, the survivor or survivors; and

 

(b)where the deceased Member was a sole holder, that Member’s personal representative or representatives.

 

7.2Nothing in these Articles shall release the deceased Member’s estate from any liability in respect of any Share, whether the deceased was a sole holder or a joint holder.

 

Registration of transfer of a Share following death or bankruptcy

 

7.3A person becoming entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Member may elect to do either of the following:

 

(a)to become the holder of the Share; or

 

(b)to transfer the Share to another person.

 

7.4That person must produce such evidence of his entitlement as the directors may properly require.

 

7.5If the person elects to become the holder of the Share, he must give notice to the Company to that effect. For the purposes of these Articles, that notice shall be treated as though it were an executed instrument of transfer.

 

7.6If the person elects to transfer the Share to another person then:

 

(a)if the Share is Fully Paid, the transferor must execute an instrument of transfer; and

 

(b)if the Share is partly paid, the transferor and the transferee must execute an instrument of transfer.

 

7.7All the Articles relating to the transfer of Shares shall apply to the notice or, as appropriate, the instrument of transfer.

 

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Indemnity

 

7.8A person registered as a Member by reason of the death or bankruptcy of another Member shall indemnify the Company and the directors against any loss or damage suffered by the Company or the directors as a result of that registration.

 

Rights of person entitled to a Share following death or bankruptcy

 

7.9A person becoming entitled to a Share by reason of the death or bankruptcy of a Member shall have the rights to which he would be entitled if he were registered as the holder of the Share. But, until he is registered as Member in respect of the Share, he shall not be entitled to attend or vote at any meeting of the Company or at any separate meeting of the holders of that class of Shares in the Company.

 

8Alteration of capital

 

Increasing, consolidating, converting, dividing and cancelling share capital

 

8.1To the fullest extent permitted by the Act, the Company may by Ordinary Resolution do any of the following and amend its Memorandum for that purpose:

 

(a)increase its share capital by new Shares of the amount fixed by that Ordinary Resolution and with the attached rights, priorities and privileges set out in that Ordinary Resolution;

 

(b)consolidate and divide all or any of its share capital into Shares of larger amount than its existing Shares;

 

(c)convert all or any of its Paid Up Shares into stock, and reconvert that stock into Paid Up Shares of any denomination;

 

(d)sub-divide its Shares or any of them into Shares of an amount smaller than that fixed by the Memorandum, so, however, that in the sub-division, the proportion between the amount paid and the amount, if any, unpaid on each reduced Share shall be the same as it was in case of the Share from which the reduced Share is derived; and

 

(e)cancel Shares which, at the date of the passing of that Ordinary Resolution, have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person, and diminish the amount of its share capital by the amount of the Shares so cancelled or, in the case of Shares without nominal par value, diminish the number of Shares into which its capital is divided.

 

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Dealing with fractions resulting from consolidation of Shares

 

8.2Whenever, as a result of a consolidation of Shares, any Members would become entitled to fractions of a Share the directors may on behalf of those Members:

 

(a)sell the Shares representing the fractions for the best price reasonably obtainable to any person (including, subject to the provisions of the Act, the Company); and

 

(b)distribute the net proceeds in due proportion among those Members.

 

For that purpose, the directors may authorise some person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Shares to, or in accordance with the directions of, the purchaser. The transferee shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money nor shall the transferee’s title to the Shares be affected by any irregularity in, or invalidity of, the proceedings in respect of the sale.

 

Reducing share capital

 

8.3Subject to the Act and to any rights for the time being conferred on the Members holding a particular class of Shares, the Company may, by Special Resolution, reduce its share capital in any way.

 

9Redemption and purchase of own Shares

 

Power to issue redeemable Shares and to purchase own Shares

 

9.1Subject to the Act, and to any rights for the time being conferred on the Members holding a particular class of Shares, the Company may by its directors:

 

(a)issue Shares that are to be redeemed or liable to be redeemed, at the option of the Company or the Member holding those redeemable Shares, on the terms and in the manner its directors determine before the issue of those Shares;

 

(b)with the consent by Special Resolution of the Members holding Shares of a particular class, vary the rights attaching to that class of Shares so as to provide that those Shares are to be redeemed or are liable to be redeemed at the option of the Company on the terms and in the manner which the directors determine at the time of such variation; and

 

(c)purchase all or any of its own Shares of any class including any redeemable Shares on the terms and in the manner which the directors determine at the time of such purchase.

 

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The Company may make a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of its own Shares in any manner authorised by the Act, including out of any combination of the following: capital, its profits and the proceeds of a fresh issue of Shares.

 

Power to pay for redemption or purchase in cash or in specie

 

9.2When making a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of Shares, the directors may make the payment in cash or in specie (or partly in one and partly in the other) if so authorised by the terms of the allotment of those Shares, or by the terms applying to those Shares in accordance with Article 9.1, or otherwise by agreement with the Member holding those Shares.

 

Effect of redemption or purchase of a Share

 

9.3Upon the date of redemption or purchase of a Share:

 

(a)the Member holding that Share shall cease to be entitled to any rights in respect of the Share other than the right to receive:

 

(i)the price for the Share; and

 

(ii)any dividend declared in respect of the Share prior to the date of redemption or purchase;

 

(b)the Member’s name shall be removed from the register of members with respect to the Share; and

 

(c)the Share shall be cancelled or held as a Treasury Shares, as the directors may determine.

 

For the purpose of this Article, the date of redemption or purchase is the date when the redemption or purchase falls due.

 

10Meetings of Members

 

Power to call meetings

 

10.1The directors may call a general meeting at any time.

 

10.2If there are insufficient directors to constitute a quorum and the remaining directors are unable to agree on the appointment of additional directors, the directors must call a general meeting for the purpose of appointing additional directors.

 

10.3The directors must also call a general meeting if requisitioned in the manner set out in the next two Articles.

 

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10.4The requisition must be in writing and given by one or more Members who together hold at least 10% of the rights to vote at such general meeting.

 

10.5The requisition must also:

 

(a)specify the purpose of the meeting.

 

(b)be signed by or on behalf of each requisitioner (and for this purpose each joint holder shall be obliged to sign). The requisition may consist of several documents in like form signed by one or more of the requisitioners.

 

(c)be delivered in accordance with the notice provisions.

 

10.6Should the directors fail to call a general meeting within 21 Clear Days from the date of receipt of a requisition, the requisitioners or any of them may call a general meeting within three months after the end of that period.

 

10.7Without limitation to the foregoing, if there are insufficient directors to constitute a quorum and the remaining directors are unable to agree on the appointment of additional directors, any one or more Members who together hold at least 10% of the rights to vote at a general meeting may call a general meeting for the purpose of considering the business specified in the notice of meeting which shall include as an item of business the appointment of additional directors.

 

10.8If the Members call a meeting under the above provisions, the Company shall reimburse their reasonable expenses.

 

Content of notice

 

10.9Notice of a general meeting shall specify each of the following:

 

(a)the place, the date and the hour of the meeting;

 

(b)if the meeting is to be held in two or more places, the technology that will be used to facilitate the meeting;

 

(c)subject to paragraph (d), the general nature of the business to be transacted; and

 

(d)if a resolution is proposed as a Special Resolution, the text of that resolution.

 

10.10In each notice there shall appear with reasonable prominence the following statements:

 

(a)that a Member who is entitled to attend and vote is entitled to appoint one or more proxies to attend and vote instead of that Member; and

 

(b)that a proxyholder need not be a Member.

 

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Period of notice

 

10.11At least five Clear Days’ notice of a general meeting must be given to Members. But a meeting may be convened on shorter notice with the consent of the Member or Members who, individually or collectively, hold at least 90% of the voting rights of all those who have a right to vote at that meeting.

 

Persons entitled to receive notice

 

10.12Subject to the provisions of these Articles and to any restrictions imposed on any Shares, the notice shall be given to the following people:

 

(a)the Members;

 

(b)persons entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Member; and

 

(c)the directors.

 

Publication of notice on a website

 

10.13Subject to the Act, a notice of a general meeting may be published on a website providing the recipient is given separate notice of:

 

(a)the publication of the notice on the website;

 

(b)the place on the website where the notice may be accessed;

 

(c)how it may be accessed; and

 

(d)the place, date and time of the general meeting.

 

10.14If a Member notifies the Company that he is unable for any reason to access the website, the Company must as soon as practicable give notice of the meeting to that Member by any other means permitted by these Articles. But this will not affect when that Member is deemed to have received notice of the meeting.

 

Time a website notice is deemed to be given

 

10.15A website notice is deemed to be given when the Member is given notice of its publication.

 

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Required duration of publication on a website

 

10.16Where the notice of meeting is published on a website, it shall continue to be published in the same place on that website from the date of the notification until the conclusion of the meeting to which the notice relates.

 

Accidental omission to give notice or non-receipt of notice

 

10.17Proceedings at a meeting shall not be invalidated by the following:

 

(a)an accidental failure to give notice of the meeting to any person entitled to notice; or

 

(b)non-receipt of notice of the meeting by any person entitled to notice.

 

10.18In addition, where a notice of meeting is published on a website, proceedings at the meeting shall not be invalidated merely because it is accidentally published:

 

(a)in a different place on the website; or

 

(b)for part only of the period from the date of the notification until the conclusion of the meeting to which the notice relates.

 

11Proceedings at meetings of Members

 

Quorum

 

11.1Save as provided in the following Article, no business shall be transacted at any meeting unless a quorum is present in person or by proxy. A quorum is as follows:

 

(a)if the Company has only one Member: that Member;

 

(b)if the Company has more than one Member: two Members.

 

Lack of quorum

 

11.2If a quorum is not present within 15 minutes of the time appointed for the meeting, or if at any time during the meeting it becomes inquorate, then the following provisions apply:

 

(a)If the meeting was requisitioned by Members, it shall be cancelled.

 

(b)In any other case, the meeting shall stand adjourned to the same time and place seven days hence, or to such other time or place as is determined by the directors. If a quorum is not present within 15 minutes of the time appointed for the adjourned meeting, then the Members present in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum.

 

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Use of technology

 

11.3A person may participate in a general meeting through the medium of conference telephone, video or any other form of communications equipment providing all persons participating in the meeting are able to hear and speak to each other throughout the meeting. A person participating in this way is deemed to be present in person at the meeting.

 

Chairman

 

11.4The chairman of a general meeting shall be the chairman of the board or such other director as the directors have nominated to chair board meetings in the absence of the chairman of the board. Absent any such person being present within 15 minutes of the time appointed for the meeting, the directors present shall elect one of their number to chair the meeting.

 

11.5If no director is present within 15 minutes of the time appointed for the meeting, or if no director is willing to act as chairman, the Members present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote shall choose one of their number to chair the meeting.

 

Right of a director to attend and speak

 

11.6Even if a director is not a Member, he shall be entitled to attend and speak at any general meeting and at any separate meeting of Members holding a particular class of Shares in the Company.

 

Adjournment

 

11.7The chairman may at any time adjourn a meeting with the consent of the Members constituting a quorum. The chairman must adjourn the meeting if so directed by the meeting. No business, however, can be transacted at an adjourned meeting other than business which might properly have been transacted at the original meeting.

 

11.8Should a meeting be adjourned for more than seven Clear Days, whether because of a lack of quorum or otherwise, Members shall be given at least seven Clear Days’ notice of the date, time and place of the adjourned meeting and the general nature of the business to be transacted. Otherwise it shall not be necessary to give any notice of the adjournment.

 

Method of voting

 

11.9A resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a show of hands unless before, or on the declaration of the result of the show of hands, a poll is duly demanded. A poll may be demanded:

 

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(a)by the chairman; or

 

(b)by any Member or Members present who, individually or collectively, hold at least 10% of the voting rights of all those who have a right to vote on the resolution.

 

Outcome of vote by show of hands

 

11.10Unless a poll is duly demanded, a declaration by the chairman as to the result of a resolution and an entry to that effect in the minutes of the meeting shall be conclusive evidence of the outcome of a show of hands without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favour of or against the resolution.

 

Withdrawal of demand for a poll

 

11.11The demand for a poll may be withdrawn before the poll is taken, but only with the consent of the chairman. The chairman shall announce any such withdrawal to the meeting and, unless another person forthwith demands a poll, any earlier show of hands on that resolution shall be treated as the vote on that resolution; if there has been no earlier show of hands, then the resolution shall be put to the vote of the meeting.

 

Taking of a poll

 

11.12A poll demanded on the question of adjournment shall be taken immediately.

 

11.13A poll demanded on any other question shall be taken either immediately or at an adjourned meeting at such time and place as the chairman directs, not being more than 30 Clear Days after the poll was demanded.

 

11.14The demand for a poll shall not prevent the meeting continuing to transact any business other than the question on which the poll was demanded.

 

11.15A poll shall be taken in such manner as the chairman directs. He may appoint scrutineers (who need not be Members) and fix a place and time for declaring the result of the poll. If, through the aid of technology, the meeting is held in more than place, the chairman may appoint scrutineers in more than place; but if he considers that the poll cannot be effectively monitored at that meeting, the chairman shall adjourn the holding of the poll to a date, place and time when that can occur.

 

Chairman’s casting vote

 

11.16If the votes on a resolution, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, are equal the chairman may if he wishes exercise a casting vote.

 

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Amendments to resolutions

 

11.17An Ordinary Resolution to be proposed at a general meeting may be amended by Ordinary Resolution if:

 

(a)not less than 48 hours before the meeting is to take place (or such later time as the chairman of the meeting may determine), notice of the proposed amendment is given to the Company in writing by a Member entitled to vote at that meeting; and

 

(b)the proposed amendment does not, in the reasonable opinion of the chairman of the meeting, materially alter the scope of the resolution.

 

11.18A Special Resolution to be proposed at a general meeting may be amended by Ordinary Resolution, if:

 

(a)the chairman of the meeting proposes the amendment at the general meeting at which the resolution is to be proposed, and

 

(b)the amendment does not go beyond what the chairman considers is necessary to correct a grammatical or other non-substantive error in the resolution.

 

11.19If the chairman of the meeting, acting in good faith, wrongly decides that an amendment to a resolution is out of order, the chairman’s error does not invalidate the vote on that resolution.

 

Written resolutions

 

11.20Members may pass a resolution in writing without holding a meeting if the following conditions are met:

 

(a)all Members entitled to vote are given notice of the resolution as if the same were being proposed at a meeting of Members;

 

(b)all Members entitled so to vote :

 

(i)sign a document; or

 

(ii)sign several documents in the like form each signed by one or more of those Members; and

 

(c)the signed document or documents is or are delivered to the Company, including, if the Company so nominates, by delivery of an Electronic Record by Electronic means to the address specified for that purpose.

 

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Such written resolution shall be as effective as if it had been passed at a meeting of the Members entitled to vote duly convened and held.

 

11.21If a written resolution is described as a Special Resolution or as an Ordinary Resolution, it has effect accordingly.

 

11.22The directors may determine the manner in which written resolutions shall be put to Members. In particular, they may provide, in the form of any written resolution, for each Member to indicate, out of the number of votes the Member would have been entitled to cast at a meeting to consider the resolution, how many votes he wishes to cast in favour of the resolution and how many against the resolution or to be treated as abstentions. The result of any such written resolution shall be determined on the same basis as on a poll.

 

Sole-member company

 

11.23If the Company has only one Member, and the Member records in writing his decision on a question, that record shall constitute both the passing of a resolution and the minute of it.

 

12Voting rights of Members

 

Right to vote

 

12.1Unless their Shares carry no right to vote, or unless a call or other amount presently payable has not been paid, all Members are entitled to vote at a general meeting, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, and all Members holding Shares of a particular class of Shares are entitled to vote at a meeting of the holders of that class of Shares.

 

12.2Members may vote in person or by proxy.

 

12.3On a show of hands, every Member shall have one vote. For the avoidance of doubt, an individual who represents two or more Members, including a Member in that individual’s own right, that individual shall be entitled to a separate vote for each Member.

 

12.4On a poll a Member shall have one vote for each Share he holds, unless any Share carries special voting rights.

 

12.5A fraction of a Share shall entitle its holder to an equivalent fraction of one vote.

 

12.6No Member is bound to vote on his Shares or any of them; nor is he bound to vote each of his Shares in the same way.

 

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Rights of joint holders

 

12.7If Shares are held jointly, only one of the joint holders may vote. If more than one of the joint holders tenders a vote, the vote of the holder whose name in respect of those Shares appears first in the register of members shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holder.

 

Representation of corporate Members

 

12.8Save where otherwise provided, a corporate Member must act by a duly authorised representative.

 

12.9A corporate Member wishing to act by a duly authorised representative must identify that person to the Company by notice in writing.

 

12.10The authorisation may be for any period of time, and must be delivered to the Company not less than two hours before the commencement of the meeting at which it is first used.

 

12.11The directors of the Company may require the production of any evidence which they consider necessary to determine the validity of the notice.

 

12.12Where a duly authorised representative is present at a meeting that Member is deemed to be present in person; and the acts of the duly authorised representative are personal acts of that Member.

 

12.13A corporate Member may revoke the appointment of a duly authorised representative at any time by notice to the Company; but such revocation will not affect the validity of any acts carried out by the duly authorised representative before the directors of the Company had actual notice of the revocation.

 

Member with mental disorder

 

12.14A Member in respect of whom an order has been made by any court having jurisdiction (whether in the Islands or elsewhere) in matters concerning mental disorder may vote, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, by that Member’s receiver, curator bonis or other person authorised in that behalf appointed by that court.

 

12.15For the purpose of the preceding Article, evidence to the satisfaction of the directors of the authority of the person claiming to exercise the right to vote must be received not less than 24 hours before holding the relevant meeting or the adjourned meeting in any manner specified for the delivery of forms of appointment of a proxy, whether in writing or by Electronic means. In default, the right to vote shall not be exercisable.

 

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Objections to admissibility of votes

 

12.16An objection to the validity of a person’s vote may only be raised at the meeting or at the adjourned meeting at which the vote is sought to be tendered. Any objection duly made shall be referred to the chairman whose decision shall be final and conclusive.

 

Form of proxy

 

12.17An instrument appointing a proxy shall be in any common form or in any other form approved by the directors.

 

12.18The instrument must be in writing and signed in one of the following ways:

 

(a)by the Member; or

 

(b)by the Member’s authorised attorney; or

 

(c)if the Member is a corporation or other body corporate, under seal or signed by an authorised officer, secretary or attorney.

 

If the directors so resolve, the Company may accept an Electronic Record of that instrument delivered in the manner specified below and otherwise satisfying the Articles about authentication of Electronic Records.

 

12.19The directors may require the production of any evidence which they consider necessary to determine the validity of any appointment of a proxy.

 

12.20A Member may revoke the appointment of a proxy at any time by notice to the Company duly signed in accordance with the Article above about signing proxies; but such revocation will not affect the validity of any acts carried out by the proxy before the directors of the Company had actual notice of the revocation.

 

How and when proxy is to be delivered

 

12.21Subject to the following Articles, the form of appointment of a proxy and any authority under which it is signed (or a copy of the authority certified notarially or in any other way approved by the directors) must be delivered so that it is received by the Company at any time before the time for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person named in the form of appointment of proxy proposes to vote. They must be delivered in either of the following ways:

 

(a)In the case of an instrument in writing, it must be left at or sent by post:

 

(i)to the registered office of the Company; or

 

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(ii)to such other place within the Islands specified in the notice convening the meeting or in any form of appointment of proxy sent out by the Company in relation to the meeting.

 

(b)If, pursuant to the notice provisions, a notice may be given to the Company in an Electronic Record, an Electronic Record of an appointment of a proxy must be sent to the address specified pursuant to those provisions unless another address for that purpose is specified:

 

(i)in the notice convening the meeting; or

 

(ii)in any form of appointment of a proxy sent out by the Company in relation to the meeting; or

 

(iii)in any invitation to appoint a proxy issued by the Company in relation to the meeting.

 

12.22Where a poll is taken:

 

(a)if it is taken more than seven Clear Days after it is demanded, the form of appointment of a proxy and any accompanying authority (or an Electronic Record of the same) must be delivered as required under the preceding Article not less than 24 hours before the time appointed for the taking of the poll;

 

(b)but if it to be taken within seven Clear Days after it was demanded, the form of appointment of a proxy and any accompanying authority (or an Electronic Record of the same) must be e delivered as required under the preceding Article not less than two hours before the time appointed for the taking of the poll.

 

12.23If the form of appointment of proxy is not delivered on time, it is invalid.

 

Voting by proxy

 

12.24A proxy shall have the same voting rights at a meeting or adjourned meeting as the Member would have had except to the extent that the instrument appointing him limits those rights. Notwithstanding the appointment of a proxy, a Member may attend and vote at a meeting or adjourned meeting. If a Member votes on any resolution a vote by his proxy on the same resolution, unless in respect of different Shares, shall be invalid.

 

13Number of directors

 

Unless otherwise determined by Ordinary Resolution, the minimum number of directors shall be one and the maximum number shall be ten. There shall be no directors, however, until the first director is or the first directors are appointed by the subscriber or subscribers to the Memorandum.

 

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14Appointment, disqualification and removal of directors

 

First directors

 

14.1The first directors shall be appointed in writing by the subscriber or subscribers to the Memorandum.

 

No age limit

 

14.2There is no age limit for directors save that they must be aged at least 18 years.

 

Corporate directors

 

14.3Unless prohibited by law, a body corporate may be a director. If a body corporate is a director, the Articles about representation of corporate Members at general meetings apply, mutatis mutandis, to the Articles about directors’ meetings.

 

No shareholding qualification

 

14.4Unless a shareholding qualification for directors is fixed by Ordinary Resolution, no director shall be required to own Shares as a condition of his appointment.

 

Appointment of directors

 

14.5A director may be appointed by Ordinary Resolution or by the directors. Any appointment may be to fill a vacancy or as an additional director.

 

14.6Notwithstanding the other provisions of these Articles, in any case where, as a result of death, the Company has no directors and no shareholders, the personal representatives of the last shareholder to have died have the power, by notice in writing to the Company, to appoint a person to be a director. For the purpose of this Article:

 

(a)where two or more shareholders die in circumstances rendering it uncertain who was the last to die, a younger shareholder is deemed to have survived an older shareholder;

 

(b)if the last shareholder died leaving a will which disposes of that shareholder’s shares in the Company (whether by way of specific gift, as part of the residuary estate, or otherwise):

 

(i)the expression personal representatives of the last shareholder means:

 

(A)until a grant of probate in respect of that will has been obtained from the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands, all of the executors named in that will who are living at the time the power of appointment under this Article is exercised; and

 

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(B)after such grant of probate has been obtained, only such of those executors who have proved that will;

 

(ii)without derogating from section 3(1) of the Succession Act (Revised), the executors named in that will may exercise the power of appointment under this Article without first obtaining a grant of probate.

 

14.7A remaining director may appoint a director even though there is not a quorum of directors.

 

14.8No appointment can cause the number of directors to exceed the maximum; and any such appointment shall be invalid.

 

Removal of directors

 

14.9A director may be removed by Ordinary Resolution.

 

Resignation of directors

 

14.10A director may at any time resign office by giving to the Company notice in writing or, if permitted pursuant to the notice provisions, in an Electronic Record delivered in either case in accordance with those provisions.

 

14.11Unless the notice specifies a different date, the director shall be deemed to have resigned on the date that the notice is delivered to the Company.

 

Termination of the office of director

 

14.12A director’s office shall be terminated forthwith if:

 

(a)he is prohibited by the law of the Islands from acting as a director; or

 

(b)he is made bankrupt or makes an arrangement or composition with his creditors generally; or

 

(c)in the opinion of a registered medical practitioner by whom he is being treated he becomes physically or mentally incapable of acting as a director; or

 

(d)he is made subject to any law relating to mental health or incompetence, whether by court order or otherwise; or

 

(e)without the consent of the other directors, he is absent from meetings of directors for a continuous period of six months.

 

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15Alternate directors

 

Appointment and removal

 

15.1Any director may appoint any other person, including another director, to act in his place as an alternate director. No appointment shall take effect until the director has given notice of the appointment to the other directors. Such notice must be given to each other director by either of the following methods:

 

(a)by notice in writing in accordance with the notice provisions;

 

(b)if the other director has an email address, by emailing to that address a scanned copy of the notice as a PDF attachment (the PDF version being deemed to be the notice unless Article 30.7 applies), in which event notice shall be taken to be given on the date of receipt by the recipient in readable form. For the avoidance of doubt, the same email may be sent to the email address of more than one director (and to the email address of the Company pursuant to Article 15.4(c)).

 

15.2Without limitation to the preceding Article, a director may appoint an alternate for a particular meeting by sending an email to his fellow directors informing them that they are to take such email as notice of such appointment for such meeting. Such appointment shall be effective without the need for a signed notice of appointment or the giving of notice to the Company in accordance with Article 15.4.

 

15.3A director may revoke his appointment of an alternate at any time. No revocation shall take effect until the director has given notice of the revocation to the other directors. Such notice must be given by either of the methods specified in Article 15.1.

 

15.4A notice of appointment or removal of an alternate director must also be given to the Company by any of the following methods:

 

(a)by notice in writing in accordance with the notice provisions;

 

(b)if the Company has a facsimile address for the time being, by sending by facsimile transmission to that facsimile address a facsimile copy or, otherwise, by sending by facsimile transmission to the facsimile address of the Company’s registered office a facsimile copy (in either case, the facsimile copy being deemed to be the notice unless Article 30.7 applies), in which event notice shall be taken to be given on the date of an error-free transmission report from the sender’s fax machine;

 

(c)if the Company has an email address for the time being, by emailing to that email address a scanned copy of the notice as a PDF attachment or, otherwise, by emailing to the email address provided by the Company’s registered office a scanned copy of the notice as a PDF attachment (in either case, the PDF version being deemed to be the notice unless Article 30.7 applies), in which event notice shall be taken to be given on the date of receipt by the Company or the Company’s registered office (as appropriate) in readable form; or

 

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(d)if permitted pursuant to the notice provisions, in some other form of approved Electronic Record delivered in accordance with those provisions in writing.

 

Notices

 

15.5All notices of meetings of directors shall continue to be given to the appointing director and not to the alternate.

 

Rights of alternate director

 

15.6An alternate director shall be entitled to attend and vote at any board meeting or meeting of a committee of the directors at which the appointing director is not personally present, and generally to perform all the functions of the appointing director in his absence.

 

15.7For the avoidance of doubt:

 

(a)if another director has been appointed an alternate director for one or more directors, he shall be entitled to a separate vote in his own right as a director and in right of each other director for whom he has been appointed an alternate; and

 

(b)if a person other than a director has been appointed an alternate director for more than one director, he shall be entitled to a separate vote in right of each director for whom he has been appointed an alternate.

 

15.8An alternate director, however, is not entitled to receive any remuneration from the Company for services rendered as an alternate director.

 

Appointment ceases when the appointor ceases to be a director

 

15.9An alternate director shall cease to be an alternate director if the director who appointed him ceases to be a director.

 

Status of alternate director

 

15.10An alternate director shall carry out all functions of the director who made the appointment.

 

15.11Save where otherwise expressed, an alternate director shall be treated as a director under these Articles.

 

15.12An alternate director is not the agent of the director appointing him.

 

15.13An alternate director is not entitled to any remuneration for acting as alternate director.

 

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Status of the director making the appointment

 

15.14A director who has appointed an alternate is not thereby relieved from the duties which he owes the Company.

 

16Powers of directors

 

Powers of directors

 

16.1Subject to the provisions of the Act, the Memorandum and these Articles, the business of the Company shall be managed by the directors who may for that purpose exercise all the powers of the Company.

 

16.2No prior act of the directors shall be invalidated by any subsequent alteration of the Memorandum or these Articles. However, to the extent allowed by the Act, Members may by Special Resolution validate any prior or future act of the directors which would otherwise be in breach of their duties.

 

Appointments to office

 

16.3The directors may appoint a director:

 

(a)as chairman of the board of directors;

 

(b)as managing director;

 

(c)to any other executive office

 

for such period and on such terms, including as to remuneration, as they think fit.

 

16.4The appointee must consent in writing to holding that office.

 

16.5Where a chairman is appointed he shall, unless unable to do so, preside at every meeting of directors.

 

16.6If there is no chairman, or if the chairman is unable to preside at a meeting, that meeting may select its own chairman; or the directors may nominate one of their number to act in place of the chairman should he ever not be available.

 

16.7Subject to the provisions of the Act, the directors may also appoint any person, who need not be a director:

 

(a)as Secretary; and

 

(b)to any office that may be required

 

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for such period and on such terms, including as to remuneration, as they think fit. In the case of an Officer, that Officer may be given any title the directors decide.

 

16.8The Secretary or Officer must consent in writing to holding that office.

 

16.9A director, Secretary or other Officer of the Company may not the hold the office, or perform the services, of auditor.

 

Remuneration

 

16.10Every director may be remunerated by the Company for the services he provides for the benefit of the Company, whether as director, employee or otherwise, and shall be entitled to be paid for the expenses incurred in the Company’s business including attendance at directors’ meetings.

 

16.11A director’s remuneration shall be fixed by the Company by Ordinary Resolution. Unless that resolution provides otherwise, the remuneration shall be deemed to accrue from day to day.

 

16.12Remuneration may take any form and may include arrangements to pay pensions, health insurance, death or sickness benefits, whether to the director or to any other person connected to or related to him.

 

16.13Unless his fellow directors determine otherwise, a director is not accountable to the Company for remuneration or other benefits received from any other company which is in the same group as the Company or which has common shareholdings.

 

Disclosure of information

 

16.14The directors may release or disclose to a third party any information regarding the affairs of the Company, including any information contained in the register of members relating to a Member, (and they may authorise any director, Officer or other authorised agent of the Company to release or disclose to a third party any such information in his possession) if:

 

(a)the Company or that person, as the case may be, is lawfully required to do so under the laws of any jurisdiction to which the Company is subject; or

 

(b)such disclosure is in compliance with the rules of any stock exchange upon which the Company’s shares are listed; or

 

(c)such disclosure is in accordance with any contract entered into by the Company; or

 

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(d)the directors are of the opinion such disclosure would assist or facilitate the Company’s operations.

 

17Delegation of powers

 

Power to delegate any of the directors’ powers to a committee

 

17.1The directors may delegate any of their powers to any committee consisting of one or more persons who need not be Members. Persons on the committee may include non-directors so long as the majority of those persons are directors.

 

17.2The delegation may be collateral with, or to the exclusion of, the directors’ own powers.

 

17.3The delegation may be on such terms as the directors think fit, including provision for the committee itself to delegate to a sub-committee; save that any delegation must be capable of being revoked or altered by the directors at will.

 

17.4Unless otherwise permitted by the directors, a committee must follow the procedures prescribed for the taking of decisions by directors.

 

Power to appoint an agent of the Company

 

17.5The directors may appoint any person, either generally or in respect of any specific matter, to be the agent of the Company with or without authority for that person to delegate all or any of that person’s powers. The directors may make that appointment:

 

(a)by causing the Company to enter into a power of attorney or agreement; or

 

(b)in any other manner they determine.

 

Power to appoint an attorney or authorised signatory of the Company

 

17.6The directors may appoint any person, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the directors, to be the attorney or the authorised signatory of the Company. The appointment may be:

 

(a)for any purpose;

 

(b)with the powers, authorities and discretions;

 

(c)for the period; and

 

(d)subject to such conditions

 

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as they think fit. The powers, authorities and discretions, however, must not exceed those vested in, or exercisable, by the directors under these Articles. The directors may do so by power of attorney or any other manner they think fit.

 

17.7Any power of attorney or other appointment may contain such provision for the protection and convenience for persons dealing with the attorney or authorised signatory as the directors think fit. Any power of attorney or other appointment may also authorise the attorney or authorised signatory to delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in that person.

 

Power to appoint a proxy

 

17.8Any director may appoint any other person, including another director, to represent him at any meeting of the directors. If a director appoints a proxy, then for all purposes the presence or vote of the proxy shall be deemed to be that of the appointing director.

 

17.9Articles 15.1 to 15.4 inclusive (relating to the appointment by directors of alternate directors) apply, mutatis mutandis, to the appointment of proxies by directors.

 

17.10A proxy is an agent of the director appointing him and is not an officer of the Company.

 

18Meetings of directors

 

Regulation of directors’ meetings

 

18.1Subject to the provisions of these Articles, the directors may regulate their proceedings as they think fit.

 

Calling meetings

 

18.2Any director may call a meeting of directors at any time. The Secretary, if any, must call a meeting of the directors if requested to do so by a director.

 

Notice of meetings

 

18.3Every director shall be given notice of a meeting, although a director may waive retrospectively the requirement to be given notice. Notice may be oral.

 

Period of notice

 

18.4At least five Clear Days’ notice of a meeting of directors must be given to directors. But a meeting may be convened on shorter notice with the consent of all directors.

 

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Use of technology

 

18.5A director may participate in a meeting of directors through the medium of conference telephone, video or any other form of communications equipment providing all persons participating in the meeting are able to hear and speak to each other throughout the meeting.

 

18.6A director participating in this way is deemed to be present in person at the meeting.

 

Place of meetings

 

18.7If all the directors participating in a meeting are not in the same place, they may decide that the meeting is to be treated as taking place wherever any of them is.

 

Quorum

 

18.8The quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting of directors shall be two unless the directors fix some other number or unless the Company has only one director.

 

Voting

 

18.9A question which arises at a board meeting shall be decided by a majority of votes. If votes are equal the chairman may, if he wishes, exercise a casting vote.

 

Validity

 

18.10Anything done at a meeting of directors is unaffected by the fact that it is later discovered that any person was not properly appointed, or had ceased to be a director, or was otherwise not entitled to vote.

 

Recording of dissent

 

18.11A director present at a meeting of directors shall be presumed to have assented to any action taken at that meeting unless:

 

(a)his dissent is entered in the minutes of the meeting; or

 

(b)he has filed with the meeting before it is concluded signed dissent from that action; or

 

(c)he has forwarded to the Company as soon as practical following the conclusion of that meeting signed dissent.

 

A director who votes in favour of an action is not entitled to record his dissent to it.

 

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Written resolutions

 

18.12The directors may pass a resolution in writing without holding a meeting if all directors sign a document or sign several documents in the like form each signed by one or more of those directors.

 

18.13Despite the foregoing, a resolution in writing signed by a validly appointed alternate director or by a validly appointed proxy need not also be signed by the appointing director. But if a written resolution is signed personally by the appointing director, it need not also be signed by his alternate or proxy.

 

18.14Such written resolution shall be as effective as if it had been passed at a meeting of the directors duly convened and held; and it shall be treated as having been passed on the day and at the time that the last director signs.

 

Sole director’s minute

 

18.15Where a sole director signs a minute recording his decision on a question, that record shall constitute the passing of a resolution in those terms.

 

19Permissible directors’ interests and disclosure

 

Permissible interests subject to disclosure

 

19.1Save as expressly permitted by these Articles or as set out below, a director may not have a direct or indirect interest or duty which conflicts or may possibly conflict with the interests of the Company.

 

19.2If, notwithstanding the prohibition in the preceding Article, a director discloses to his fellow directors the nature and extent of any material interest or duty in accordance with the next Article, he may:

 

(a)be a party to, or otherwise interested in, any transaction or arrangement with the Company or in which the Company is or may otherwise be interested;

 

(b)be interested in another body corporate promoted by the Company or in which the Company is otherwise interested. In particular, the director may be a director, secretary or officer of, or employed by, or be a party to any transaction or arrangement with, or otherwise interested in, that other body corporate.

 

19.3Such disclosure may be made at a meeting at a meeting of the board or otherwise (and, if otherwise, it must be made in writing). The director must disclose the nature and extent of his direct or indirect interest in or duty in relation to a transaction or arrangement or series of transactions or arrangements with the Company or in which the Company has any material interest.

 

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19.4If a director has made disclosure in accordance with the preceding Article, then he shall not, by reason only of his office, be accountable to the Company for any benefit that he derives from any such transaction or arrangement or from any such office or employment or from any interest in any such body corporate, and no such transaction or arrangement shall be liable to be avoided on the ground of any such interest or benefit.

 

Notification of interests

 

19.5For the purposes of the preceding Articles:

 

(a)a general notice that a director gives to the other directors that he is to be regarded as having an interest of the nature and extent specified in the notice in any transaction or arrangement in which a specified person or class of persons is interested shall be deemed to be a disclosure that he has an interest in or duty in relation to any such transaction of the nature and extent so specified; and

 

(b)an interest of which a director has no knowledge and of which it is unreasonable to expect him to have knowledge shall not be treated as an interest of his.

 

19.6A director shall not be treated as having an interest in a transaction or arrangement if he has no knowledge of that interest and it is unreasonable to expect the director to have that knowledge.

 

Voting where a director is interested in a matter

 

19.7A director may vote at a meeting of directors on any resolution concerning a matter in which that director has an interest or duty, whether directly or indirectly, so long as that director discloses any material interest pursuant to these Articles. The director shall be counted towards a quorum of those present at the meeting. If the director votes on the resolution, his vote shall be counted.

 

19.8Where proposals are under consideration concerning the appointment of two or more directors to offices or employment with the Company or any body corporate in which the Company is interested, the proposals may be divided and considered in relation to each director separately and each of the directors concerned shall be entitled to vote and be counted in the quorum in respect of each resolution except that concerning his or her own appointment.

 

20Minutes

 

The Company shall cause minutes to be made in books kept for the purpose in accordance with the Act.

 

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21Accounts and audit

 

Accounting and other records

 

21.1The directors must ensure that proper accounting and other records are kept, and that accounts and associated reports are distributed in accordance with the requirements of the Act.

 

No automatic right of inspection

 

21.2Members are only entitled to inspect the Company’s records if they are expressly entitled to do so by law, or by resolution made by the directors or passed by Ordinary Resolution.

 

Sending of accounts and reports

 

21.3The Company’s accounts and associated directors’ report or auditor’s report that are required or permitted to be sent to any person pursuant to any law shall be treated as properly sent to that person if:

 

(a)they are sent to that person in accordance with the notice provisions: or

 

(b)they are published on a website providing that person is given separate notice of:

 

(i)the fact that publication of the documents has been published on the website;

 

(ii)the address of the website; and

 

(iii)the place on the website where the documents may be accessed; and

 

(iv)how they may be accessed.

 

21.4If, for any reason, a person notifies the Company that he is unable to access the website, the Company must, as soon as practicable, send the documents to that person by any other means permitted by these Articles. This, however, will not affect when that person is taken to have received the documents under the next Article.

 

Time of receipt if documents are published on a website

 

21.5Documents sent by being published on a website in accordance with the preceding two Articles are only treated as sent at least five Clear Days before the date of the meeting at which they are to be laid if:

 

(a)the documents are published on the website throughout a period beginning at least five Clear Days before the date of the meeting and ending with the conclusion of the meeting; and

 

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(b)the person is given at least five Clear Days’ notice of the hearing.

 

Validity despite accidental error in publication on website

 

21.6If, for the purpose of a meeting, documents are sent by being published on a website in accordance with the preceding Articles, the proceedings at that meeting are not invalidated merely because:

 

(a)those documents are, by accident, published in a different place on the website to the place notified; or

 

(b)they are published for part only of the period from the date of notification until the conclusion of that meeting.

 

When accounts are to be audited

 

21.7Unless the directors or the Members, by Ordinary Resolution, so resolve or unless the Act so requires, the Company’s accounts will not be audited. If the Members so resolve, the Company’s accounts shall be audited in the manner determined by Ordinary Resolution. Alternatively, if the directors so resolve, they shall be audited in the manner they determine.

 

22Financial year

 

Unless the directors otherwise specify, the financial year of the Company:

 

(a)shall end on 31st December in the year of its incorporation and each following year; and

 

(b)shall begin when it was incorporated and on 1st January each following year.

 

23Record dates

 

Except to the extent of any conflicting rights attached to Shares, the directors may fix any time and date as the record date for declaring or paying a dividend or making or issuing an allotment of Shares. The record date may be before or after the date on which a dividend, allotment or issue is declared, paid or made.

 

24Dividends

 

Declaration of dividends by Members

 

24.1Subject to the provisions of the Act, the Company may by Ordinary Resolution declare dividends in accordance with the respective rights of the Members but no dividend shall exceed the amount recommended by the directors.

 

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Payment of interim dividends and declaration of final dividends by directors

 

24.2The directors may pay interim dividends or declare final dividends in accordance with the respective rights of the Members if it appears to them that they are justified by the financial position of the Company and that such dividends may lawfully be paid.

 

24.3Subject to the provisions of the Act, in relation to the distinction between interim dividends and final dividends, the following applies:

 

(a)Upon determination to pay a dividend or dividends described as interim by the directors in the dividend resolution, no debt shall be created by the declaration until such time as payment is made.

 

(b)Upon declaration of a dividend or dividends described as final by the directors in the dividend resolution, a debt shall be created immediately following the declaration, the due date to be the date the dividend is stated to be payable in the resolution.

 

If the resolution fails to specify whether a dividend is final or interim, it shall be assumed to be interim.

 

24.4In relation to Shares carrying differing rights to dividends or rights to dividends at a fixed rate, the following applies:

 

(a)If the share capital is divided into different classes, the directors may pay dividends on Shares which confer deferred or non-preferred rights with regard to dividends as well as on Shares which confer preferential rights with regard to dividends but no dividend shall be paid on Shares carrying deferred or non-preferred rights if, at the time of payment, any preferential dividend is in arrears.

 

(b)The directors may also pay, at intervals settled by them, any dividend payable at a fixed rate if it appears to them that there are sufficient funds of the Company lawfully available for distribution to justify the payment.

 

(c)If the directors act in good faith, they shall not incur any liability to the Members holding Shares conferring preferred rights for any loss those Members may suffer by the lawful payment of the dividend on any Shares having deferred or non-preferred rights.

 

Apportionment of dividends

 

24.5Except as otherwise provided by the rights attached to Shares, all dividends shall be declared and paid according to the amounts paid up on the Shares on which the dividend is paid. All dividends shall be apportioned and paid proportionately to the amount paid up on the Shares during the time or part of the time in respect of which the dividend is paid. But if a Share is issued on terms providing that it shall rank for dividend as from a particular date, that Share shall rank for dividend accordingly.

 

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Right of set off

 

24.6The directors may deduct from a dividend or any other amount payable to a person in respect of a Share any amount due by that person to the Company on a call or otherwise in relation to a Share.

 

Power to pay other than in cash

 

24.7If the directors so determine, any resolution declaring a dividend may direct that it shall be satisfied wholly or partly by the distribution of assets. If a difficulty arises in relation to the distribution, the directors may settle that difficulty in any way they consider appropriate. For example, they may do any one or more of the following:

 

(a)issue fractional Shares;

 

(b)fix the value of assets for distribution and make cash payments to some Members on the footing of the value so fixed in order to adjust the rights of Members; and

 

(c)vest some assets in trustees.

 

How payments may be made

 

24.8A dividend or other monies payable on or in respect of a Share may be paid in any of the following ways:

 

(a)if the Member holding that Share or other person entitled to that Share nominates a bank account for that purpose - by wire transfer to that bank account; or

 

(b)by cheque or warrant sent by post to the registered address of the Member holding that Share or other person entitled to that Share.

 

24.9For the purpose of paragraph (a) of the preceding Article, the nomination may be in writing or in an Electronic Record and the bank account nominated may be the bank account of another person. For the purpose of paragraph (b) of the preceding Article, subject to any applicable law or regulation, the cheque or warrant shall be made to the order of the Member holding that Share or other person entitled to the Share or to his nominee, whether nominated in writing or in an Electronic Record, and payment of the cheque or warrant shall be a good discharge to the Company.

 

24.10If two or more persons are registered as the holders of the Share or are jointly entitled to it by reason of the death or bankruptcy of the registered holder (Joint Holders), a dividend (or other amount) payable on or in respect of that Share may be paid as follows:

 

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(a)to the registered address of the Joint Holder of the Share who is named first on the register of members or to the registered address of the deceased or bankrupt holder, as the case may be; or

 

(b)to the address or bank account of another person nominated by the Joint Holders, whether that nomination is in writing or in an Electronic Record.

 

24.11Any Joint Holder of a Share may give a valid receipt for a dividend (or other amount) payable in respect of that Share.

 

Dividends or other moneys not to bear interest in absence of special rights

 

24.12Unless provided for by the rights attached to a Share, no dividend or other monies payable by the Company in respect of a Share shall bear interest.

 

Dividends unable to be paid or unclaimed

 

24.13If a dividend cannot be paid to a Member or remains unclaimed within six weeks after it was declared or both, the directors may pay it into a separate account in the Company’s name. If a dividend is paid into a separate account, the Company shall not be constituted trustee in respect of that account and the dividend shall remain a debt due to the Member.

 

24.14A dividend that remains unclaimed for a period of six years after it became due for payment shall be forfeited to, and shall cease to remain owing by, the Company.

 

25Capitalisation of profits

 

Capitalisation of profits or of any share premium account or capital redemption reserve

 

25.1The directors may resolve to capitalise:

 

(a)any part of the Company’s profits not required for paying any preferential dividend (whether or not those profits are available for distribution); or

 

(b)any sum standing to the credit of the Company’s share premium account or capital redemption reserve, if any.

 

The amount resolved to be capitalised must be appropriated to the Members who would have been entitled to it had it been distributed by way of dividend and in the same proportions. The benefit to each Member so entitled must be given in either or both of the following ways:

 

(a)by paying up the amounts unpaid on that Member’s Shares;

 

(b)by issuing Fully Paid Shares, debentures or other securities of the Company to that Member or as that Member directs. The directors may resolve that any Shares issued to the Member in respect of partly paid Shares (Original Shares) rank for dividend only to the extent that the Original Shares rank for dividend while those Original Shares remain partly paid.

 

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Applying an amount for the benefit of members

 

25.2The amount capitalised must be applied to the benefit of Members in the proportions to which the Members would have been entitled to dividends if the amount capitalised had been distributed as a dividend.

 

25.3Subject to the Act, if a fraction of a Share, a debenture, or other security is allocated to a Member, the directors may issue a fractional certificate to that Member or pay him the cash equivalent of the fraction.

 

26Share premium account

 

Directors to maintain share premium account

 

26.1The directors shall establish a share premium account in accordance with the Act. They shall carry to the credit of that account from time to time an amount equal to the amount or value of the premium paid on the issue of any Share or capital contributed or such other amounts required by the Act.

 

Debits to share premium account

 

26.2The following amounts shall be debited to any share premium account:

 

(a)on the redemption or purchase of a Share, the difference between the nominal value of that Share and the redemption or purchase price; and

 

(b)any other amount paid out of a share premium account as permitted by the Act.

 

26.3Notwithstanding the preceding Article, on the redemption or purchase of a Share, the directors may pay the difference between the nominal value of that Share and the redemption purchase price out of the profits of the Company or, as permitted by the Act, out of capital.

 

27Seal

 

Company seal

 

27.1The Company may have a seal if the directors so determine.

 

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Duplicate seal

 

27.2Subject to the provisions of the Act, the Company may also have a duplicate seal or seals for use in any place or places outside the Islands. Each duplicate seal shall be a facsimile of the original seal of the Company. However, if the directors so determine, a duplicate seal shall have added on its face the name of the place where it is to be used.

 

When and how seal is to be used

 

27.3A seal may only be used by the authority of the directors. Unless the directors otherwise determine, a document to which a seal is affixed must be signed in one of the following ways:

 

(a)by a director (or his alternate) and the Secretary; or

 

(b)by a single director (or his alternate).

 

If no seal is adopted or used

 

27.4If the directors do not adopt a seal, or a seal is not used, a document may be executed in the following manner:

 

(a)by a director (or his alternate) and the Secretary; or

 

(b)by a single director (or his alternate); or

 

(c)in any other manner permitted by the Act.

 

Power to allow non-manual signatures and facsimile printing of seal

 

27.5The directors may determine that either or both of the following applies:

 

(a)that the seal or a duplicate seal need not be affixed manually but may be affixed by some other method or system of reproduction;

 

(b)that a signature required by these Articles need not be manual but may be a mechanical or Electronic Signature.

 

Validity of execution

 

27.6If a document is duly executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Company, it shall not be regarded as invalid merely because, at the date of the delivery, the Secretary, or the director, or other Officer or person who signed the document or affixed the seal for and on behalf of the Company ceased to be the Secretary or hold that office and authority on behalf of the Company.

 

45

 

 

28Indemnity

 

Indemnity

 

28.1To the extent permitted by law, the Company shall indemnify each existing or former Secretary, director (including alternate director), and other Officer of the Company (including an investment adviser or an administrator or liquidator) and their personal representatives against:

 

(a)all actions, proceedings, costs, charges, expenses, losses, damages or liabilities incurred or sustained by the existing or former Secretary or Officer in or about the conduct of the Company’s business or affairs or in the execution or discharge of the existing or former Secretary’s or Officer’s duties, powers, authorities or discretions; and

 

(b)without limitation to paragraph (a), all costs, expenses, losses or liabilities incurred by the existing or former Secretary or Officer in defending (whether successfully or otherwise) any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative proceedings (whether threatened, pending or completed) concerning the Company or its affairs in any court or tribunal, whether in the Islands or elsewhere.

 

No such existing or former Secretary or Officer, however, shall be indemnified in respect of any matter arising out of his own dishonesty.

 

28.2To the extent permitted by law, the Company may make a payment, or agree to make a payment, whether by way of advance, loan or otherwise, for any legal costs incurred by an existing or former Secretary or Officer of the Company in respect of any matter identified in paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of the preceding Article on condition that the Secretary or Officer must repay the amount paid by the Company to the extent that it is ultimately found not liable to indemnify the Secretary or that Officer for those legal costs.

 

Release

 

28.3To the extent permitted by law, the Company may by Special Resolution release any existing or former director (including alternate director), Secretary or other Officer of the Company from liability for any loss or damage or right to compensation which may arise out of or in connection with the execution or discharge of the duties, powers, authorities or discretions of his office; but there may be no release from liability arising out of or in connection with that person’s own dishonesty.

 

Insurance

 

28.4To the extent permitted by law, the Company may pay, or agree to pay, a premium in respect of a contract insuring each of the following persons against risks determined by the directors, other than liability arising out of that person’s own dishonesty:

 

46

 

 

(a)an existing or former director (including alternate director), Secretary or Officer or auditor of:

 

(i)the Company;

 

(ii)a company which is or was a subsidiary of the Company;

 

(iii)a company in which the Company has or had an interest (whether direct or indirect); and

 

(b)a trustee of an employee or retirement benefits scheme or other trust in which any of the persons referred to in paragraph (a) is or was interested.

 

29Notices

 

Form of notices

 

29.1Save where these Articles provide otherwise, any notice to be given to or by any person pursuant to these Articles shall be:

 

(a)in writing signed by or on behalf of the giver in the manner set out below for written notices; or

 

(b)subject to the next Article, in an Electronic Record signed by or on behalf of the giver by Electronic Signature and authenticated in accordance with Articles about authentication of Electronic Records; or

 

(c)where these Articles expressly permit, by the Company by means of a website.

 

Electronic communications

 

29.2Without limitation to Articles 15.1 to 15.4 inclusive (relating to the appointment and removal by directors of alternate directors) and to Articles 17.8 to 17.10 inclusive (relating to the appointment by directors of proxies), a notice may only be given to the Company in an Electronic Record if:

 

(a)the directors so resolve;

 

(b)the resolution states how an Electronic Record may be given and, if applicable, specifies an email address for the Company; and

 

(c)the terms of that resolution are notified to the Members for the time being and, if applicable, to those directors who were absent from the meeting at which the resolution was passed.

 

47

 

 

If the resolution is revoked or varied, the revocation or variation shall only become effective when its terms have been similarly notified.

 

29.3A notice may not be given by Electronic Record to a person other than the Company unless the recipient has notified the giver of an Electronic address to which notice may be sent.

 

Persons authorised to give notices

 

29.4A notice by either the Company or a Member pursuant to these Articles may be given on behalf of the Company or a Member by a director or company secretary of the Company or a Member.

 

Delivery of written notices

 

29.5Save where these Articles provide otherwise, a notice in writing may be given personally to the recipient, or left at (as appropriate) the Member’s or director’s registered address or the Company’s registered office, or posted to that registered address or registered office.

 

Joint holders

 

29.6Where Members are joint holders of a Share, all notices shall be given to the Member whose name first appears in the register of members.

 

Signatures

 

29.7A written notice shall be signed when it is autographed by or on behalf of the giver, or is marked in such a way as to indicate its execution or adoption by the giver.

 

29.8An Electronic Record may be signed by an Electronic Signature.

 

Evidence of transmission

 

29.9A notice given by Electronic Record shall be deemed sent if an Electronic Record is kept demonstrating the time, date and content of the transmission, and if no notification of failure to transmit is received by the giver.

 

29.10A notice given in writing shall be deemed sent if the giver can provide proof that the envelope containing the notice was properly addressed, pre-paid and posted, or that the written notice was otherwise properly transmitted to the recipient.

 

Giving notice to a deceased or bankrupt Member

 

29.11A notice may be given by the Company to the persons entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Member by sending or delivering it, in any manner authorised by these Articles for the giving of notice to a Member, addressed to them by name, or by the title of representatives of the deceased, or trustee of the bankrupt or by any like description, at the address, if any, supplied for that purpose by the persons claiming to be so entitled.

 

48

 

 

29.12Until such an address has been supplied, a notice may be given in any manner in which it might have been given if the death or bankruptcy had not occurred.

 

Date of giving notices

 

29.13A notice is given on the date identified in the following table.

 

Method for giving notices

When taken to be given

Personally At the time and date of delivery
By leaving it at the member’s registered address At the time and date it was left
If the recipient has an address within the Islands, by posting it by prepaid post to the street or postal address of that recipient 48 hours after it was posted
If the recipient has an address outside the Islands, by posting it by prepaid airmail to the street or postal address of that recipient 7 Clear Days after posting
By Electronic Record (other than publication on a website), to recipient’s Electronic address Within 24 hours after it was sent
By publication on a website See the Articles about the time when notice of a meeting of Members or accounts and reports, as the case may be, are published on a website

 

49

 

 

Saving provision

 

29.14None of the preceding notice provisions shall derogate from the Articles about the delivery of written resolutions of directors and written resolutions of Members.

 

30Authentication of Electronic Records

 

Application of Articles

 

30.1Without limitation to any other provision of these Articles, any notice, written resolution or other document under these Articles that is sent by Electronic means by a Member, or by the Secretary, or by a director or other Officer of the Company, shall be deemed to be authentic if either Article 30.2 or Article 30.4 applies.

 

Authentication of documents sent by Members by Electronic means

 

30.2An Electronic Record of a notice, written resolution or other document sent by Electronic means by or on behalf of one or more Members shall be deemed to be authentic if the following conditions are satisfied:

 

(a)the Member or each Member, as the case may be, signed the original document, and for this purpose Original Document includes several documents in like form signed by one or more of those Members; and

 

(b)the Electronic Record of the Original Document was sent by Electronic means by, or at the direction of, that Member to an address specified in accordance with these Articles for the purpose for which it was sent; and

 

(c)Article 30.7 does not apply.

 

30.3For example, where a sole Member signs a resolution and sends the Electronic Record of the original resolution, or causes it to be sent, by facsimile transmission to the address in these Articles specified for that purpose, the facsimile copy shall be deemed to be the written resolution of that Member unless Article 30.7 applies.

 

Authentication of document sent by the Secretary or Officers of the Company by Electronic means

 

30.4An Electronic Record of a notice, written resolution or other document sent by or on behalf of the Secretary or an Officer or Officers of the Company shall be deemed to be authentic if the following conditions are satisfied:

 

(a)the Secretary or the Officer or each Officer, as the case may be, signed the original document, and for this purpose Original Document includes several documents in like form signed by the Secretary or one or more of those Officers; and

 

50

 

 

(b)the Electronic Record of the Original Document was sent by Electronic means by, or at the direction of, the Secretary or that Officer to an address specified in accordance with these Articles for the purpose for which it was sent; and

 

(c)Article 30.7 does not apply.

 

This Article applies whether the document is sent by or on behalf of the Secretary or Officer in his own right or as a representative of the Company.

 

30.5For example, where a sole director signs a resolution and scans the resolution, or causes it to be scanned, as a PDF version which is attached to an email sent to the address in these Articles specified for that purpose, the PDF version shall be deemed to be the written resolution of that director unless Article 30.7 applies.

 

Manner of signing

 

30.6For the purposes of these Articles about the authentication of Electronic Records, a document will be taken to be signed if it is signed manually or in any other manner permitted by these Articles.

 

Saving provision

 

30.7A notice, written resolution or other document under these Articles will not be deemed to be authentic if the recipient, acting reasonably:

 

(a)believes that the signature of the signatory has been altered after the signatory had signed the original document; or

 

(b)believes that the original document, or the Electronic Record of it, was altered, without the approval of the signatory, after the signatory signed the original document; or

 

(c)otherwise doubts the authenticity of the Electronic Record of the document

 

and the recipient promptly gives notice to the sender setting the grounds of its objection. If the recipient invokes this Article, the sender may seek to establish the authenticity of the Electronic Record in any way the sender thinks fit.

 

31Transfer by way of continuation

 

31.1The Company may, by Special Resolution, resolve to be registered by way of continuation in a jurisdiction outside:

 

51

 

 

(a)the Islands; or

 

(b)such other jurisdiction in which it is, for the time being, incorporated, registered or existing.

 

31.2To give effect to any resolution made pursuant to the preceding Article, the directors may cause the following:

 

(a)an application be made to the Registrar of Companies to deregister the Company in the Islands or in the other jurisdiction in which it is for the time being incorporated, registered or existing; and

 

(b)all such further steps as they consider appropriate to be taken to effect the transfer by way of continuation of the Company.

 

32Winding up

 

Distribution of assets in specie

 

32.1If the Company is wound up, the Members may, subject to these Articles and any other sanction required by the Act, pass a Special Resolution allowing the liquidator to do either or both of the following:

 

(a)to divide in specie among the Members the whole or any part of the assets of the Company and, for that purpose, to value any assets and to determine how the division shall be carried out as between the Members or different classes of Members;

 

(b)to vest the whole or any part of the assets in trustees for the benefit of Members and those liable to contribute to the winding up.

 

No obligation to accept liability

 

32.2No Member shall be compelled to accept any assets if an obligation attaches to them.

 

The directors are authorised to present a winding up petition

 

32.3The directors have the authority to present a petition for the winding up of the Company to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands on behalf of the Company without the sanction of a resolution passed at a general meeting.

 

33Amendment of Memorandum and Articles

 

Power to change name or amend Memorandum

 

33.1Subject to the Act, the Company may, by Special Resolution:

 

52

 

 

(a)change its name; or

 

(b)change the provisions of its Memorandum with respect to its objects, powers or any other matter specified in the Memorandum.

 

Power to amend these Articles

 

33.2Subject to the Act and as provided in these Articles, the Company may, by Special Resolution, amend these Articles in whole or in part.

 

53

 

 

Dated 15 April 2021

 

Name and address of Subscriber Number of shares taken Signature

Ogier Global Subscriber (Cayman) Limited

1  
    per:    
89 Nexus Way    
    Name:
Camana Bay    
    Authorised Signatory
Grand Cayman, KY1-9009    
     
Cayman Islands    
     
Witness to above signature

 

 

 

 

Name:

  

Ogier Global (Cayman) Limited

89 Nexus Way

Camana Bay

Grand Cayman, KY1-9009

Cayman Islands

 

Occupation: Administrator

 

 

54

EX-3.2 4 fs12021a1ex3-2_aquarius1.htm FORM OF AMENDED AND RESTATED MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

Exhibit 3.2

 

Companies Act (revised)

 

Company Limited by Shares

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

 

OF

 

AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.

 

Adopted by special resolution EFFECTIVE on [ ], 2021

 

 

 

 

 

Companies Act (revised)

 

Company Limited by ShareS

 

 

 

Amended and Restated

 

Memorandum of Association

 

of

 

AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.

 

Adopted by special resolution on [ ], 2021

 

1The name of the Company is Aquarius I Acquisition Corp.

 

2The Company’s registered office will be situated at the office of Ogier Global (Cayman) Limited, 89 Nexus Way, Camana Bay, Grand Cayman, KY1-9009,, Cayman Islands, or at such other place in the Cayman Islands as the directors may at any time decide.

 

3The Company’s objects are unrestricted. As provided by section 7(4) of the Companies Act (Revised), the Company has full power and authority to carry out any object not prohibited by any law of the Cayman Islands.

 

4The Company has unrestricted corporate capacity. Without limitation to the foregoing, as provided by section 27 (2) of the Companies Act (Revised), the Company has and is capable of exercising all the functions of a natural person of full capacity irrespective of any question of corporate benefit.

 

5Nothing in any of the preceding paragraphs permits the Company to carry on any of the following businesses without being duly licensed, namely:

 

(a)the business of a bank or trust company without being licensed in that behalf under the Banks and Trust Companies Act (Revised); or

 

(b)insurance business from within the Cayman Islands or the business of an insurance manager, agent, sub-agent or broker without being licensed in that behalf under the Insurance Act (as revised);or

 

(c)the business of company management without being licensed in that behalf under the Companies Management Act (Revised).

 

6The Company will not trade in the Cayman Islands with any person, firm or corporation except in furtherance of its business carried on outside the Cayman Islands. Despite this, the Company may effect and conclude contracts in the Cayman Islands and exercise in the Cayman Islands any of its powers necessary for the carrying on of its business outside the Cayman Islands.

 

 

 

 

7The Company is a company limited by shares and accordingly the liability of each member is limited to the amount (if any) unpaid on that member’s shares.

 

8The share capital of the Company is US$50,000 divided into 500,000,000 shares of par value US$0.0001 each. Subject to the Companies Act (Revised) and the Company’s articles of association, the Company has power to do any one or more of the following:

 

(a)to redeem or repurchase any of its shares; and

 

(b)to increase or reduce its capital; and

 

(c)to issue any part of its capital (whether original, redeemed, increased or reduced):

 

(i)with or without any preferential, deferred, qualified or special rights, privileges or conditions; or

 

(ii)subject to any limitations or restrictions

 

and unless the condition of issue expressly declares otherwise, every issue of shares (whether declared to be ordinary, preference or otherwise) is subject to this power; or

 

(d)to alter any of those rights, privileges, conditions, limitations or restrictions.

 

9The Company has power to register by way of continuation as a body corporate limited by shares under the laws of any jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands and to be deregistered in the Cayman Islands.

 

 

 

 

Companies Act (revised)

 

Company Limited by ShareS

 

 

 

Amended and Restated

 

articles of Association

 

of

 

AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.

 

Adopted by special resolution on [    ], 2021

 

 

 

 

CONTENTS  
     
1. Definitions, interpretation and exclusion of Table A 1
     
  Definitions 1
     
  Interpretation 4
     
  Exclusion of Table A Articles 5
     
2. Commencement of Business 5
     
3. Shares 6
     
  Power to issue Shares and options, with or without special rights 6
     
  Power to issue fractions of a Share 6
     
  Power to pay commissions and brokerage fees 6
     
  Trusts not recognised 7
     
  Power to vary class rights 7
     
  Effect of new Share issue on existing class rights 7
     
  No bearer Shares or warrants 8
     
  Treasury Shares 8
     
  Rights attaching to Treasury Shares and related matters 8
     
4. Register of Members 9
     
5. Share certificates 9
     
  Issue of share certificates 9
     
  Renewal of lost or damaged share certificates 9
     
6. Lien on Shares 10
     
  Nature and scope of lien 10
     
  Company may sell Shares to satisfy lien 10

 

i

 

 

  Authority to execute instrument of transfer 11
     
  Consequences of sale of Shares to satisfy lien 11
     
  Application of proceeds of sale 11
     
7. Calls on Shares and forfeiture 11
     
  Power to make calls and effect of calls 11
     
  Time when call made 11
     
  Liability of joint holders 11
     
  Interest on unpaid calls 12
     
  Deemed calls 12
     
  Power to accept early payment 12
     
  Power to make different arrangements at time of issue of Shares 12
     
  Notice of default 12
     
  Forfeiture or surrender of Shares 13
     
  Disposal of forfeited or surrendered Share and power to cancel forfeiture or surrender 13
     
  Effect of forfeiture or surrender on former Member 13
     
  Evidence of forfeiture or surrender 14
     
  Sale of forfeited or surrendered Shares 14
     
8. Transfer of Shares 14
     
  Form of transfer 14
     
  Power to refuse registration 14
     
  Power to suspend registration 14
     
  Company may retain instrument of transfer 14
     
9. Transmission of Shares 15
     
  Persons entitled on death of a Member 15

 

ii

 

 

  Registration of transfer of a Share following death or bankruptcy 15
     
  Indemnity 15
     
  Rights of person entitled to a Share following death or bankruptcy 15
     
10. Alteration of capital 16
     
  Increasing, consolidating, converting, dividing and cancelling share capital 16
     
  Dealing with fractions resulting from consolidation of Shares 16
     
  Reducing share capital 16
     
11. Redemption and purchase of own Shares 17
     
  Power to issue redeemable Shares and to purchase own Shares 17
     
  Power to pay for redemption or purchase in cash or in specie 17
     
  Effect of redemption or purchase of a Share 18
     
12. Class B Share Conversion
     
13. Meetings of Members 18
     
  Power to call meetings 18
     
  Content of notice 19
     
  Period of notice 20
     
  Persons entitled to receive notice 20
     
  Publication of notice on a website 20
     
  Time a website notice is deemed to be given 20
     
  Required duration of publication on a website 20
     
  Accidental omission to give notice or non-receipt of notice 21
     
14. Proceedings at meetings of Members 21
     
  Quorum 21
     
  Lack of quorum 21

 

iii

 

 

  Use of technology 21
     
  Chairman 22
     
  Right of a director to attend and speak 22
     
  Adjournment 22
     
  Method of voting 22
     
  Taking of a poll 23
     
  Chairman’s casting vote 23
     
  Amendments to resolutions 23
     
  Written resolutions 23
     
  Sole-member company 24
     
15. Voting rights of Members 24
     
  Right to vote 24
     
  Rights of joint holders 24
     
  Representation of corporate Members 25
     
  Member with mental disorder 25
     
  Objections to admissibility of votes 25
     
  Form of proxy 26
     
  How and when proxy is to be delivered 26
     
  Voting by proxy 27
     
16. Number of directors 27
     
17. Appointment, disqualification and removal of directors 27
     
  No age limit 27
     
  Corporate directors 27
     
  No shareholding qualification 27

 

iv

 

 

  Appointment and removal of directors 28
     
  Resignation of directors 29
     
  Termination of the office of director 29
     
18. Alternate directors 29
     
  Appointment and removal 29
     
  Notices 30
     
  Rights of alternate director 30
     
  Appointment ceases when the appointor ceases to be a director 31
     
  Status of alternate director 31
     
  Status of the director making the appointment 31
     
19. Powers of directors 31
     
  Powers of directors 31
     
  Appointments to office 31
     
  Remuneration 32
     
  Disclosure of information 33
     
20. Delegation of powers 33
     
  Power to delegate any of the directors’ powers to a committee 33
     
  Power to appoint an agent of the Company 34
     
  Power to appoint an attorney or authorised signatory of the Company 34
     
  Power to appoint a proxy 34
     
21. Meetings of directors 34
     
  Regulation of directors’ meetings 34
     
  Calling meetings 34
     
  Notice of meetings 35

 

v

 

 

  Period of notice 35
     
  Use of technology 35
     
  Place of meetings 35
     
  Quorum 35
     
  Voting 35
     
  Validity 35
     
  Recording of dissent 35
     
  Written resolutions 36
     
  Sole director’s minute 36
     
22. Permissible directors’ interests and disclosure 36
     
  Permissible interests subject to disclosure 36
     
  Notification of interests 37
     
  Voting where a director is interested in a matter 37
     
23. Minutes 37
     
24. Accounts and audit 37
     
  No automatic right of inspection 37
     
  Sending of accounts and reports 38
     
  Validity despite accidental error in publication on website 38
     
  Audit 39
     
25. Financial year 39
     
26. Record dates 40
     
27. Dividends 40
     
  Declaration of dividends by Members 40
     
  Payment of interim dividends and declaration of final dividends by directors 40

 

vi

 

 

  Apportionment of dividends 41
     
  Right of set off 41
     
  Power to pay other than in cash 41
     
  How payments may be made 41
     
  Dividends or other moneys not to bear interest in absence of special rights 42
     
  Dividends unable to be paid or unclaimed 42
     
28. Capitalisation of profits 42
     
  Capitalisation of profits or of any share premium account or capital redemption reserve 42
     
  Applying an amount for the benefit of members 43
     
29. Share premium account 43
     
  directors to maintain share premium account 43
     
  Debits to share premium account 43
     
30. Seal 43
     
  Company seal 43
     
  Duplicate seal 43
     
  When and how seal is to be used 44
     
  If no seal is adopted or used 44
     
  Power to allow non-manual signatures and facsimile printing of seal 44
     
  Validity of execution 44
     
31. Indemnity 44
     
  Indemnity 44
     
  Release 45
     
  Insurance 45

 

vii

 

 

32. Notices 46
     
  Form of notices 46
     
  Electronic communications 46
     
  Persons authorised to give notices 46
     
  Delivery of written notices 46
     
  Joint holders 47
     
  Signatures 47
     
  Evidence of transmission 47
     
  Giving notice to a deceased or bankrupt Member 47
     
  Date of giving notices 47
     
  Saving provision 48
     
33. Authentication of Electronic Records 48
     
  Application of Articles 48
     
  Authentication of documents sent by Members by Electronic means 48
     
  Authentication of document sent by the Secretary or Officers of the Company by Electronic means 49
     
  Manner of signing 49
     
  Saving provision 49
     
34. Transfer by way of continuation 50
     
35. Winding up 50
     
  Distribution of assets in specie 50
     
  No obligation to accept liability 50
     
  The directors are authorised to present a winding up petition 50
     
36. Amendment of Memorandum and Articles 50
     
  Power to change name or amend Memorandum 50
     
  Power to amend these Articles 51
     
37. Mergers and Consolidations 51
     
38. Business Combination 51
     
39. Certain Tax Filings 55
     
40. Business Opportunities 55

 

viii

 

 

Companies Act (revised)

 

Company Limited by ShareS

 

Amended and Restated

 

Memorandum of Association

 

of

 

AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.

 

Adopted by special resolution on [ ], 2021

 

1.Definitions, interpretation and exclusion of Table A

 

Definitions

 

1.1In these Articles, the following definitions apply:

 

Act means the Companies Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands.

 

Affiliate in respect of a person, means any other person that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such person, and (a) in the case of a natural person, shall include, without limitation, such person’s spouse, parents, children, siblings, mother-in-law and father-in-law and brothers and sisters-in-law, whether by blood, marriage or adoption or anyone residing in such person’s home, a trust for the benefit of any of the foregoing, a company, partnership or any natural person or entity wholly or jointly owned by any of the foregoing and (b) in the case of an entity, shall include a partnership, a corporation or any natural person or entity which directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such entity.

 

Applicable Law means, with respect to any person, all provisions of laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, permits, certificates, judgments, decisions, decrees or orders of any governmental authority applicable to such person.

 

Articles means, as appropriate:

 

(a)these Amended and Restated Articles of Association as amended, restated, supplemented and/or otherwise modified from time to time: or

 

(b)two or more particular Articles of these Articles;

 

and Article refers to a particular Article of these Articles.

 

1

 

 

Audit Committee means the audit committee of the board of directors of the Company established pursuant to Article 23.8 hereof, or any successor audit committee.

 

Auditor means the person for the time being performing the duties of auditor of the Company.

 

Business Combination means a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganisation or similar business combination involving the Company, with one or more businesses or entities (each a target business), which Business Combination: (a) must be with one or more operating businesses or assets with a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the net assets held in the trust account (net of amounts disbursed to management for working capital purposes, if permitted, and excluding the amount of any deferred underwriting discount and taxes payable on the interest earned on the trust account); and (b) must not be effectuated solely with another blank cheque company or a similar company with nominal operations.

 

Business Day means a day other than a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorised or obligated by law to close in New York City, a Saturday or a Sunday.

 

Clear Days, in relation to a period of notice, means that period excluding:

 

(a)the day when the notice is given or deemed to be given; and

 

(b)the day for which it is given or on which it is to take effect.

 

Clearing House means a clearing house recognised by the laws of the jurisdiction in which the Shares (or depositary receipts therefor) are listed or quoted on a stock exchange or interdealer quotation system in such jurisdiction.

 

Company means the above-named company.

 

Compensation Committee means the compensation committee of the board of directors of the Company established pursuant to the Articles, or any successor committee.

 

Default Rate means 10% (ten per cent) per annum.

 

Designated Stock Exchange means any United States national securities exchange, including the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, the NYSE American LLC or The New York Stock Exchange LLC or any OTC market on which the Shares are listed for trading.

 

Electronic has the meaning given to that term in the Electronic Transactions Act (as revised).

 

Electronic Record has the meaning given to that term in the Electronic Transactions Act (as revised).

 

Electronic Signature has the meaning given to that term in the Electronic Transactions Act (as revised).

 

Exchange Act means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Founders means all Members immediately prior to the consummation of the IPO.

 

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Fully Paid and Paid Up:

 

(a)in relation to a Share with par value, means that the par value for that Share and any premium payable in respect of the issue of that Share, has been fully paid or credited as paid in money or money’s worth;

 

(b)in relation to a Share without par value, means that the agreed issue price for that Share has been fully paid or credited as paid in money or money’s worth.

 

Independent Director means a director who is an independent director as defined in the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange as determined by the directors.

 

Investor Group means the Sponsor and its Affiliates, successors and assigns.

 

IPO means the Company’s initial public offering of securities.

 

IPO Redemption has the meaning given to it in Article 37.6.

 

Islands means the British Overseas Territory of the Cayman Islands.

 

Member means any person or persons entered on the Register of Members from time to time as the holder of a Share.

 

Memorandum means the Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association of the Company as amended, restated, supplemented and/or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Nominating Committee means the nominating committee of the board of directors of the Company established pursuant to the Articles, or any successor committee.

 

Officer means a person then appointed to hold an office in the Company; and the expression includes a director, alternate director or liquidator.

 

Ordinary Resolution means a resolution of a duly constituted general meeting of the Company passed by a simple majority of the votes cast by, or on behalf of, the Members entitled to vote thereon. The expression also includes a unanimous written resolution.

 

Over-Allotment Option means the option of the Underwriters to purchase up to an additional 15% of the firm units (as described at Article 3.4) issued in the IPO at a price equal to US$10.00 per unit, less underwriting discount and commissions.

 

Public Share means a Share issued as part of the units (as described in Article 3.4) issued in the IPO.

 

Redemption Price has the meaning given to it in Article 37.6.

 

Registration Statement Effective Date means the date the registration statement (as it may be amended or supplemented) on Form S-1 filed with the SEC under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in connection with the IPO is declared effective by the SEC.

 

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Register of Members means the register of Members maintained in accordance with the Act and includes (except where otherwise stated) any branch or duplicate register of Members.

 

Representative means a representative of the Underwriters.

 

SEC means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Secretary means a person appointed to perform the duties of the secretary of the Company, including a joint, assistant or deputy secretary.

 

Share means a share in the share capital of the Company; and the expression:

 

(a)includes stock (except where a distinction between shares and stock is expressed or implied); and

 

(b)where the context permits, also includes a fraction of a share.

 

Special Resolution has the meaning given to that term in the Act; and the expression includes a unanimous written resolution.

 

Sponsor means Aquarius Sponsor Ltd., a company incorporated under the laws of the British Virgin Islands.

 

Tax Filing Authorised Person means such person as any director shall designate from time to time, acting severally.

 

Treasury Shares means Shares of the Company held in treasury pursuant to the Act and Article 3.14.

 

Trust Account means the trust account established by the Company upon the consummation of its IPO and into which a certain amount of the net proceeds of the IPO, together with a certain amount of the proceeds of a private placement of warrants simultaneously with the closing date of the IPO, will be deposited.

 

Underwriter means an underwriter of the IPO from time to time, and any successor underwriter.

 

Interpretation

 

1.2In the interpretation of these Articles, the following provisions apply unless the context otherwise requires:

 

(a)A reference in these Articles to a statute is a reference to a statute of the Islands as known by its short title, and includes:

 

(i)any statutory modification, amendment or re-enactment; and

 

(ii)any subordinate legislation or regulations issued under that statute.

 

Without limitation to the preceding sentence, a reference to a revised Act of the Cayman Islands is taken to be a reference to the revision of that Act in force from time to time as amended from time to time.

 

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(b)Headings are inserted for convenience only and do not affect the interpretation of these Articles, unless there is ambiguity.

 

(c)If a day on which any act, matter or thing is to be done under these Articles is not a Business Day, the act, matter or thing must be done on the next Business Day.

 

(d)A word which denotes the singular also denotes the plural, a word which denotes the plural also denotes the singular, and a reference to any gender also denotes the other genders.

 

(e)A reference to a person includes, as appropriate, a company, trust, partnership, joint venture, association, body corporate or government agency.

 

(f)Where a word or phrase is given a defined meaning another part of speech or grammatical form in respect to that word or phrase has a corresponding meaning.

 

(g)All references to time are to be calculated by reference to time in the place where the Company’s registered office is located.

 

(h)The words written and in writing include all modes of representing or reproducing words in a visible form, but do not include an Electronic Record where the distinction between a document in writing and an Electronic Record is expressed or implied.

 

(i)The words including, include and in particular or any similar expression are to be construed without limitation.

 

(j)Any requirements as to execution or signature under the Articles including the execution of the Articles themselves can be satisfied in the form of an Electronic Signature.

 

(k)Sections 8 and 19(3) of the Electronic Transactions Act shall not apply.

 

(l)The term “holder” in relation to a Share means a person whose name is entered in the Register of Members as the holder of such Share.

 

Exclusion of Table A Articles

 

1.3The regulations contained in Table A in the First Schedule of the Act and any other regulations contained in any statute or subordinate legislation are expressly excluded and do not apply to the Company.

 

2.Commencement of Business

 

2.1The business of the Company may be commenced as soon after incorporation of the Company as the directors see fit.

 

2.2The directors may pay, out of the capital or any other monies of the Company, all expenses incurred in or about the formation and establishment of the Company, including the expenses of registration.

 

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3.Shares

 

Power to issue Shares and options, with or without special rights

 

3.1Subject to the provisions, if any, in the Act, the Memorandum (and to any direction that may be given by the Company in general meeting), these Articles and, where applicable, the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the SEC and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, and without prejudice to any rights attached to any existing Shares, the directors have general and unconditional authority to allot (with or without confirming rights of renunciation), issue, grant options over or otherwise deal with any unissued Shares of the Company to such persons, at such times and on such terms and conditions as they may decide. No Share may be issued at a discount except in accordance with the provisions of the Act.

 

3.2Without limitation to the preceding Article, the directors may so deal with the unissued Shares of the Company:

 

(a)either at a premium or at par;

 

(b)with or without preferred, deferred or other special rights or restrictions whether in regard to dividend, voting, return of capital or otherwise.

 

3.3The Company may issue rights, options, warrants or convertible securities or securities of similar nature conferring the right upon the holders thereof to subscribe for, purchase or receive any class of Shares or other securities in the Company at such times and on such terms and conditions as the directors may decide.

 

3.4The Company may issue units of securities in the Company, which may be comprised of Shares, rights, options, warrants or convertible securities or securities of similar nature conferring the right upon the holders thereof to subscribe for, purchase or receive any class of Shares or other securities in the Company, on such terms and conditions as the directors may decide. The securities comprising any such units which are issued pursuant to the IPO can only be traded separately from one another on the 52nd Business Day following the date of the prospectus relating to the IPO unless the Representative(s) determines that an earlier date is acceptable, subject to the Company having filed a current report on Form 8-K containing an audited balance sheet reflecting the Company’s receipt of the gross proceeds of the IPO with the SEC and a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. Prior to such date, the units can be traded, but the securities comprising such units cannot be traded separately from one another.

 

Power to issue fractions of a Share

 

3.5Subject to the Act, the Company may issue fractions of a Share of any class. A fraction of a Share shall be subject to and carry the corresponding fraction of liabilities (whether with respect to calls or otherwise), limitations, preferences, privileges, qualifications, restrictions, rights and other attributes of a Share of that class of Shares.

 

Power to pay commissions and brokerage fees

 

3.6The Company may, in so far as the Act permits, pay a commission to any person in consideration of that person:

 

(a)subscribing or agreeing to subscribe, whether absolutely or conditionally; or

 

(b)procuring or agreeing to procure subscriptions, whether absolute or conditional

 

for any Shares in the Company. That commission may be satisfied by the payment of cash or the allotment of Fully Paid or partly-paid Shares or partly in one way and partly in another.

 

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3.7The Company may employ a broker in the issue of its capital and pay him any proper commission or brokerage.

 

Trusts not recognised

 

3.8Except as required by Applicable Law:

 

(a)the Company shall not be bound by or compelled to recognise in any way (even when notified) any equitable, contingent, future or partial interest in any Share, or (except only as is otherwise provided by these Articles or the Act) any other rights in respect of any Share other than an absolute right to the entirety thereof in the holder; and

 

(b)no person other than the Member shall be recognised by the Company as having any right in a Share.

 

Power to vary class rights

 

3.9If the share capital is divided into different classes of Shares then, unless the terms on which a class of Shares was issued state otherwise, the rights attaching to a class of Shares may only be varied if one of the following applies:

 

(a)the Members holding two thirds of the issued Shares of that class consent in writing to the variation; or

 

(b)the variation is made with the sanction of a Special Resolution passed at a separate general meeting of the Members holding the issued Shares of that class.

 

3.10For the purpose of paragraph (b) of the preceding Article, all the provisions of these Articles relating to general meetings apply, mutatis mutandis, to every such separate meeting except that:

 

(a)the necessary quorum shall be one or more persons holding, or representing by proxy, not less than one third of the issued Shares of the class; and

 

(b)any Member holding issued Shares of the class, present in person or by proxy or, in the case of a corporate Member, by its duly authorised representative, may demand a poll.

 

Effect of new Share issue on existing class rights

 

3.11Unless the terms on which a class of Shares was issued state otherwise, the rights conferred on the Member holding Shares of any class shall not be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of further Shares ranking pari passu with the existing Shares of that class.

 

Capital contributions without issue of further Shares

 

3.12With the consent of a Member, the directors may accept a voluntary contribution to the capital of the Company from that Member without issuing Shares in consideration for that contribution. In that event, the contribution shall be dealt with in the following manner:

 

(a)It shall be treated as if it were a share premium.

 

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(b)Unless the Member agrees otherwise:

 

(i)if the Member holds Shares in a single class of Shares, it shall be credited to the share premium account for that class of Shares;

 

(ii)if the Member holds Shares of more than one class, it shall be credited rateably to the share premium accounts for those classes of Shares (in the proportion that the sum of the issue prices for each class of Shares that the Member holds bears to the total issue prices for all classes of Shares that the Member holds).

 

(c)It shall be subject to the provisions of the Act and these Articles applicable to share premiums.

 

No bearer Shares or warrants

 

3.13The Company shall not issue Shares or warrants to bearers.

 

Treasury Shares

 

3.14Shares that the Company purchases, redeems or acquires by way of surrender in accordance with the Act shall be held as Treasury Shares and not treated as cancelled if:

 

(a)the directors so determine prior to the purchase, redemption or surrender of those shares; and

 

(b)the relevant provisions of the Memorandum and Articles and the Act are otherwise complied with.

 

Rights attaching to Treasury Shares and related matters

 

3.15No dividend may be declared or paid, and no other distribution (whether in cash or otherwise) of the Company’s assets (including any distribution of assets to members on a winding up) may be made to the Company in respect of a Treasury Share.

 

3.16The Company shall be entered in the Register as the holder of the Treasury Shares. However:

 

(a)the Company shall not be treated as a member for any purpose and shall not exercise any right in respect of the Treasury Shares, and any purported exercise of such a right shall be void;

 

(b)a Treasury Share shall not be voted, directly or indirectly, at any meeting of the Company and shall not be counted in determining the total number of issued shares at any given time, whether for the purposes of these Articles or the Act.

 

3.17Nothing in the preceding Article prevents an allotment of Shares as fully paid bonus shares in respect of a Treasury Share and Shares allotted as fully paid bonus shares in respect of a Treasury Share shall be treated as Treasury Shares.

 

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3.18Treasury Shares may be disposed of by the Company in accordance with the Act and otherwise on such terms and conditions as the directors determine.

 

4.Register of Members

 

4.1The Company shall maintain or cause to be maintained the Register of Members in accordance with the Act.

 

4.2The directors may determine that the Company shall maintain one or more branch registers of Members in accordance with the Act. The directors may also determine which Register of Members shall constitute the principal register and which shall constitute the branch register or registers, and to vary such determination from time to time.

 

5.Share certificates

 

Issue of share certificates

 

5.1Upon being entered in the Register of Members as the holder of a Share, a Member shall be entitled:

 

(a)without payment, to one certificate for all the Shares of each class held by that Member (and, upon transferring a part of the Member’s holding of Shares of any class, to a certificate for the balance of that holding); and

 

(b)upon payment of such reasonable sum as the directors may determine for every certificate after the first, to several certificates each for one or more of that Member’s Shares.

 

5.2Every certificate shall specify the number, class and distinguishing numbers (if any) of the Shares to which it relates and whether they are Fully Paid or partly paid up. A certificate may be executed under seal or executed in such other manner as the directors determine.

 

5.3The Company shall not be bound to issue more than one certificate for Shares held jointly by several persons and delivery of a certificate for a Share to one joint holder shall be a sufficient delivery to all of them.

 

Renewal of lost or damaged share certificates

 

5.4If a share certificate is defaced, worn-out, lost or destroyed, it may be renewed on such terms (if any) as to:

 

(a)evidence;

 

(b)indemnity;

 

(c)payment of the expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in investigating the evidence; and

 

(d)payment of a reasonable fee, if any, for issuing a replacement share certificate

 

as the directors may determine, and (in the case of defacement or wearing-out) on delivery to the Company of the old certificate.

 

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6.Lien on Shares

 

Nature and scope of lien

 

6.1The Company has a first and paramount lien on all Shares (whether Fully Paid or not) registered in the name of a Member (whether solely or jointly with others). The lien is for all moneys payable to the Company by the Member or the Member’s estate:

 

(a)either alone or jointly with any other person, whether or not that other person is a Member; and

 

(b)whether or not those moneys are presently payable.

 

6.2At any time the directors may declare any Share to be wholly or partly exempt from the provisions of this Article.

 

Company may sell Shares to satisfy lien

 

6.3The Company may sell any Shares over which it has a lien if all of the following conditions are met:

 

(a)the sum in respect of which the lien exists is presently payable;

 

(b)the Company gives notice to the Member holding the Share (or to the person entitled to it in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of that Member) demanding payment and stating that if the notice is not complied with the Shares may be sold; and

 

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(c)that sum is not paid within 14 Clear Days after that notice is deemed to be given under these Articles.

 

6.4The Shares may be sold in such manner as the directors determine.

 

6.5To the maximum extent permitted by Applicable Law, the directors shall incur no personal liability to the Member concerned in respect of the sale.

 

Authority to execute instrument of transfer

 

6.6To give effect to a sale, the directors may authorise any person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Shares sold to, or in accordance with the directions of, the purchaser. The title of the transferee of the Shares shall not be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings in respect of the sale.

 

Consequences of sale of Shares to satisfy lien

 

6.7On sale pursuant to the preceding Articles:

 

(a)the name of the Member concerned shall be removed from the Register of Members as the holder of those Shares; and

 

(b)that person shall deliver to the Company for cancellation the certificate for those Shares.

 

Despite this, that person shall remain liable to the Company for all monies which, at the date of sale, were presently payable by him to the Company in respect of those Shares. That person shall also be liable to pay interest on those monies from the date of sale until payment at the rate at which interest was payable before that sale or, failing that, at the Default Rate. The directors may waive payment wholly or in part or enforce payment without any allowance for the value of the Shares at the time of sale or for any consideration received on their disposal.

 

Application of proceeds of sale

 

6.8The net proceeds of the sale, after payment of the costs, shall be applied in payment of so much of the sum for which the lien exists as is presently payable. Any residue shall be paid to the person whose Shares have been sold:

 

(a)if no certificate for the Shares was issued, at the date of the sale; or

 

(b)if a certificate for the Shares was issued, upon surrender to the Company of that certificate for cancellation

 

but, in either case, subject to the Company retaining a like lien for all sums not presently payable as existed on the Shares before the sale.

 

7.Calls on Shares and forfeiture

 

Power to make calls and effect of calls

 

7.1Subject to the terms of allotment, the directors may make calls on the Members in respect of any moneys unpaid on their Shares including any premium. The call may provide for payment to be by instalments. Subject to receiving at least 14 Clear Days’ notice specifying when and where payment is to be made, each Member shall pay to the Company the amount called on his Shares as required by the notice.

 

7.2Before receipt by the Company of any sum due under a call, that call may be revoked in whole or in part and payment of a call may be postponed in whole or in part. Where a call is to be paid in instalments, the Company may revoke the call in respect of all or any remaining instalments in whole or in part and may postpone payment of all or any of the remaining instalments in whole or in part.

 

7.3A Member on whom a call is made shall remain liable for that call notwithstanding the subsequent transfer of the Shares in respect of which the call was made. A person shall not be liable for calls made after such person is no longer registered as Member in respect of those Shares.

 

Time when call made

 

7.4A call shall be deemed to have been made at the time when the resolution of the directors authorising the call was passed.

 

Liability of joint holders

 

7.5Members registered as the joint holders of a Share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls in respect of the Share.

 

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Interest on unpaid calls

 

7.6If a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable the person from whom it is due and payable shall pay interest on the amount unpaid from the day it became due and payable until it is paid:

 

(a)at the rate fixed by the terms of allotment of the Share or in the notice of the call; or

 

(b)if no rate is fixed, at the Default Rate.

 

The directors may waive payment of the interest wholly or in part.

 

Deemed calls

 

7.7Any amount payable in respect of a Share, whether on allotment or on a fixed date or otherwise, shall be deemed to be payable as a call. If the amount is not paid when due the provisions of these Articles shall apply as if the amount had become due and payable by virtue of a call.

 

Power to accept early payment

 

7.8The Company may accept from a Member the whole or a part of the amount remaining unpaid on Shares held by him although no part of that amount has been called up.

 

Power to make different arrangements at time of issue of Shares

 

7.9Subject to the terms of allotment, the directors may make arrangements on the issue of Shares to distinguish between Members in the amounts and times of payment of calls on their Shares.

 

Notice of default

 

7.10If a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable the directors may give to the person from whom it is due not less than 14 Clear Days’ notice requiring payment of:

 

(a)the amount unpaid;

 

(b)any interest which may have accrued;

 

(c)any expenses which have been incurred by the Company due to that person’s default.

 

7.11The notice shall state the following:

 

(a)the place where payment is to be made; and

 

(b)a warning that if the notice is not complied with the Shares in respect of which the call is made will be liable to be forfeited.

 

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Forfeiture or surrender of Shares

 

7.12If the notice under the preceding Article is not complied with, the directors may, before the payment required by the notice has been received, resolve that any Share the subject of that notice be forfeited. The forfeiture shall include all dividends or other moneys payable in respect of the forfeited Share and not paid before the forfeiture. Despite the foregoing, the directors may determine that any Share the subject of that notice be accepted by the Company as surrendered by the Member holding that Share in lieu of forfeiture.

 

7.13The directors may accept the surrender for no consideration of any Fully Paid Share.

 

Disposal of forfeited or surrendered Share and power to cancel forfeiture or surrender

 

7.14A forfeited or surrendered Share may be sold, re-allotted or otherwise disposed of on such terms and in such manner as the directors determine either to the former Member who held that Share or to any other person. The forfeiture or surrender may be cancelled on such terms as the directors think fit at any time before a sale, re-allotment or other disposition. Where, for the purposes of its disposal, a forfeited or surrendered Share is to be transferred to any person, the directors may authorise some person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Share to the transferee.

 

Effect of forfeiture or surrender on former Member

 

7.15On forfeiture or surrender:

 

(a)the name of the Member concerned shall be removed from the Register of Members as the holder of those Shares and that person shall cease to be a Member in respect of those Shares; and

 

(b)that person shall surrender to the Company for cancellation the certificate (if any) for the forfeited or surrendered Shares.

 

7.16Despite the forfeiture or surrender of his Shares, that person shall remain liable to the Company for all moneys which at the date of forfeiture or surrender were presently payable by him to the Company in respect of those Shares together with:

 

(a)all expenses; and

 

(b)interest from the date of forfeiture or surrender until payment:

 

(i)at the rate of which interest was payable on those moneys before forfeiture; or

 

(ii)if no interest was so payable, at the Default Rate.

 

The directors, however, may waive payment wholly or in part.

 

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Evidence of forfeiture or surrender

 

7.17A declaration, whether statutory or under oath, made by a director or the Secretary shall be conclusive evidence of the following matters stated in it as against all persons claiming to be entitled to forfeited Shares:

 

(a)that the person making the declaration is a director or Secretary of the Company, and

 

(b)that the particular Shares have been forfeited or surrendered on a particular date.

 

Subject to the execution of an instrument of transfer, if necessary, the declaration shall constitute good title to the Shares.

 

Sale of forfeited or surrendered Shares

 

7.18Any person to whom the forfeited or surrendered Shares are disposed of shall not be bound to see to the application of the consideration, if any, of those Shares nor shall his title to the Shares be affected by any irregularity in, or invalidity of the proceedings in respect of, the forfeiture, surrender or disposal of those Shares.

 

8.Transfer of Shares

 

Form of transfer

 

8.1Subject to the following Articles about the transfer of Shares, and provided that such transfer complies with the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the SEC and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, a Member may transfer Shares to another person by completing an instrument of transfer in a common form or in a form prescribed by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the SEC and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law or in any other form approved by the directors, executed:

 

(a)where the Shares are Fully Paid, by or on behalf of that Member; and

 

(b)where the Shares are partly paid, by or on behalf of that Member and the transferee.

 

8.2The transferor shall be deemed to remain the holder of a Share until the name of the transferee is entered into the Register of Members.

 

Power to refuse registration

 

8.3If the Shares in question were issued in conjunction with rights, options or warrants issued pursuant to Article 3.4 on terms that one cannot be transferred without the other, the directors shall refuse to register the transfer of any such Share without evidence satisfactory to them of the like transfer of such option or warrant.

 

Power to suspend registration

 

8.4The directors may suspend registration of the transfer of Shares at such times and for such periods, not exceeding 30 days in any calendar year, as they determine.

 

Company may retain instrument of transfer

 

8.5The Company shall be entitled to retain any instrument of transfer which is registered; but an instrument of transfer which the directors refuse to register shall be returned to the person lodging it when notice of the refusal is given.

 

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9.Transmission of Shares

 

Persons entitled on death of a Member

 

9.1If a Member dies, the only persons recognised by the Company as having any title to the deceased Members’ interest are the following:

 

(a)where the deceased Member was a joint holder, the survivor or survivors; and

 

(b)where the deceased Member was a sole holder, that Member’s personal representative or representatives.

 

9.2Nothing in these Articles shall release the deceased Member’s estate from any liability in respect of any Share, whether the deceased was a sole holder or a joint holder.

 

Registration of transfer of a Share following death or bankruptcy

 

9.3A person becoming entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Member may elect to do either of the following:

 

(a)to become the holder of the Share; or

 

(b)to transfer the Share to another person.

 

9.4That person must produce such evidence of his entitlement as the directors may properly require.

 

9.5If the person elects to become the holder of the Share, he must give notice to the Company to that effect. For the purposes of these Articles, that notice shall be treated as though it were an executed instrument of transfer.

 

9.6If the person elects to transfer the Share to another person then:

 

(a)if the Share is Fully Paid, the transferor must execute an instrument of transfer; and

 

(b)if the Share is partly paid, the transferor and the transferee must execute an instrument of transfer.

 

9.7All these Articles relating to the transfer of Shares shall apply to the notice or, as appropriate, the instrument of transfer.

 

Indemnity

 

9.8A person registered as a Member by reason of the death or bankruptcy of another Member shall indemnify the Company and the directors against any loss or damage suffered by the Company or the directors as a result of that registration.

 

Rights of person entitled to a Share following death or bankruptcy

 

9.9A person becoming entitled to a Share by reason of the death or bankruptcy of a Member shall have the rights to which he would be entitled if he were registered as the holder of the Share. However, until he is registered as Member in respect of the Share, he shall not be entitled to attend or vote at any meeting of the Company or at any separate meeting of the holders of that class of Shares in the Company.

 

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10.Alteration of capital

 

Increasing, consolidating, converting, dividing and cancelling share capital

 

10.1To the fullest extent permitted by the Act, the Company may by Ordinary Resolution do any of the following and amend its Memorandum for that purpose:

 

(a)increase its share capital by new Shares of the amount fixed by that Ordinary Resolution and with the attached rights, priorities and privileges set out in that Ordinary Resolution;

 

(b)consolidate and divide all or any of its share capital into Shares of larger amount than its existing Shares;

 

(c)convert all or any of its Paid Up Shares into stock, and reconvert that stock into Paid Up Shares of any denomination;

 

(d)sub-divide its Shares or any of them into Shares of an amount smaller than that fixed by the Memorandum, so, however, that in the sub-division, the proportion between the amount paid and the amount, if any, unpaid on each reduced Share shall be the same as it was in case of the Share from which the reduced Share is derived; and

 

(e)cancel Shares which, at the date of the passing of that Ordinary Resolution, have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person, and diminish the amount of its share capital by the amount of the Shares so cancelled or, in the case of Shares without nominal par value, diminish the number of Shares into which its capital is divided.

 

Dealing with fractions resulting from consolidation of Shares

 

10.2Whenever, as a result of a consolidation of Shares, any Members would become entitled to fractions of a Share the directors may on behalf of those Members:

 

(a)sell the Shares representing the fractions for the best price reasonably obtainable to any person (including, subject to the provisions of the Act, the Company); and

 

(b)distribute the net proceeds in due proportion among those Members.

 

For that purpose, the directors may authorise some person to execute an instrument of transfer of the Shares to, or in accordance with the directions of, the purchaser. The transferee shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money nor shall the transferee’s title to the Shares be affected by any irregularity in, or invalidity of, the proceedings in respect of the sale.

 

Reducing share capital

 

10.3Subject to the Act and to any rights for the time being conferred on the Members holding a particular class of Shares, the Company may, by Special Resolution, reduce its share capital in any way.

 

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11.Redemption and purchase of own Shares

 

Power to issue redeemable Shares and to purchase own Shares

 

11.1Subject to the Act and Article 37, and to any rights for the time being conferred on the Members holding a particular class of Shares, and, where applicable, the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the SEC and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, the Company may by its directors:

 

(a)issue Shares that are to be redeemed or liable to be redeemed, at the option of the Company or the Member holding those redeemable Shares, on the terms and in the manner its directors determine before the issue of those Shares;

 

(b)with the consent by Special Resolution of the Members holding Shares of a particular class, vary the rights attaching to that class of Shares so as to provide that those Shares are to be redeemed or are liable to be redeemed at the option of the Company on the terms and in the manner which the directors determine at the time of such variation; and

 

(c)purchase all or any of its own Shares of any class including any redeemable Shares on the terms and in the manner which the directors determine at the time of such purchase.

 

The Company may make a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of its own Shares in any manner authorised by the Act, including out of any combination of the following: capital, its profits and the proceeds of a fresh issue of Shares.

 

11.2With respect to redeeming, repurchasing or surrendering of Shares:

 

(a)Members who hold Public Shares are entitled to request the redemption of such Shares in the circumstances described in Article 37.3;

 

(b)Shares held by the Sponsor shall be surrendered by the Sponsor for no consideration to the extent that the Over-Allotment Option is not exercised in full so that such shares will represent 20% of the Company’s issued Shares after the IPO (exclusive of any securities purchased in a private placement simultaneously with the IPO); and

 

(c)Public Shares shall be repurchased by way of Tender Offer in the circumstances set out in Article 37.2(b).

 

Power to pay for redemption or purchase in cash or in specie

 

11.3When making a payment in respect of the redemption or purchase of Shares, the directors may make the payment in cash or in specie (or partly in one and partly in the other) if so authorised by the terms of the allotment of those Shares, or by the terms applying to those Shares in accordance with Article 11.1, or otherwise by agreement with the Member holding those Shares.

 

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Effect of redemption or purchase of a Share

 

11.4Upon the date of redemption or purchase of a Share:

 

(a)the Member holding that Share shall cease to be entitled to any rights in respect of the Share other than the right to receive:

 

(i)the price for the Share; and

 

(ii)any dividend declared in respect of the Share prior to the date of redemption or purchase;

 

(b)the Member’s name shall be removed from the Register of Members with respect to the Share; and

 

(c)the Share shall be cancelled or held as a Treasury Shares, as the directors may determine.

 

For the purpose of this Article, the date of redemption or purchase is the date when the redemption or purchase falls due.

 

11.5For the avoidance of doubt, redemptions and repurchases of Shares in the circumstances described in Articles 11.2(a), 11.2(b) and 11.2(c) above shall not require further approval of the Members.

 

12.Meetings of Members

 

Power to call meetings

 

12.1To the extent required by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the SEC and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, an annual general meeting of the Company shall be held no later than one year after the first financial year end occurring after the IPO, and shall be held in each year thereafter at such time as determined by the directors and the Company may, but shall not (unless required by the Act or the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the SEC and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law) be obliged to, in each year hold any other general meeting.

 

12.2The agenda of the annual general meeting shall be set by the directors and shall include the presentation of the Company’s annual accounts and the report of the directors (if any).

 

12.3Annual general meetings shall be held in New York, USA or in such other places as the directors may determine.

 

12.4All general meetings other than annual general meetings shall be called extraordinary general meetings and the Company shall specify the meeting as such in the notices calling it.

 

12.5The directors may call a general meeting at any time.

 

12.6If there are insufficient directors to constitute a quorum and the remaining directors are unable to agree on the appointment of additional directors, the directors must call a general meeting for the purpose of appointing additional directors.

 

12.7The directors must also call a general meeting if requisitioned in the manner set out in the next two Articles.

 

12.8The requisition must be in writing and given by one or more Members who together hold not less than 10% of the rights to vote at such general meeting.

 

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12.9The requisition must also:

 

(a)specify the purpose of the meeting.

 

(b)be signed by or on behalf of each requisitioner (and for this purpose each joint holder shall be obliged to sign). The requisition may consist of several documents in like form signed by one or more of the requisitioners.

 

(c)be delivered in accordance with the notice provisions.

 

12.10Should the directors fail to call a general meeting within 21 Clear Days from the date of receipt of a requisition, the requisitioners or any of them may call a general meeting within three months after the end of that period.

 

12.11Without limitation to the foregoing, if there are insufficient directors to constitute a quorum and the remaining directors are unable to agree on the appointment of additional directors, any one or more Members who together hold at least 40% of the rights to vote at a general meeting may call a general meeting for the purpose of considering the business specified in the notice of meeting which shall include as an item of business the appointment of additional directors.

 

12.12Members seeking to bring business before the annual general meeting or to nominate candidates for election as directors at the annual general meeting must deliver notice to the principal executive offices of the Company not later than the close of business on the 90th day nor earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the scheduled date of the annual general meeting.

 

Content of notice

 

12.13Notice of a general meeting shall specify each of the following:

 

(a)the place, the date and the hour of the meeting;

 

(b)if the meeting is to be held in two or more places, the technology that will be used to facilitate the meeting;

 

(c)subject to paragraph (d), the general nature of the business to be transacted; and

 

(d)if a resolution is proposed as a Special Resolution, the text of that resolution.

 

12.14In each notice there shall appear with reasonable prominence the following statements:

 

(a)that a Member who is entitled to attend and vote is entitled to appoint one or more proxies to attend and vote instead of that Member; and

 

(b)that a proxyholder need not be a Member.

 

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Period of notice

 

12.15At least ten days’ notice of a general meeting must be given to Members, provided that a general meeting of the Company shall, whether or not the notice specified in this Article has been given and whether or not the provisions of these Articles regarding general meetings have been complied with, be deemed to have been duly convened if it is so agreed:

 

(a)in the case of an annual general meeting, by all of the Members entitled to attend and vote thereat; and

 

(b)in the case of an extraordinary general meeting, by a majority in number of the Members having a right to attend and vote at the meeting, together holding not less than 95% in par value of the Shares giving that right.

 

Persons entitled to receive notice

 

12.16Subject to the provisions of these Articles and to any restrictions imposed on any Shares, the notice shall be given to the following people:

 

(a)the Members;

 

(b)persons entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Member; and

 

(c)the directors.

 

Publication of notice on a website

 

12.17Subject to the Act or the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the SEC and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law, a notice of a general meeting may be published on a website providing the recipient is given separate notice of:

 

(a)the publication of the notice on the website;

 

(b)the place on the website where the notice may be accessed;

 

(c)how it may be accessed; and

 

(d)the place, date and time of the general meeting.

 

12.18If a Member notifies the Company that he is unable for any reason to access the website, the Company must as soon as practicable give notice of the meeting to that Member by any other means permitted by these Articles. This will not affect when that Member is deemed to have received notice of the meeting.

 

Time a website notice is deemed to be given

 

12.19A website notice is deemed to be given when the Member is given notice of its publication.

 

Required duration of publication on a website

 

12.20Where the notice of meeting is published on a website, it shall continue to be published in the same place on that website from the date of the notification until at least the conclusion of the meeting to which the notice relates.

 

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Accidental omission to give notice or non-receipt of notice

 

12.21Proceedings at a meeting shall not be invalidated by the following:

 

(a)an accidental failure to give notice of the meeting to any person entitled to notice; or

 

(b)non-receipt of notice of the meeting by any person entitled to notice.

 

12.22In addition, where a notice of meeting is published on a website, proceedings at the meeting shall not be invalidated merely because it is accidentally published:

 

(a)in a different place on the website; or

 

(b)for part only of the period from the date of the notification until the conclusion of the meeting to which the notice relates.

 

13.Proceedings at meetings of Members

 

Quorum

 

13.1Save as provided in the following Article, no business shall be transacted at any meeting unless a quorum is present in person or by proxy. One or more Members who together hold not less than one-third of the Shares entitled to vote at such meeting being individuals present in person or by proxy or if a corporation or other non-natural person by its duly authorised representative or proxy shall be a quorum; provided that a quorum in connection with any meeting that is convened to vote on a Business Combination or any meeting convened with regards to an amendment described in Article 37.9 shall be a majority of the Shares entitled to vote at such meeting being individuals present in person or by proxy or if a corporation or other non-natural person by its duly authorised representative or proxy.

 

Lack of quorum

 

13.2If a quorum is not present within 15 minutes of the time appointed for the meeting, or if at any time during the meeting it becomes inquorate, then the following provisions apply:

 

(a)If the meeting was requisitioned by Members, it shall be cancelled.

 

(b)In any other case, the meeting shall stand adjourned to the same time and place seven days hence, or to such other time or place as is determined by the directors. If a quorum is not present within 15 minutes of the time appointed for the adjourned meeting, then the meeting shall be dissolved.

 

Use of technology

 

13.3A person may participate in a general meeting through the medium of conference telephone, video or any other form of communications equipment providing all persons participating in the meeting are able to hear and speak to each other throughout the meeting. A person participating in this way is deemed to be present in person at the meeting.

 

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Chairman

 

13.4 The chairman of a general meeting shall be the chairman of the board or such other director as the directors have nominated to chair board meetings in the absence of the chairman of the board. Absent any such person being present within 15 minutes of the time appointed for the meeting, the directors present shall elect one of their number to chair the meeting.

 

13.5 If no director is present within 15 minutes of the time appointed for the meeting, or if no director is willing to act as chairman, the Members present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote shall choose one of their number to chair the meeting.

 

Right of a director to attend and speak

 

13.6 Even if a director is not a Member, he shall be entitled to attend and speak at any general meeting and at any separate meeting of Members holding a particular class of Shares in the Company.

 

Adjournment and Postponement

 

13.7 The chairman may at any time adjourn a meeting. The chairman must adjourn the meeting if so directed by the meeting. No business, however, can be transacted at an adjourned meeting other than business which might properly have been transacted at the original meeting.

 

13.8 Should a meeting be adjourned for more than twenty Clear Days, whether because of a lack of quorum or otherwise, Members shall be given at least five Clear Days’ notice of the date, time and place of the adjourned meeting and the general nature of the business to be transacted. Otherwise it shall not be necessary to give any notice of the adjournment.

 

13.9 If, prior to a Business Combination, a notice is issued in respect of a general meeting and the directors, in their absolute discretion, consider that it is impractical or undesirable for any reason to hold that general meeting at the place, the day and the hour specified in the notice calling such general meeting, the directors may postpone the general meeting to another place, day and/or hour provided that notice of the place, the day and the hour of the rearranged general meeting is promptly given to all Members. No business shall be transacted at any postponed meeting other than the business specified in the notice of the original meeting.

 

13.10 When a general meeting is postponed for thirty days or more, notice of the postponed meeting shall be given as in the case of an original meeting. Otherwise it shall not be necessary to give any such notice of a postponed meeting. All proxy forms submitted for the original general meeting shall remain valid for the postponed meeting. The directors may postpone a general meeting which has already been postponed.

 

Method of voting

 

13.11 A resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a poll.

 

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Taking of a poll

 

13.12 A poll demanded on the question of adjournment shall be taken immediately.

 

13.13 A poll demanded on any other question shall be taken either immediately or at an adjourned meeting at such time and place as the chairman directs, not being more than 30 Clear Days after the poll was demanded.

 

13.14 The demand for a poll shall not prevent the meeting continuing to transact any business other than the question on which the poll was demanded.

 

13.15 A poll shall be taken in such manner as the chairman directs. He may appoint scrutineers (who need not be Members) and fix a place and time for declaring the result of the poll. If, through the aid of technology, the meeting is held in more than place, the chairman may appoint scrutineers in more than place; but if he considers that the poll cannot be effectively monitored at that meeting, the chairman shall adjourn the holding of the poll to a date, place and time when that can occur.

 

Chairman’s casting vote

 

13.16 If the votes on a resolution are equal, the chairman may if he wishes exercise a casting vote.

 

Amendments to resolutions

 

13.17 An Ordinary Resolution to be proposed at a general meeting may be amended by Ordinary Resolution if:

 

  (a) not less than 48 hours before the meeting is to take place (or such later time as the chairman of the meeting may determine), notice of the proposed amendment is given to the Company in writing by a Member entitled to vote at that meeting; and

 

  (b) the proposed amendment does not, in the reasonable opinion of the chairman of the meeting, materially alter the scope of the resolution.

 

13.18 A Special Resolution to be proposed at a general meeting may be amended by Ordinary Resolution, if:

 

  (a) the chairman of the meeting proposes the amendment at the general meeting at which the resolution is to be proposed, and

 

  (b) the amendment does not go beyond what the chairman considers is necessary to correct a grammatical or other non-substantive error in the resolution.

 

13.19 If the chairman of the meeting, acting in good faith, wrongly decides that an amendment to a resolution is out of order, the chairman’s error does not invalidate the vote on that resolution.

 

Written resolutions

 

13.20 Members may pass a resolution in writing without holding a meeting if the following conditions are met:

 

  (a) all Members entitled so to vote are given notice of the resolution as if the same were being proposed at a meeting of Members;

 

  (b) all Members entitled so to vote :

 

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  (i) sign a document; or

 

  (ii) sign several documents in the like form each signed by one or more of those Members; and

 

  (c) the signed document or documents is or are delivered to the Company, including, if the Company so nominates, by delivery of an Electronic Record by Electronic means to the address specified for that purpose.

 

Such written resolution shall be as effective as if it had been passed at a meeting of the Members entitled to vote duly convened and held.

 

13.21 If a written resolution is described as a Special Resolution or as an Ordinary Resolution, it has effect accordingly.

 

13.22 The directors may determine the manner in which written resolutions shall be put to Members. In particular, they may provide, in the form of any written resolution, for each Member to indicate, out of the number of votes the Member would have been entitled to cast at a meeting to consider the resolution, how many votes he wishes to cast in favour of the resolution and how many against the resolution or to be treated as abstentions. The result of any such written resolution shall be determined on the same basis as on a poll.

 

Sole-member company

 

13.23 If the Company has only one Member, and the Member records in writing his decision on a question, that record shall constitute both the passing of a resolution and the minute of it.

 

14. Voting rights of Members

 

Right to vote

 

14.1 Subject to any rights or restrictions attached to any Member’s Shares, or unless a call or other amount presently payable has not been paid, all Members are entitled to vote at a general meeting, and all Members holding Shares of a particular class of Shares are entitled to vote at a meeting of the holders of that class of Shares.

 

14.2 Members may vote in person or by proxy.

 

14.3 Every Member shall have one vote for each Share he holds, unless any Share carries special voting rights.

 

14.4 A fraction of a Share shall entitle its holder to an equivalent fraction of one vote.

 

14.5 No Member is bound to vote on his Shares or any of them; nor is he bound to vote each of his Shares in the same way.

 

Rights of joint holders

 

14.6 If Shares are held jointly, only one of the joint holders may vote. If more than one of the joint holders tenders a vote, the vote of the holder whose name in respect of those Shares appears first in the Register of Members shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holder.

 

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Representation of corporate Members

 

14.7 Save where otherwise provided, a corporate Member must act by a duly authorised representative.

 

14.8 A corporate Member wishing to act by a duly authorised representative must identify that person to the Company by notice in writing.

 

14.9 The authorisation may be for any period of time, and must be delivered to the Company not less than two hours before the commencement of the meeting at which it is first used.

 

14.10 The directors of the Company may require the production of any evidence which they consider necessary to determine the validity of the notice.

 

14.11 Where a duly authorised representative is present at a meeting that Member is deemed to be present in person; and the acts of the duly authorised representative are personal acts of that Member.

 

14.12 A corporate Member may revoke the appointment of a duly authorised representative at any time by notice to the Company; but such revocation will not affect the validity of any acts carried out by the duly authorised representative before the directors of the Company had actual notice of the revocation.

 

14.13 If a clearing house (or its nominee(s)), being a corporation, is a Member, it may authorise such persons as it sees fit to act as its representative at any meeting of the Company or at any meeting of any class of Members provided that the authorisation shall specify the number and class of Shares in respect of which each such representative is so authorised. Each person so authorised under the provisions of this Article shall be deemed to have been duly authorised without further evidence of the facts and be entitled to exercise the same rights and powers on behalf of the clearing house (or its nominee(s)) as if such person was the registered holder of such Shares held by the clearing house (or its nominee(s)).

 

Member with mental disorder

 

14.14 A Member in respect of whom an order has been made by any court having jurisdiction (whether in the Islands or elsewhere) in matters concerning mental disorder may vote, by that Member’s receiver, curator bonis or other person authorised in that behalf appointed by that court.

 

14.15 For the purpose of the preceding Article, evidence to the satisfaction of the directors of the authority of the person claiming to exercise the right to vote must be received not less than 24 hours before holding the relevant meeting or the adjourned meeting in any manner specified for the delivery of forms of appointment of a proxy, whether in writing or by Electronic means. In default, the right to vote shall not be exercisable.

 

Objections to admissibility of votes

 

14.16 An objection to the validity of a person’s vote may only be raised at the meeting or at the adjourned meeting at which the vote is sought to be tendered. Any objection duly made shall be referred to the chairman whose decision shall be final and conclusive.

 

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Form of proxy

 

14.17 An instrument appointing a proxy shall be in any common form or in any other form approved by the directors.

 

14.18 The instrument must be in writing and signed in one of the following ways:

 

  (a) by the Member; or

 

  (b) by the Member’s authorised attorney; or

 

  (c) if the Member is a corporation or other body corporate, under seal or signed by an authorised officer, secretary or attorney.

 

If the directors so resolve, the Company may accept an Electronic Record of that instrument delivered in the manner specified below and otherwise satisfying these Articles about authentication of Electronic Records.

 

14.19 The directors may require the production of any evidence which they consider necessary to determine the validity of any appointment of a proxy.

 

14.20 A Member may revoke the appointment of a proxy at any time by notice to the Company duly signed in accordance with the Article above about signing proxies; but such revocation will not affect the validity of any acts carried out by the proxy before the directors of the Company had actual notice of the revocation.

 

How and when proxy is to be delivered

 

14.21 Subject to the following Articles, the form of appointment of a proxy and any authority under which it is signed (or a copy of the authority certified notarially or in any other way approved by the directors) must be delivered so that it is received by the Company not less than 48 hours before the time for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person named in the form of appointment of proxy proposes to vote. They must be delivered in either of the following ways:

 

  (a) In the case of an instrument in writing, it must be left at or sent by post:

 

  (i) to the registered office of the Company; or

 

  (ii) to such other place specified in the notice convening the meeting or in any form of appointment of proxy sent out by the Company in relation to the meeting.

 

  (b) If, pursuant to the notice provisions, a notice may be given to the Company in an Electronic Record, an Electronic Record of an appointment of a proxy must be sent to the address specified pursuant to those provisions unless another address for that purpose is specified:

 

  (i) in the notice convening the meeting; or

 

  (ii) in any form of appointment of a proxy sent out by the Company in relation to the meeting; or

 

  (iii) in any invitation to appoint a proxy issued by the Company in relation to the meeting.

 

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14.22 Where a poll is taken:

 

  (a) if it is taken more than seven Clear Days after it is demanded, the form of appointment of a proxy and any accompanying authority (or an Electronic Record of the same) must be delivered as required under the preceding Article not less than 24 hours before the time appointed for the taking of the poll;

 

  (b) but if it to be taken within seven Clear Days after it was demanded, the form of appointment of a proxy and any accompanying authority (or an Electronic Record of the same) must be e delivered as required under the preceding Article not less than two hours before the time appointed for the taking of the poll.

 

14.23 If the form of appointment of proxy is not delivered on time, it is invalid.

 

Voting by proxy

 

14.24 A proxy shall have the same voting rights at a meeting or adjourned meeting as the Member would have had except to the extent that the instrument appointing him limits those rights. Notwithstanding the appointment of a proxy, a Member may attend and vote at a meeting or adjourned meeting. If a Member votes on any resolution a vote by his proxy on the same resolution, unless in respect of different Shares, shall be invalid.

 

15. Number of directors

 

Unless otherwise determined by Ordinary Resolution, the minimum number of directors shall be one and the maximum shall be ten.

 

16. Appointment, disqualification and removal of directors

 

No age limit

 

16.1 There is no age limit for directors save that they must be aged at least 18 years.

 

Corporate directors

 

16.2 Unless prohibited by law, a body corporate may be a director. If a body corporate is a director, these Articles about representation of corporate Members at general meetings apply, mutatis mutandis, to these Articles about directors’ meetings.

 

No shareholding qualification

 

16.3 Unless a shareholding qualification for directors is fixed by Ordinary Resolution, no director shall be required to own Shares as a condition of his appointment.

 

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Appointment and removal of directors

 

16.4 All directors shall hold office [until the next annual general meeting]. They shall hold office until the expiration of their respective terms of office and until their successors shall have been elected and qualified. A director elected to fill a vacancy resulting from the death, resignation or removal of a director shall serve for the remainder of the full term of the director whose death, resignation or removal shall have created such vacancy and until his successor shall have been elected and qualified.

 

16.5 After the closing of a Business Combination, the Company may by Ordinary Resolution appoint any person to be a director or may by Ordinary Resolution remove any director.

 

16.6 Without prejudice to the Company’s power to appoint a person to be a director pursuant to these Articles, the directors shall have power at any time to appoint any person who is willing to act as a director, either to fill a vacancy or as an additional director. A director elected to fill a vacancy resulting from the death, resignation or removal of a director shall serve for the remainder of the full term of the director whose death, resignation or removal shall have created such vacancy and until his successor shall have been elected and qualified.

 

16.7 Notwithstanding the other provisions of these Articles, in any case where, as a result of death, the Company has no directors and no shareholders, the personal representatives of the last shareholder to have died have the power, by notice in writing to the Company, to appoint a person to be a director. For the purpose of this Article:

 

  (a) where two or more shareholders die in circumstances rendering it uncertain who was the last to die, a younger shareholder is deemed to have survived an older shareholder;

 

  (b) if the last shareholder died leaving a will which disposes of that shareholder’s shares in the Company (whether by way of specific gift, as part of the residuary estate, or otherwise):

 

  (i) the expression personal representatives of the last shareholder means:

 

  (A) until a grant of probate in respect of that will has been obtained from the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands, all of the executors named in that will who are living at the time the power of appointment under this Article is exercised; and

 

  (B) after such grant of probate has been obtained, only such of those executors who have proved that will;

 

  (ii) without derogating from section 3(1) of the Succession Act (as revised), the executors named in that will may exercise the power of appointment under this Article without first obtaining a grant of probate.

 

16.8 A remaining director may appoint a director even though there is not a quorum of directors.

 

16.9 No appointment can cause the number of directors to exceed the maximum; and any such appointment shall be invalid.

 

16.10 For so long as Shares are listed on a Designated Stock Exchange, the directors shall include at least such number of Independent Directors as Applicable Law or the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange require, subject to applicable phase-in rules of the Designated Stock Exchange.

 

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Resignation of directors

 

16.11 A director may at any time resign office by giving to the Company notice in writing or, if permitted pursuant to the notice provisions, in an Electronic Record delivered in either case in accordance with those provisions.

 

16.12 Unless the notice specifies a different date, the director shall be deemed to have resigned on the date that the notice is delivered to the Company.

 

Termination of the office of director

 

16.13 A director’s office shall be terminated forthwith if:

 

  (a) he is prohibited by the law of the Islands from acting as a director; or

 

  (b) he is made bankrupt or makes an arrangement or composition with his creditors generally; or

 

  (c) in the opinion of a registered medical practitioner by whom he is being treated he becomes physically or mentally incapable of acting as a director; or

 

  (d) he is made subject to any law relating to mental health or incompetence, whether by court order or otherwise;

 

  (e) without the consent of the other directors, he is absent from meetings of directors for a continuous period of six months; or

 

  (f) all of the other directors (being not less than two in number) determine that he should be removed as a director, either by a resolution passed by all of the other directors at a meeting of the directors duly convened and held in accordance with these Articles or by a resolution in writing signed by all of the other directors.

 

17. Alternate directors

 

Appointment and removal

 

17.1 Any director may appoint any other person, including another director, to act in his place as an alternate director. No appointment shall take effect until the director has given notice of the appointment to the other directors. Such notice must be given to each other director by either of the following methods:

 

  (a) by notice in writing in accordance with the notice provisions;

 

  (b) if the other director has an email address, by emailing to that address a scanned copy of the notice as a PDF attachment (the PDF version being deemed to be the notice unless Article 32.7 applies), in which event notice shall be taken to be given on the date of receipt by the recipient in readable form. For the avoidance of doubt, the same email may be sent to the email address of more than one director (and to the email address of the Company pursuant to Article 17.4(c)).

 

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17.2 Without limitation to the preceding Article, a director may appoint an alternate for a particular meeting by sending an email to his fellow directors informing them that they are to take such email as notice of such appointment for such meeting. Such appointment shall be effective without the need for a signed notice of appointment or the giving of notice to the Company in accordance with Article 17.4.

 

17.3 A director may revoke his appointment of an alternate at any time. No revocation shall take effect until the director has given notice of the revocation to the other directors. Such notice must be given by either of the methods specified in Article 17.1.

 

17.4 A notice of appointment or removal of an alternate director must also be given to the Company by any of the following methods:

 

  (a) by notice in writing in accordance with the notice provisions;

 

  (b) if the Company has a facsimile address for the time being, by sending by facsimile transmission to that facsimile address a facsimile copy or, otherwise, by sending by facsimile transmission to the facsimile address of the Company’s registered office a facsimile copy (in either case, the facsimile copy being deemed to be the notice unless Article 32.7 applies), in which event notice shall be taken to be given on the date of an error-free transmission report from the sender’s fax machine;

 

  (c) if the Company has an email address for the time being, by emailing to that email address a scanned copy of the notice as a PDF attachment or, otherwise, by emailing to the email address provided by the Company’s registered office a scanned copy of the notice as a PDF attachment (in either case, the PDF version being deemed to be the notice unless Article 32.7 applies), in which event notice shall be taken to be given on the date of receipt by the Company or the Company’s registered office (as appropriate) in readable form; or

 

  (d) if permitted pursuant to the notice provisions, in some other form of approved Electronic Record delivered in accordance with those provisions in writing.

 

Notices

 

17.5 All notices of meetings of directors shall continue to be given to the appointing director and not to the alternate.

 

Rights of alternate director

 

17.6 An alternate director shall be entitled to attend and vote at any board meeting or meeting of a committee of the directors at which the appointing director is not personally present, and generally to perform all the functions of the appointing director in his absence.

 

17.7 For the avoidance of doubt:

 

  (a) if another director has been appointed an alternate director for one or more directors, he shall be entitled to a separate vote in his own right as a director and in right of each other director for whom he has been appointed an alternate; and

 

  (b) if a person other than a director has been appointed an alternate director for more than one director, he shall be entitled to a separate vote in right of each director for whom he has been appointed an alternate.

 

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17.8 An alternate director, however, is not entitled to receive any remuneration from the Company for services rendered as an alternate director.

 

Appointment ceases when the appointor ceases to be a director

 

17.9 An alternate director shall cease to be an alternate director if the director who appointed him ceases to be a director.

 

Status of alternate director

 

17.10 An alternate director shall carry out all functions of the director who made the appointment.

 

17.11 Save where otherwise expressed, an alternate director shall be treated as a director under these Articles.

 

17.12 An alternate director is not the agent of the director appointing him.

 

17.13 An alternate director is not entitled to any remuneration for acting as alternate director.

 

Status of the director making the appointment

 

17.14 A director who has appointed an alternate is not thereby relieved from the duties which he owes the Company.

 

18. Powers of directors

 

Powers of directors

 

18.1 Subject to the provisions of the Act, the Memorandum and these Articles, the business of the Company shall be managed by the directors who may for that purpose exercise all the powers of the Company.

 

18.2 No prior act of the directors shall be invalidated by any subsequent alteration of the Memorandum or these Articles. However, to the extent allowed by the Act, following the consummation of the IPO Members may by Special Resolution validate any prior or future act of the directors which would otherwise be in breach of their duties.

 

Appointments to office

 

18.3 The directors may appoint a director:

 

  (a) as chairman of the board of directors;

 

  (b) as vice-chairman of the board of directors;

 

  (c) as managing director;

 

  (d) to any other executive office

 

for such period and on such terms, including as to remuneration, as they think fit.

 

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18.4 The appointee must consent in writing to holding that office.

 

18.5 Where a chairman is appointed he shall, unless unable to do so, preside at every meeting of directors.

 

18.6 If there is no chairman, or if the chairman is unable to preside at a meeting, that meeting may select its own chairman; or the directors may nominate one of their number to act in place of the chairman should he ever not be available.

 

18.7 Subject to the provisions of the Act, the directors may also appoint any person, who need not be a director:

 

  (a) as Secretary; and

 

  (b) to any office that may be required (including, for the avoidance of doubt, one or more chief executive officers, presidents, a chief financial officer, a treasurer, vice-presidents, one or more assistant vice-presidents, one or more assistant treasurers and one or more assistant secretaries),

 

for such period and on such terms, including as to remuneration, as they think fit. In the case of an Officer, that Officer may be given any title the directors decide.

 

18.8 The Secretary or Officer must consent in writing to holding that office.

 

18.9 A director, Secretary or other Officer of the Company may not hold the office, or perform the services, of Auditor.

 

Remuneration

 

18.10 The remuneration to be paid to the directors, if any, shall be such remuneration as the directors shall determine, provided that no cash remuneration shall be paid to any director prior to the consummation of a Business Combination. The directors shall also, whether prior to or after the consummation of a Business Combination, be entitled to be paid all out of pocket expenses properly incurred by them in connection with activities on behalf of the Company, including identifying and consummating a Business Combination.

 

18.11 Remuneration may take any form and may include arrangements to pay pensions, health insurance, death or sickness benefits, whether to the director or to any other person connected to or related to him.

 

18.12 Unless his fellow directors determine otherwise, a director is not accountable to the Company for remuneration or other benefits received from any other company which is in the same group as the Company or which has common shareholdings.

 

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Disclosure of information

 

18.13 The directors may release or disclose to a third party any information regarding the affairs of the Company, including any information contained in the Register of Members relating to a Member, (and they may authorise any director, Officer or other authorised agent of the Company to release or disclose to a third party any such information in his possession) if:

 

  (a) the Company or that person, as the case may be, is lawfully required to do so under the laws of any jurisdiction to which the Company is subject; or

 

  (b) such disclosure is in compliance with the rules of any stock exchange upon which the Company’s shares are listed; or

 

  (c) such disclosure is in accordance with any contract entered into by the Company; or

 

  (d) the directors are of the opinion such disclosure would assist or facilitate the Company’s operations.

 

19. Delegation of powers

 

Power to delegate any of the directors’ powers to a committee

 

19.1 The directors may delegate any of their powers to any committee consisting of one or more persons who need not be Members (including, without limitation, the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating Committee). Persons on the committee may include non-directors so long as the majority of those persons are directors.

 

19.2 The delegation may be collateral with, or to the exclusion of, the directors’ own powers.

 

19.3 The delegation may be on such terms as the directors think fit, including provision for the committee itself to delegate to a sub-committee; save that any delegation must be capable of being revoked or altered by the directors at will.

 

19.4 Unless otherwise permitted by the directors, a committee must follow the procedures prescribed for the taking of decisions by directors.

 

19.5 The directors may adopt formal written charters for committees and, if so adopted, shall review and assess the adequacy of such formal written charters on an annual basis. Each of these committees shall be empowered to do all things necessary to exercise the rights of such committee set forth in the Articles and shall have such powers as the directors may delegate pursuant to the Articles and as required by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the SEC and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law. Each of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating Committee, if established, shall consist of such number of directors as the directors shall from time to time determine (or such minimum number as may be required from time to time by the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the SEC and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law). For so long as any class of Shares is listed on the Designated Stock Exchange, the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee shall be made up of such number of Independent Directors as is required from time to time by the rules and regulations of the rules and regulations of the Designated Stock Exchange, the SEC and/or any other competent regulatory authority or otherwise under Applicable Law.

 

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Power to appoint an agent of the Company

 

19.6 The directors may appoint any person, either generally or in respect of any specific matter, to be the agent of the Company with or without authority for that person to delegate all or any of that person’s powers. The directors may make that appointment:

 

  (a) by causing the Company to enter into a power of attorney or agreement; or

 

  (b) in any other manner they determine.

 

Power to appoint an attorney or authorised signatory of the Company

 

19.7 The directors may appoint any person, whether nominated directly or indirectly by the directors, to be the attorney or the authorised signatory of the Company. The appointment may be:

 

  (a) for any purpose;

 

  (b) with the powers, authorities and discretions;

 

  (c) for the period; and

 

  (d) subject to such conditions

 

as they think fit. The powers, authorities and discretions, however, must not exceed those vested in, or exercisable, by the directors under these Articles. The directors may do so by power of attorney or any other manner they think fit.

 

19.8 Any power of attorney or other appointment may contain such provision for the protection and convenience for persons dealing with the attorney or authorised signatory as the directors think fit. Any power of attorney or other appointment may also authorise the attorney or authorised signatory to delegate all or any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in that person.

 

Power to appoint a proxy

 

19.9 Any director may appoint any other person, including another director, to represent him at any meeting of the directors. If a director appoints a proxy, then for all purposes the presence or vote of the proxy shall be deemed to be that of the appointing director.

 

19.10 Articles 17.1 to 17.4 inclusive (relating to the appointment by directors of alternate directors) apply, mutatis mutandis, to the appointment of proxies by directors.

 

19.11 A proxy is an agent of the director appointing him and is not an Officer.

 

20. Meetings of directors

 

Regulation of directors’ meetings

 

20.1 Subject to the provisions of these Articles, the directors may regulate their proceedings as they think fit.

 

Calling meetings

 

20.2 Any director may call a meeting of directors at any time. The Secretary, if any, must call a meeting of the directors if requested to do so by a director.

 

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Notice of meetings

 

20.3 Every director shall be given notice of a meeting, although a director may waive retrospectively the requirement to be given notice. Notice may be oral. Attendance at a meeting without written objection shall be deemed to be a waiver of such notice requirement.

 

Period of notice

 

20.4 At least five Clear Days’ notice of a meeting of directors must be given to directors. A meeting may be convened on shorter notice with the consent of all directors.

 

Use of technology

 

20.5 A director may participate in a meeting of directors through the medium of conference telephone, video or any other form of communications equipment providing all persons participating in the meeting are able to hear and speak to each other throughout the meeting.

 

20.6 A director participating in this way is deemed to be present in person at the meeting.

 

Place of meetings

 

20.7 If all the directors participating in a meeting are not in the same place, they may decide that the meeting is to be treated as taking place wherever any of them is.

 

Quorum

 

20.8 The quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting of directors shall be two unless the directors fix some other number or unless the Company has only one director.

 

Voting

 

20.9 A question which arises at a board meeting shall be decided by a majority of votes. If votes are equal the chairman may, if he wishes, exercise a casting vote.

 

Validity

 

20.10 Anything done at a meeting of directors is unaffected by the fact that it is later discovered that any person was not properly appointed, or had ceased to be a director, or was otherwise not entitled to vote.

 

Recording of dissent

 

20.11 A director present at a meeting of directors shall be presumed to have assented to any action taken at that meeting unless:

 

  (a) his dissent is entered in the minutes of the meeting; or

 

  (b) he has filed with the meeting before it is concluded signed dissent from that action; or

 

  (c) he has forwarded to the Company as soon as practical following the conclusion of that meeting signed dissent.

 

A director who votes in favour of an action is not entitled to record his dissent to it.

 

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Written resolutions

 

20.12 The directors may pass a resolution in writing without holding a meeting if all directors sign a document or sign several documents in the like form each signed by one or more of those directors.

 

20.13 Despite the foregoing, a resolution in writing signed by a validly appointed alternate director or by a validly appointed proxy need not also be signed by the appointing director. If a written resolution is signed personally by the appointing director, it need not also be signed by his alternate or proxy.

 

20.14 Such written resolution shall be as effective as if it had been passed at a meeting of the directors duly convened and held; and it shall be treated as having been passed on the day and at the time that the last director signs.

 

Sole director’s minute

 

20.15 Where a sole director signs a minute recording his decision on a question, that record shall constitute the passing of a resolution in those terms.

 

21. Permissible directors’ interests and disclosure

 

Permissible interests subject to disclosure

 

21.1 Save as expressly permitted by these Articles or as set out below, a director may not have a direct or indirect interest or duty which conflicts or may possibly conflict with the interests of the Company.

 

21.2 If, notwithstanding the prohibition in the preceding Article, a director discloses to his fellow directors the nature and extent of any material interest or duty in accordance with the next Article, he may:

 

  (a) be a party to, or otherwise interested in, any transaction or arrangement with the Company or in which the Company is or may otherwise be interested; or

 

  (b) be interested in another body corporate promoted by the Company or in which the Company is otherwise interested. In particular, the director may be a director, secretary or officer of, or employed by, or be a party to any transaction or arrangement with, or otherwise interested in, that other body corporate.

 

21.3 Such disclosure may be made at a meeting of the board or otherwise (and, if otherwise, it must be made in writing). The director must disclose the nature and extent of his direct or indirect interest in or duty in relation to a transaction or arrangement or series of transactions or arrangements with the Company or in which the Company has any material interest.

 

21.4 If a director has made disclosure in accordance with the preceding Article, then he shall not, by reason only of his office, be accountable to the Company for any benefit that he derives from any such transaction or arrangement or from any such office or employment or from any interest in any such body corporate, and no such transaction or arrangement shall be liable to be avoided on the ground of any such interest or benefit.

 

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Notification of interests

 

21.5 For the purposes of the preceding Articles:

 

  (a) a general notice that a director gives to the other directors that he is to be regarded as having an interest of the nature and extent specified in the notice in any transaction or arrangement in which a specified person or class of persons is interested shall be deemed to be a disclosure that he has an interest in or duty in relation to any such transaction of the nature and extent so specified; and

 

  (b) an interest of which a director has no knowledge and of which it is unreasonable to expect him to have knowledge shall not be treated as an interest of his.

 

Voting where a director is interested in a matter

 

21.6 A director may vote at a meeting of directors on any resolution concerning a matter in which that director has an interest or duty, whether directly or indirectly, so long as that director discloses any material interest pursuant to these Articles. The director shall be counted towards a quorum of those present at the meeting. If the director votes on the resolution, his vote shall be counted.

 

21.7 Where proposals are under consideration concerning the appointment of two or more directors to offices or employment with the Company or any body corporate in which the Company is interested, the proposals may be divided and considered in relation to each director separately and each of the directors concerned shall be entitled to vote and be counted in the quorum in respect of each resolution except that concerning his or her own appointment.

 

22. Minutes

 

The Company shall cause minutes to be made in books kept for the purpose in accordance with the Act.

 

23. Accounts and audit

 

Accounting and other records

 

23.1 The directors must ensure that proper accounting and other records are kept, and that accounts and associated reports are distributed in accordance with the requirements of the Act.

 

No automatic right of inspection

 

23.2 Members are only entitled to inspect the Company’s records if they are expressly entitled to do so by law, or by resolution made by the directors or passed by Ordinary Resolution.

 

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Sending of accounts and reports

 

23.3 The Company’s accounts and associated directors’ report or auditor’s report that are required or permitted to be sent to any person pursuant to any law shall be treated as properly sent to that person if:

 

  (a) they are sent to that person in accordance with the notice provisions: or

 

  (b) they are published on a website providing that person is given separate notice of:

 

  (i) the fact that publication of the documents has been published on the website;

 

  (ii) the address of the website; and

 

  (iii) the place on the website where the documents may be accessed; and

 

  (iv) how they may be accessed.

 

23.4 If, for any reason, a person notifies the Company that he is unable to access the website, the Company must, as soon as practicable, send the documents to that person by any other means permitted by these Articles. This, however, will not affect when that person is taken to have received the documents under the next Article.

 

Time of receipt if documents are published on a website

 

23.5 Documents sent by being published on a website in accordance with the preceding two Articles are only treated as sent at least five Clear Days before the date of the meeting at which they are to be laid if:

 

  (a) the documents are published on the website throughout a period beginning at least five Clear Days before the date of the meeting and ending with the conclusion of the meeting; and

 

  (b) the person is given at least five Clear Days’ notice of the hearing.

 

Validity despite accidental error in publication on website

 

23.6 If, for the purpose of a meeting, documents are sent by being published on a website in accordance with the preceding Articles, the proceedings at that meeting are not invalidated merely because:

 

  (a) those documents are, by accident, published in a different place on the website to the place notified; or

 

  (b) they are published for part only of the period from the date of notification until the conclusion of that meeting.

 

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Audit

 

23.7 The directors may appoint an Auditor of the Company who shall hold office on such terms as the directors determine.

 

23.8 Without prejudice to the freedom of the directors to establish any other committee, if the Shares (or depositary receipts therefor) are listed or quoted on the Designated Stock Exchange, and if required by the Designated Stock Exchange, the directors shall establish and maintain an Audit Committee as a committee of the directors and shall adopt a formal written Audit Committee charter and review and assess the adequacy of the formal written charter on an annual basis. The composition and responsibilities of the Audit Committee shall comply with the rules and regulations of the SEC and the Designated Stock Exchange. The Audit Committee shall meet at least once every financial quarter, or more frequently as circumstances dictate.

 

23.9 If the Shares are listed or quoted on the Designated Stock Exchange, the Company shall conduct an appropriate review of all related party transactions on an ongoing basis and shall utilise the Audit Committee for the review and approval of potential conflicts of interest.

 

23.10 The remuneration of the Auditor shall be fixed by the Audit Committee (if one exists).

 

23.11 If the office of Auditor becomes vacant by resignation or death of the Auditor, or by his becoming incapable of acting by reason of illness or other disability at a time when his services are required, the directors shall fill the vacancy and determine the remuneration of such Auditor.

 

23.12 Every Auditor of the Company shall have a right of access at all times to the books and accounts and vouchers of the Company and shall be entitled to require from the directors and officers of the Company such information and explanation as may be necessary for the performance of the duties of the Auditor.

 

23.13 Auditors shall, if so required by the directors, make a report on the accounts of the Company during their tenure of office at the next annual general meeting following their appointment in the case of a company which is registered with the Registrar of Companies as an ordinary company, and at the next extraordinary general meeting following their appointment in the case of a company which is registered with the Registrar of Companies as an exempted company, and at any other time during their term of office, upon request of the directors or any general meeting of the Members.

 

24.14 Any payment made to members of the Audit Committee (if one exists) shall require the review and approval of the directors, with any director interested in such payment abstaining from such review and approval.

 

24.15 The Audit Committee shall monitor compliance with the terms of the IPO and, if any non-compliance is identified, the Audit Committee shall be charged with the responsibility to take all action necessary to rectify such non-compliance or otherwise cause compliance with the terms of the IPO.

 

24. Financial year

 

Unless the directors otherwise specify, the financial year of the Company:

 

  (a) shall end on 31st December in the year of its incorporation and each following year; and

 

  (b) shall begin when it was incorporated and on 1st January each following year.

 

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25. Record dates

 

Except to the extent of any conflicting rights attached to Shares, the directors may fix any time and date as the record date for:

 

  (a) calling a general meeting;

 

  (b) declaring or paying a dividend;

 

  (c) making or issuing an allotment of Shares; or

 

  (d) conducting any other business required pursuant to these Articles.

 

The record date may be before or after the date on which a dividend, allotment or issue is declared, paid or made.

 

26. Dividends

 

Declaration of dividends by Members

 

26.1 Subject to the provisions of the Act, the Company may by Ordinary Resolution declare dividends in accordance with the respective rights of the Members but no dividend shall exceed the amount recommended by the directors.

 

Payment of interim dividends and declaration of final dividends by directors

 

26.2 The directors may pay interim dividends or declare final dividends in accordance with the respective rights of the Members if it appears to them that they are justified by the financial position of the Company and that such dividends may lawfully be paid.

 

26.3 Subject to the provisions of the Act, in relation to the distinction between interim dividends and final dividends, the following applies:

 

  (a) Upon determination to pay a dividend or dividends described as interim by the directors in the dividend resolution, no debt shall be created by the declaration until such time as payment is made.

 

  (b) Upon declaration of a dividend or dividends described as final by the directors in the dividend resolution, a debt shall be created immediately following the declaration, the due date to be the date the dividend is stated to be payable in the resolution.

 

If the resolution fails to specify whether a dividend is final or interim, it shall be assumed to be interim.

 

26.4 In relation to Shares carrying differing rights to dividends or rights to dividends at a fixed rate, the following applies:

 

  (a) If the share capital is divided into different classes, the directors may pay dividends on Shares which confer deferred or non- preferred rights with regard to dividends as well as on Shares which confer preferential rights with regard to dividends but no dividend shall be paid on Shares carrying deferred or non-preferred rights if, at the time of payment, any preferential dividend is in arrears.

 

  (b) The directors may also pay, at intervals settled by them, any dividend payable at a fixed rate if it appears to them that there are sufficient funds of the Company lawfully available for distribution to justify the payment.

 

  (c) If the directors act in good faith, they shall not incur any liability to the Members holding Shares conferring preferred rights for any loss those Members may suffer by the lawful payment of the dividend on any Shares having deferred or non-preferred rights.

 

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Apportionment of dividends

 

26.5 Except as otherwise provided by the rights attached to Shares, all dividends shall be declared and paid according to the amounts paid up on the Shares on which the dividend is paid. All dividends shall be apportioned and paid proportionately to the amount paid up on the Shares during the time or part of the time in respect of which the dividend is paid. If a Share is issued on terms providing that it shall rank for dividend as from a particular date, that Share shall rank for dividend accordingly.

 

Right of set off

 

26.6 The directors may deduct from a dividend or any other amount payable to a person in respect of a Share any amount due by that person to the Company on a call or otherwise in relation to a Share.

 

Power to pay other than in cash

 

26.7 If the directors so determine, any resolution declaring a dividend may direct that it shall be satisfied wholly or partly by the distribution of assets. If a difficulty arises in relation to the distribution, the directors may settle that difficulty in any way they consider appropriate. For example, they may do any one or more of the following:

 

  (a) issue fractional Shares;

 

  (b) fix the value of assets for distribution and make cash payments to some Members on the footing of the value so fixed in order to adjust the rights of Members; and

 

  (c) vest some assets in trustees.

 

How payments may be made

 

26.8 A dividend or other monies payable on or in respect of a Share may be paid in any of the following ways:

 

  (a) if the Member holding that Share or other person entitled to that Share nominates a bank account for that purpose - by wire transfer to that bank account; or

 

  (b) by cheque or warrant sent by post to the registered address of the Member holding that Share or other person entitled to that Share.

 

26.9 For the purpose of paragraph (a) of the preceding Article, the nomination may be in writing or in an Electronic Record and the bank account nominated may be the bank account of another person. For the purpose of paragraph (b) of the preceding Article, subject to any Applicable Law or regulation, the cheque or warrant shall be made to the order of the Member holding that Share or other person entitled to the Share or to his nominee, whether nominated in writing or in an Electronic Record, and payment of the cheque or warrant shall be a good discharge to the Company.

 

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26.10 If two or more persons are registered as the holders of the Share or are jointly entitled to it by reason of the death or bankruptcy of the registered holder (Joint Holders), a dividend (or other amount) payable on or in respect of that Share may be paid as follows:

 

  (a) to the registered address of the Joint Holder of the Share who is named first on the Register of Members or to the registered address of the deceased or bankrupt holder, as the case may be; or

 

  (b) to the address or bank account of another person nominated by the Joint Holders, whether that nomination is in writing or in an Electronic Record.

 

26.11 Any Joint Holder of a Share may give a valid receipt for a dividend (or other amount) payable in respect of that Share.

 

Dividends or other moneys not to bear interest in absence of special rights

 

26.12 Unless provided for by the rights attached to a Share, no dividend or other monies payable by the Company in respect of a Share shall bear interest.

 

Dividends unable to be paid or unclaimed

 

26.13 If a dividend cannot be paid to a Member or remains unclaimed within six weeks after it was declared or both, the directors may pay it into a separate account in the Company’s name. If a dividend is paid into a separate account, the Company shall not be constituted trustee in respect of that account and the dividend shall remain a debt due to the Member.

 

26.14 A dividend that remains unclaimed for a period of six years after it became due for payment shall be forfeited to, and shall cease to remain owing by, the Company.

 

27. Capitalisation of profits

 

Capitalisation of profits or of any share premium account or capital redemption reserve

 

27.1 The directors may resolve to capitalise:

 

  (a) any part of the Company’s profits not required for paying any preferential dividend (whether or not those profits are available for distribution); or

 

  (b) any sum standing to the credit of the Company’s share premium account or capital redemption reserve, if any.

 

The amount resolved to be capitalised must be appropriated to the Members who would have been entitled to it had it been distributed by way of dividend and in the same proportions. The benefit to each Member so entitled must be given in either or both of the following ways:

 

  (a) by paying up the amounts unpaid on that Member’s Shares;

 

  (b) by issuing Fully Paid Shares, debentures or other securities of the Company to that Member or as that Member directs. The directors may resolve that any Shares issued to the Member in respect of partly paid Shares (Original Shares) rank for dividend only to the extent that the Original Shares rank for dividend while those Original Shares remain partly paid.

 

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Applying an amount for the benefit of members

 

27.2 The amount capitalised must be applied to the benefit of Members in the proportions to which the Members would have been entitled to dividends if the amount capitalised had been distributed as a dividend.

 

27.3 Subject to the Act, if a fraction of a Share, a debenture, or other security is allocated to a Member, the directors may issue a fractional certificate to that Member or pay him the cash equivalent of the fraction.

 

28. Share premium account

 

directors to maintain share premium account

 

28.1 The directors shall establish a share premium account in accordance with the Act. They shall carry to the credit of that account from time to time an amount equal to the amount or value of the premium paid on the issue of any Share or capital contributed or such other amounts required by the Act.

 

Debits to share premium account

 

28.2 The following amounts shall be debited to any share premium account:

 

  (a) on the redemption or purchase of a Share, the difference between the nominal value of that Share and the redemption or purchase price; and

 

  (b) any other amount paid out of a share premium account as permitted by the Act.

 

28.3 Notwithstanding the preceding Article, on the redemption or purchase of a Share, the directors may pay the difference between the nominal value of that Share and the redemption purchase price out of the profits of the Company or, as permitted by the Act, out of capital.

 

29. Seal

 

Company seal

 

29.1 The Company may have a seal if the directors so determine.

 

Duplicate seal

 

29.2 Subject to the provisions of the Act, the Company may also have a duplicate seal or seals for use in any place or places outside the Islands. Each duplicate seal shall be a facsimile of the original seal of the Company. However, if the directors so determine, a duplicate seal shall have added on its face the name of the place where it is to be used.

 

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When and how seal is to be used

 

29.3 A seal may only be used by the authority of the directors. Unless the directors otherwise determine, a document to which a seal is affixed must be signed in one of the following ways:

 

  (a) by a director (or his alternate) and the Secretary; or

 

  (b) by a single director (or his alternate).

 

If no seal is adopted or used

 

29.4 If the directors do not adopt a seal, or a seal is not used, a document may be executed in the following manner:

 

  (a) by a director (or his alternate) or any Officer to which authority has been delegated by resolution duly adopted by the directors; or

 

  (b) by a single director (or his alternate); or

 

  (c) in any other manner permitted by the Act.

 

Power to allow non-manual signatures and facsimile printing of seal

 

29.5 The directors may determine that either or both of the following applies:

 

  (a) that the seal or a duplicate seal need not be affixed manually but may be affixed by some other method or system of reproduction;

 

  (b) that a signature required by these Articles need not be manual but may be a mechanical or Electronic Signature.

 

Validity of execution

 

29.6 If a document is duly executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Company, it shall not be regarded as invalid merely because, at the date of the delivery, the Secretary, or the director, or other Officer or person who signed the document or affixed the seal for and on behalf of the Company ceased to be the Secretary or hold that office and authority on behalf of the Company.

 

30. Indemnity

 

Indemnity

 

30.1 To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Company shall indemnify each existing or former Secretary, director (including alternate director), and other Officer of the Company (including an investment adviser or an administrator or liquidator) and their personal representatives against:

 

  (a) all actions, proceedings, costs, charges, expenses, losses, damages or liabilities incurred or sustained by the existing or former Secretary, director or Officer in or about the conduct of the Company’s business or affairs or in the execution or discharge of the existing or former Secretary’s, director’s or Officer’s duties, powers, authorities or discretions; and

 

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  (b) without limitation to paragraph (a), all costs, expenses, losses or liabilities incurred by the existing or former Secretary, director or Officer in defending (whether successfully or otherwise) any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative proceedings (whether threatened, pending or completed) concerning the Company or its affairs in any court or tribunal, whether in the Islands or elsewhere.

 

Such indemnity only applies if the directors are of the view that, in the absence of fraud, wilful default or wilful neglect, such existing or former Secretary, director or Officer acted honestly and in good faith with a view to what the person believes is in the best interests of the Company and, in the case of criminal proceedings, such person had no reasonable cause to believe that their conduct was unlawful. No such existing or former Secretary, director or Officer, however, shall be indemnified in respect of any matter arising out of his own actual fraud, wilful default or wilful neglect.

 

30.2 To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Company may make a payment, or agree to make a payment, whether by way of advance, loan or otherwise, for any legal costs incurred by an existing or former Secretary, director or Officer of the Company in respect of any matter identified in paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of the preceding Article on condition that the Secretary, director or Officer must repay the amount paid by the Company to the extent that it is ultimately found not liable to indemnify the Secretary, director or that Officer for those legal costs.

 

Release

 

30.3 To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Company may by Special Resolution release any existing or former director (including alternate director), Secretary or other Officer of the Company from liability for any loss or damage or right to compensation which may arise out of or in connection with the execution or discharge of the duties, powers, authorities or discretions of his office; but there may be no release from liability arising out of or in connection with that person’s own actual fraud, wilful default or wilful neglect.

 

Insurance

 

30.4 To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Company may pay, or agree to pay, a premium in respect of a contract insuring each of the following persons against risks determined by the directors, other than liability arising out of that person’s own dishonesty:

 

  (a) an existing or former director (including alternate director), Secretary or Officer or auditor of:

 

  (i) the Company;

 

  (ii) a company which is or was a subsidiary of the Company;

 

  (iii) a company in which the Company has or had an interest (whether direct or indirect); and

 

  (b) a trustee of an employee or retirement benefits scheme or other trust in which any of the persons referred to in paragraph (a) is or was interested.

 

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31. Notices

 

Form of notices

 

31.1 Save where these Articles provide otherwise, any notice to be given to or by any person pursuant to these Articles shall be:

 

  (a) in writing signed by or on behalf of the giver in the manner set out below for written notices; or

 

  (b) subject to the next Article, in an Electronic Record signed by or on behalf of the giver by Electronic Signature and authenticated in accordance with Articles about authentication of Electronic Records; or

 

  (c) where these Articles expressly permit, by the Company by means of a website.

 

Electronic communications

 

31.2 Without limitation to Articles 17.1 to 17.4 inclusive (relating to the appointment and removal by directors of alternate directors) and to Articles 19.8to 19.10 inclusive (relating to the appointment by directors of proxies), a notice may only be given to the Company in an Electronic Record if:

 

  (a) the directors so resolve;

 

  (b) the resolution states how an Electronic Record may be given and, if applicable, specifies an email address for the Company; and

 

  (c) the terms of that resolution are notified to the Members for the time being and, if applicable, to those directors who were absent from the meeting at which the resolution was passed.

 

If the resolution is revoked or varied, the revocation or variation shall only become effective when its terms have been similarly notified.

 

31.3 A notice may not be given by Electronic Record to a person other than the Company unless the recipient has notified the giver of an Electronic address to which notice may be sent.

 

Persons authorised to give notices

 

31.4 A notice by either the Company or a Member pursuant to these Articles may be given on behalf of the Company or a Member by a director or company secretary of the Company or a Member.

 

Delivery of written notices

 

31.5 Save where these Articles provide otherwise, a notice in writing may be given personally to the recipient, or left at (as appropriate) the Member’s or director’s registered address or the Company’s registered office, or posted to that registered address or registered office.

 

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Joint holders

 

31.6 Where Members are joint holders of a Share, all notices shall be given to the Member whose name first appears in the Register of Members.

 

Signatures

 

31.7 A written notice shall be signed when it is autographed by or on behalf of the giver, or is marked in such a way as to indicate its execution or adoption by the giver.

 

31.8 An Electronic Record may be signed by an Electronic Signature.

 

Evidence of transmission

 

31.9 A notice given by Electronic Record shall be deemed sent if an Electronic Record is kept demonstrating the time, date and content of the transmission, and if no notification of failure to transmit is received by the giver.

 

31.10 A notice given in writing shall be deemed sent if the giver can provide proof that the envelope containing the notice was properly addressed, pre-paid and posted, or that the written notice was otherwise properly transmitted to the recipient.

 

Giving notice to a deceased or bankrupt Member

 

31.11 A notice may be given by the Company to the persons entitled to a Share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a Member by sending or delivering it, in any manner authorised by these Articles for the giving of notice to a Member, addressed to them by name, or by the title of representatives of the deceased, or trustee of the bankrupt or by any like description, at the address, if any, supplied for that purpose by the persons claiming to be so entitled.

 

31.12 Until such an address has been supplied, a notice may be given in any manner in which it might have been given if the death or bankruptcy had not occurred.

 

Date of giving notices

 

31.13 A notice is given on the date identified in the following table.

 

Method for giving notices    When taken to be given
Personally   At the time and date of delivery
     
By leaving it at the member’s registered address   At the time and date it was left
If the recipient has an address within the Islands, by posting it by prepaid post to the street or postal address of that recipient   48 hours after it was posted
     
If the recipient has an address outside the Islands, by posting it by prepaid airmail to the street or postal address of that recipient   3 Clear Days after posting
     
By Electronic Record (other than publication on a website), to recipient’s Electronic address   Within 24 hours after it was sent
     
By publication on a website   See these Articles about the time when notice of a meeting of Members or accounts and reports, as the case may be, are published on a website

 

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Saving provision

 

31.14 None of the preceding notice provisions shall derogate from these Articles about the delivery of written resolutions of directors and written resolutions of Members.

 

32. Authentication of Electronic Records

 

Application of Articles

 

32.1 Without limitation to any other provision of these Articles, any notice, written resolution or other document under these Articles that is sent by Electronic means by a Member, or by the Secretary, or by a director or other Officer of the Company, shall be deemed to be authentic if either Article 32.2 or Article 32.4 applies.

 

Authentication of documents sent by Members by Electronic means

 

32.2 An Electronic Record of a notice, written resolution or other document sent by Electronic means by or on behalf of one or more Members shall be deemed to be authentic if the following conditions are satisfied:

 

  (a) the Member or each Member, as the case may be, signed the original document, and for this purpose Original Document includes several documents in like form signed by one or more of those Members; and

 

  (b) the Electronic Record of the Original Document was sent by Electronic means by, or at the direction of, that Member to an address specified in accordance with these Articles for the purpose for which it was sent; and

 

  (c) Article 32.7 does not apply.

 

32.3 For example, where a sole Member signs a resolution and sends the Electronic Record of the original resolution, or causes it to be sent, by facsimile transmission to the address in these Articles specified for that purpose, the facsimile copy shall be deemed to be the written resolution of that Member unless Article 32.7 applies.

 

48

 

 

Authentication of document sent by the Secretary or Officers of the Company by Electronic means

 

32.4 An Electronic Record of a notice, written resolution or other document sent by or on behalf of the Secretary or an Officer or Officers of the Company shall be deemed to be authentic if the following conditions are satisfied:

 

  (a) the Secretary or the Officer or each Officer, as the case may be, signed the original document, and for this purpose Original Document includes several documents in like form signed by the Secretary or one or more of those Officers; and

 

  (b) the Electronic Record of the Original Document was sent by Electronic means by, or at the direction of, the Secretary or that Officer to an address specified in accordance with these Articles for the purpose for which it was sent; and

 

  (c) Article 32.7 does not apply.

 

This Article applies whether the document is sent by or on behalf of the Secretary or Officer in his own right or as a representative of the Company.

 

32.5 For example, where a sole director signs a resolution and scans the resolution, or causes it to be scanned, as a PDF version which is attached to an email sent to the address in these Articles specified for that purpose, the PDF version shall be deemed to be the written resolution of that director unless Article 32.7 applies.

 

Manner of signing

 

32.6 For the purposes of these Articles about the authentication of Electronic Records, a document will be taken to be signed if it is signed manually or in any other manner permitted by these Articles.

 

Saving provision

 

32.7 A notice, written resolution or other document under these Articles will not be deemed to be authentic if the recipient, acting reasonably:

 

  (a) believes that the signature of the signatory has been altered after the signatory had signed the original document; or

 

  (b) believes that the original document, or the Electronic Record of it, was altered, without the approval of the signatory, after the signatory signed the original document; or

 

  (c) otherwise doubts the authenticity of the Electronic Record of the document

 

and the recipient promptly gives notice to the sender setting the grounds of its objection. If the recipient invokes this Article, the sender may seek to establish the authenticity of the Electronic Record in any way the sender thinks fit.

 

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33. Transfer by way of continuation

 

33.1 The Company may, by Special Resolution, resolve to be registered by way of continuation in a jurisdiction outside:

 

  (a) the Islands; or

 

  (b) such other jurisdiction in which it is, for the time being, incorporated, registered or existing.

 

33.2 To give effect to any resolution made pursuant to the preceding Article, the directors may cause the following:

 

  (a) an application be made to the Registrar of Companies to deregister the Company in the Islands or in the other jurisdiction in which it is for the time being incorporated, registered or existing; and

 

  (b) all such further steps as they consider appropriate to be taken to effect the transfer by way of continuation of the Company.

 

34. Winding up

 

Distribution of assets in specie

 

34.1 If the Company is wound up, the Members may, subject to these Articles and any other sanction required by the Act, pass a Special Resolution allowing the liquidator to do either or both of the following:

 

  (a) to divide in specie among the Members the whole or any part of the assets of the Company and, for that purpose, to value any assets and to determine how the division shall be carried out as between the Members or different classes of Members;

 

  (b) to vest the whole or any part of the assets in trustees for the benefit of Members and those liable to contribute to the winding up.

 

No obligation to accept liability

 

34.2 No Member shall be compelled to accept any assets if an obligation attaches to them.

 

The directors are authorised to present a winding up petition

 

34.3 The directors have the authority to present a petition for the winding up of the Company to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands on behalf of the Company without the sanction of a resolution passed at a general meeting.

 

35. Amendment of Memorandum and Articles

 

Power to change name or amend Memorandum

 

35.1 Subject to the Act, the Company may, by Special Resolution:

 

  (a) change its name; or

 

  (b) change the provisions of its Memorandum with respect to its objects, powers or any other matter specified in the Memorandum.

 

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Power to amend these Articles

 

35.2 Subject to the Act and as provided in these Articles, the Company may, by Special Resolution, amend these Articles in whole or in part.

 

36. Mergers and Consolidations

 

The Company shall have the power to merge or consolidate with one or more constituent companies (as defined in the Act) upon such terms as the directors may determine and (to the extent required by the Act) with the approval of a Special Resolution.

 

37. Business Combination

 

37.1 Notwithstanding any other provision of these Articles, this Article 37 shall apply during the period commencing upon the adoption of these Articles and terminating upon the first to occur of the consummation of any Business Combination and the distribution of the Trust Account pursuant to Article 37.10. In the event of a conflict between this Article 37 and any other Articles, the provisions of this Article 37 shall prevail and this Article may not be amended prior to the consummation of a Business Combination without a Special Resolution.

 

37.2 Prior to the consummation of any Business Combination, the Company shall either:

 

  (a) submit such Business Combination to its Members for approval; or

 

  (b) provide Members with the opportunity to have their Shares repurchased by means of a tender offer (a Tender Offer) for a per-Share repurchase price payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account, calculated as of two [business] days prior to the consummation of such Business Combination, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account not previously released to the Company to pay its income taxes, if any, divided by the number of Public Shares then in issue, provided that the Company shall not repurchase Public Shares in an amount that would cause the Company’s net tangible assets (after payment of the deferred underwriting commissions) to be less than US$5,000,001.

 

37.3 If the Company initiates any Tender Offer in accordance with Rule 13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act in connection with a proposed Business Combination, it shall file Tender Offer documents with the SEC prior to completing such Business Combination which contain substantially the same financial and other information about such Business Combination and the redemption rights as is required under Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act.

 

37.4 If, alternatively, the Company holds a general meeting to approve a proposed Business Combination, the Company will conduct any redemptions in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act, and not pursuant to the Tender Offer rules, and file proxy materials with the SEC.

 

37.5 At a general meeting called for the purposes of approving a Business Combination pursuant to this Article, in the event that such Business Combination is approved by Ordinary Resolution, the Company shall be authorised to consummate such Business Combination.

 

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37.6 Any Member holding Public Shares who is not a Founder, Officer or director may, contemporaneously with any vote on a Business Combination, elect to have their Public Shares redeemed for cash (the IPO Redemption), provided that no such Member acting together with any Affiliate of his or any other person with whom he is acting in concert or as a partnership, syndicate, or other group for the purposes of acquiring, holding, or disposing of Shares may exercise this redemption right with respect to more than 15% of the Public Shares without the Company’s prior consent, and provided further that any holder that holds Public Shares beneficially through a nominee must identify itself to the Company in connection with any redemption election in order to validly redeem such Public Shares. In connection with any vote held to approve a proposed Business Combination, holders of Public Shares seeking to exercise their redemption rights will be required to either tender their certificates (if any) to the Company’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 initially scheduled vote on the proposal to approve a Business Combination. If so demanded, the Company shall pay any such redeeming Member, regardless of whether he is voting for or against such proposed Business Combination or abstains from voting, a per-Share redemption price payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the Trust Account calculated as of two business days prior to the consummation of a Business Combination, including interest earned on the Trust Account not previously released to the Company to pay its income taxes, if any, divided by the number of Public Shares then in issue (such redemption price being referred to herein as the Redemption Price), provided that the Company shall not repurchase Public Shares in an amount that would cause the Company’s net tangible assets to be less than US$5,000,001.

 

37.7 The Redemption Price shall be paid promptly following the consummation of the relevant Business Combination. If the proposed Business Combination is not approved or completed for any reason then such redemptions shall be cancelled and share certificates (if any) returned to the relevant Members as appropriate.

 

37.8 The Company has until 12 months after the Registration Statement Effective Date to consummate a Business Combination, provided however that if the Board of Directors anticipates that the Company may not be able to consummate a Business Combination within 12 months after the Registration Statement Effective Date , the Company may, by Resolution of Directors, at the request of the Sponsor, extend the period of time to consummate a Business Combination up to three times, each by an additional three months (for a total of up to 21 months to complete a Business Combination), subject to the Sponsor depositing additional funds into the Trust Account upon five days advice notice prior to the applicable deadline in accordance with terms as set out in the Trust Agreement and referred to in the Registration Statement. In the event that the Company does not consummate a Business Combination by 12 months after the Registration Statement Effective Date (or 21 months after the Registration Statement Effective Date (subject in the latter case to valid three months extensions having been made in each case) or such later time as the Members of the Company may approve in accordance with these Articles, the Company shall:

 

  (a) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up;

 

  (b) 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 the Company to pay income taxes, if any (less up to US$50,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of the Public Shares then in issue, which redemption will completely extinguish public Members’ rights as Members (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any); and

 

  (c) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company’s remaining Members and the directors, liquidate and dissolve,

 

subject in each case, to its obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and in all cases subject to the other requirements of Applicable Law. If the Company shall wind up for any other reason prior to the consummation of a Business Combination, the Company shall, as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, follow the foregoing procedures set out in this Article 37.8 with respect to the liquidation of the Trust Account, subject to its obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and in all cases subject to the other requirements of Applicable Law.

 

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37.9 In the event that any amendment is made to these Articles:

 

  (a) that would modify the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to provide holders of Public Shares the right to:

 

  (i) have their shares redeemed or repurchased in connection with a Business Combination pursuant to Articles 37.2(b) or 37.6; or

 

  (ii) redeem 100% of the Public Shares if the Company has not consummated an initial Business Combination within 12 months after the Registration Statement Effective Date (or 21 months after the Registration Statement Effective Date pursuant to Article 37.8 (subject in the latter case to valid three months extensions having been made in each case); or

 

  (b) with respect to any other provision relating to the rights of holders of Public Shares,

 

each holder of Public Shares who is not a Founder, Officer or director shall be provided with the opportunity to redeem their Public Shares upon the approval of any such amendment (an Amendment Redemption) 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 not previously released to the Company to pay income taxes, if any, divided by the number of Public Shares then in issue.

 

37.10 Except for the withdrawal of interest to pay income taxes, if any, none of the funds held in the Trust Account shall be released from the Trust Account:

 

  (a) to the Company, until completion of any Business Combination; or

 

  (b) to the Members holding Public Shares, until the earliest of:

 

  (i) a repurchase of Shares by means of a Tender Offer pursuant to Article 37.2(b);

 

  (ii) an IPO Redemption pursuant to Article 37.6;

 

  (iii) a distribution of the Trust Account pursuant to Article 37.8; or

 

  (iv) an Amendment Redemption pursuant to Article 37.9.

 

In no other circumstance shall a holder of Public Shares have any right or interest of any kind in the Trust Account.

 

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37.11 After the issue of Public Shares (including pursuant to the Over-Allotment Option), and prior to the consummation of a Business Combination, the directors shall not issue additional Shares or any other securities that would entitle the holders thereof to:

 

  (a) receive funds from the Trust Account; or

 

  (b) vote as a class with the Public Shares:

 

  (i) on a Business Combination or on any other proposal presented to Members prior to or in connection with the completion of a Business Combination; or

 

  (ii) to approve an amendment to these Articles to:

 

  (A) extend the time the Company has to consummate a Business Combination beyond 12 months after the Registration Statement Effective Date or 21 months after the Registration Statement Effective Date pursuant to Article 37.8 (subject in the latter case to valid three months extensions having been made in each case); or

 

  (B) amend the foregoing provisions of these Articles.

 

37.12 The Company must complete one or more Business Combinations, which must be with one or more operating businesses or assets with a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the net assets held in the trust account (net of amounts disbursed to management for working capital purposes, if permitted, and excluding the amount of any deferred underwriting discount and taxes payable on the interest earned on the trust account). An initial Business Combination must not be effectuated solely with another blank cheque company or a similar company with nominal operations

 

37.13 The uninterested Independent Directors shall approve any transaction or transactions between the Company and any of the following parties:

 

  (a) any Member owning an interest in the voting power of the Company that gives such Member a significant influence over the Company; and

 

  (b) any director or Officer of the Company and any Affiliate or relative of such director or Officer.

 

37.14 A director may vote in respect of any Business Combination in which such director has a conflict of interest with respect to the evaluation of such Business Combination. Such director must disclose such interest or conflict to the other directors.

 

37.15 The Company may enter into a Business Combination with a target business that is Affiliated with the Sponsor, a Founder, the directors of the Company or Officers. In the event the Company seeks to complete the Business Combination with a target that is Affiliated with the Sponsor, a Founder, Officers or directors, the Company, or a committee of Independent Directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm, which is a member of United States Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or another independent valuation or accounting firm that such a Business Combination or transaction is fair to the Company from a financial point of view.

 

37.16 Any Business Combination must be approved by the a majority of the Independent Directors.

 

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38. Certain Tax Filings

 

38.1 Each Tax Filing Authorised Person and any such other person, acting alone, as any director shall designate from time to time, are authorised to file tax forms SS-4, W-8 BEN, W-8 IMY, W-9, 8832 and 2553 and such other similar tax forms as are customary to file with any US state or federal governmental authorities or foreign governmental authorities in connection with the formation, activities and/or elections of the Company and such other tax forms as may be approved from time to time by any director of the Company or an Officer. The Company further ratifies and approves any such filing made by any Tax Filing Authorised Person or such other person prior to the date of these Articles.

 

39. Business Opportunities

 

39.1 In recognition and anticipation of the facts that: (a) directors, managers, officers, members, partners, managing members, employees and/or agents of one or more members of the Investor Group (each of the foregoing, an “Investor Group Related Person”) may serve as directors of the Company and/or Officers; and (b) the Investor Group engages, and may continue to engage in the same or similar activities or related lines of business as those in which the Company, directly or indirectly, may engage and/or other business activities that overlap with or compete with those in which the Company, directly or indirectly, may engage, the provisions under this heading “Business Opportunities” are set forth to regulate and define the conduct of certain affairs of the Company as they may involve the Members and the Investor Group Related Persons, and the powers, rights, duties and liabilities of the Company and its Officers, directors and Members in connection therewith.

 

39.2 To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, the directors and officers of the Company shall have no duty, except and to the extent expressly assumed by contract, to refrain from engaging directly or indirectly in the same or similar business activities or lines of business as the Company. To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, and subject to his or her fiduciary duties under Applicable Law, the Company renounces any interest or expectancy of the Company in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any potential transaction or matter which may be a corporate opportunity offered to any director and officer of the Company, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other, unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such director or officer of the Company solely in their capacity as an Officer or director of the Company and the opportunity is one the Company is permitted to complete on a reasonable basis.

 

39.3 Except as provided elsewhere in these Articles, the Company hereby renounces any interest or expectancy of the Company in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any potential transaction or matter which may be a corporate opportunity for both the Company and the Investor Group, about which a director of the Company and/or Officer who is also an Investor Group Related Person acquires knowledge.

 

39.4 To the extent a court might hold that the conduct of any activity related to a corporate opportunity that is renounced in this Article to be a breach of duty to the Company or its Members, the Company hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, any and all claims and causes of action that the Company may have for such activities. To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, the provisions of this Article apply equally to activities conducted in the future and that have been conducted in the past.

 

 

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EX-4.1 5 fs12021a1ex4-1_aquarius1.htm SPECIMEN UNIT CERTIFICATE

Exhibit 4.1

 

NUMBER
U-__________
  UNITS
     
SEE REVERSE FOR
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.  

 

 

CUSIP: G0441B 113

 

UNITS CONSISTING OF ONE ORDINARY SHARE, ONE WARRANT AND
ONE RIGHT TO RECEIVE ONE-TENTH OF ONE ORDINARY SHARE

 

THIS CERTIFIES THAT    

 

is the owner of   Units.

 

Each Unit (“Unit”) consists of one ordinary share, with a par value $0.0001 per share, of Aquarius I Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands company (the “Company”), one redeemable warrant (“Warrant”), and one right (“Right”) to receive one-tenth (1/10) of an ordinary share. Each redeemable Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one-half (1/2) of one ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per full share (subject to adjustment), upon the later to occur of (i) the Company’s completion of a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities (a “Business Combination”) or (ii) 12 months from the date that the registration statement is declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (or up to 21 months from the date that the registration statement is declared effective if we extend the period of time to consummate a business combination). Every ten Rights entitles the holder thereof to receive one ordinary share upon consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination. The ordinary shares, Rights and Warrants comprising the Units represented by this certificate are not transferable separately prior to the 52nd business day after the date of the prospectus relating to the Company’s initial public offering, unless Maxim Group LLC (“Maxim”) as the representative of the underwriters, determines that an earlier date is acceptable, but in no event will the ordinary shares, Rights and Warrants be traded separately until the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a current report on Form 8-K which includes an audited balance sheet reflecting the receipt by the Company of the gross proceeds from its initial public offering including the proceeds received by the Company from the exercise of the over-allotment option thereto, if the over-allotment option is exercised. If the over-allotment option is exercised after the date of the prospectus, we will file an amendment to the Form 8-K or a new Form 8-K to provide updated financial information to reflect the exercise of the over-allotment option. We will also include in the Form 8-K, or amendment thereto, or in a subsequent Form 8-K, information indicating if the underwriters has allowed separate trading of the ordinary shares, Rights and Warrant prior to the 52nd business day after the date of the prospectus.

 

The terms of the Warrants and Rights are governed by a warrant agreement (the “Warrant Agreement”), dated as of [●], 2021, and a rights agreement (the “Rights Agreement”), dated as of [●], 2021, respectively, both between the Company and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC as the warrant agent and rights 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 Rights Agreement and Warrant Agreement are on file at the office of American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC at 6201 15th Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, NY 11219, and are available to any Warrant holder or Rights holder, respectively, on written request and without cost.

 

This certificate is not valid unless countersigned by the Transfer Agent and Registrar of the Company.

 

Witness the facsimile seal of the Company and the facsimile signatures of its duly authorized officers.

 

This Unit Certificate shall be governed and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof.

 

[Seal]

 

By       
       
  Chairman   Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.

 

The Company will furnish without charge to each shareholder who so requests, a statement of the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of shares 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 - __________ Custodian __________
TEN ENT – as tenants by the entireties                                           (Cust)                     (Minor)
JT TEN – as joint tenants with right of survivorship under Uniform Gifts to Minors
  and not as tenants in common Act __________
  (State)

 

Additional Abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

 

For value received, ___________________________ hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto

 

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER

IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE(S)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE(S))
 
 
 
 

 

  Units

 

represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint
 
   Attorney
to transfer the said Units on the books of the within named Company will full power of substitution in the premises.

 

Dated                                                   

 

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:

 

   
THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD 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).  

 

The holder of this certificate shall be entitled to receive funds with respect to the underlying ordinary shares from the trust fund only in the event of the Company’s liquidation upon failure to consummate a business combination or if the holder seeks to convert his or her respective ordinary shares underlying the unit upon consummation of such business combination or in connection with certain amendments to the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association. In no other circumstances shall the holder have any right or interest of any kind in or to the trust fund.

 

 

 

 

EX-4.2 6 fs12021a1ex4-2_aquarius1.htm SPECIMEN ORDINARY SHARE CERTIFICATE

Exhibit 4.2

 

SPECIMEN ORDINARY SHARE CERTIFICATE

 

CERTIFICATE NUMBERSHARES

_________

 

AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.

 

INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS

 

ORDINARY SHARE

 

SEE REVERSE FOR
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

 

THIS CERTIFIES THAT CUSIP: G0441B 105

 

IS THE OWNER OF

 

FULLY PAID AND NON-ASSESSABLE ORDINARY SHARES OF PAR VALUE $0.0001 PER SHARE

 

AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.

 

transferable on the books of the Company in person or by duly authorized
attorney upon surrender of this certificate properly endorsed. This certificate is not valid unless
countersigned by the Transfer Agent and registered by the Registrar. Witness the seal of
the Company and the facsimile signatures of its duly authorized officers.

 

Dated:

     
 
Chairman   Chief Financial Officer

 

AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.
CORPORATE
SEAL 2021
CAYMAN ISLANDS

 

 

AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.

 

The Company will furnish without charge to each shareholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of share or series thereof of the Company and the qualifications, limitations, or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights. This certificate and the Ordinary Shares represented thereby are issued and shall be held subject to all the provisions of the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association and all amendments thereto and resolutions of the Board of Directors providing for the issuance of Ordinary Shares (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

TEN ENT - as tenants by the entireties

JT TEN - as joint tenants with right of survivorship
and not as tenants in common

 

UNIF GIFT MIN ACT -   Custodian    
  (Cust)   (Minor)  
  under Uniform Gifts to Minors  

 

  Act    
    (State)  

 

Additional Abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

 

For value received, ___________________________ hereby sell, assign and transfer unto

 

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR
OTHER
IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE
 
 
 
   
   
   

 

 
(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE)
 
         
 
                  
 

 

 shares

represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint

 

                Attorney

to transfer the said share on the books of the within named Company will full power of substitution in the premises.

 

2

 

 

Dated                                                                          
     
    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:

 

 

 

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).

 

The holder of this certificate shall be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only in the event of (i) the liquidation of the trust account upon a failure to consummate a business combination, as described in the prospectus covering the securities or (ii) if the holder seeks to convert his respective shares or sells them to the Company in a tender offer, in each case in connection with (1) the consummation of a business combination or (2) in connection with an amendment to our Memorandum and Articles of Association prior to the consummation of a business combination. In no other circumstances shall the holder have any right or interest of any kind in or to the trust account.

 

 

3

 

 

EX-4.3 7 fs12021a1ex4-3_aquarius1.htm SPECIMEN WARRANT CERTIFICATE

Exhibit 4.3

 

SPECIMEN WARRANT CERTIFICATE

 

NUMBER   [    ] WARRANTS
WA-    

 

(THIS WARRANT WILL BE VOID IF NOT EXERCISED PRIOR TO 5:00 P.M.

NEW YORK CITY TIME, FIVE YEARS FROM THE CLOSING DATE OF THE COMPANY’S
INITIAL BUSINESS COMBINATION)

 

AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.

 

CUSIP: G0441B 105

 

WARRANT

 

THIS WARRANT CERTIFIES THAT, for value received                                         , or registered agents, is the registered holder of a Warrant or Warrants (the “Warrant”), expiring on a date which is five (5) years from the completion of the Company’s initial business combination, to purchase one-half (1/2) of one fully paid and non-assessable ordinary share (the “Warrant Shares”), with a par value $0.0001 per share, of AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP., a Cayman Islands company (the “Company”), for each Warrant evidenced by this Warrant Certificate. This Warrant Certificate is subject to and shall be interpreted under the terms and conditions of the Warrant Agreement (as defined below).

 

The Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase from the Company, from time to time, in whole or in part, commencing 30 days after the consummation of the Company’s initial business combination and twelve (12) months from date that the registration statement is declared effective, such number of Warrant Shares at the price of $11.50 per full share (the “Warrant Price”), upon surrender of this Warrant Certificate and payment of the Warrant Price at the office or agency of American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (the “Warrant Agent”), such payment to be made subject to the conditions set forth herein and in the Warrant Agreement, dated [●], 2021, between the Company and the Warrant Agent (the “Warrant Agreement”). In no event shall the registered holder(s) of this Warrant be entitled to receive a net-cash settlement in lieu of physical settlement in Warrant Shares of the Company. The Warrant Agreement provides that, upon the occurrence of certain events, the Warrant Price and the number of Warrant Shares purchasable hereunder, set forth on the face hereof, may be adjusted, subject to certain conditions. The term Warrant Price as used in this Warrant Certificate refers to the price per full Warrant Share at which Warrant Shares may be purchased at the time the Warrant is exercised.

 

This Warrant will expire on the date first referenced above if it is not exercised prior to such date by the registered holder pursuant to the terms of the Warrant Agreement or if it is not redeemed by the Company prior to such date.

 

Upon any exercise of the Warrant for less than the total number of full Warrant Shares provided for herein, there shall be issued to the registered holder(s) hereof or its assignee(s) a new Warrant Certificate covering the number of Warrant Shares for which the Warrant has not been exercised.

 

Warrant Certificates, when surrendered at the office or agency of the Warrant Agent by the registered holder(s) hereof in person or by 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 and evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants.

 

Upon due presentment for registration of transfer of the Warrant Certificate at the office or agency 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 applicable tax or other governmental charge.

 

 

 

 

The Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the registered holder(s) 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 registered holder(s), and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

 

This Warrant does not entitle the registered holder(s) to any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company.

 

After the Warrant becomes exercisable and prior to its expiration date, the Company reserves the right to call the Warrant at any time, with a notice of call in writing to the holder(s) of record of the Warrant, giving thirty (30) days’ written notice of such call if the last reported sale price of the shares has been equal to or greater than $18.00 per share for any twenty (20) trading days within a thirty (30) trading day period ending on the third (3rd) trading day prior to the date on which notice of such call is given, provided that (i) a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”) with respect to the ordinary shares underlying the Warrants issuable upon exercise must be effective and a current prospectus must be available for use by the registered holders hereof or (ii) the Warrants may be exercised on cashless basis as set forth in the Warrant Agreement and such cashless exercise is exempt from registration under the Act. The call price is $0.01 per Warrant Share.

 

If the foregoing conditions are satisfied and the Company calls the Warrant for redemption, each holder will then be entitled to exercise his, her or its Warrant prior to the date scheduled for redemption; provided that the Company may require the Registered Holder who desires to exercise the Warrant, to elect cashless exercise as set forth in the Warrant Agreement, and such Registered Holder must exercise the Warrants on a cashless basis if the Company so requires. Any Warrant either not exercised or tendered back to the Company by the end of the date specified in the notice of call shall be canceled on the books of the Company and have no further value except for the $0.01 call price.

 

COUNTERSIGNED:  
AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC
WARRANT AGENT
 
   
     
BY:    
AUTHORIZED OFFICER  

 

DATED:    

 

(Signature)

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

 

(Seal)

 

(Signature)

SECRETARY

 

2

 

 

[REVERSE OF CERTIFICATE]

 

SUBSCRIPTION FORM

 

To Be Executed by the Registered Holder(s) in Order to Exercise Warrants

 

The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right, represented by this Warrant Certificate, to receive ordinary shares in accordance with the terms of this Warrant Certificate and pursuant to the method selected below. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined have the respective meanings set forth in the Warrant Certificate. PLEASE CHECK ONE METHOD OF PAYMENT:

 

        a “Cash Exercise” with respect to                  Warrant Shares; and/or
         
        a “Cashless Exercise” with respect to                  Warrant Shares because on the date of this exercise, there is no effective registration statement registering the Warrant Shares, or the prospectus contained therein is not available for the resale of the Warrant Shares, in which event the Company shall deliver to the registered holder(s)                  ordinary shares pursuant to the Warrant Agreement.

 

The undersigned requests that a certificate for such shares be registered in the name(s) of:

 
(PLEASE TYPE OR PRINT NAME(S) AND ADDRESS)
 
 
 
 
 
 
(SOCIAL SECURITY OR TAX IDENTIFICATION NUMBER(S))

 

and be delivered to    
    (PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE NAME(S) AND ADDRESS)

 

and, if such number of Warrants shall not be all the Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate, that a new Warrant Certificate for the balance of such Warrants be registered in the name of, and delivered to, the registered holder(s) at the address(es) stated below:

 

Dated:

   
   
(SIGNATURE(S))  
   
   
(ADDRESS(ES))  
   
   

 

   
   
(TAX IDENTIFICATION NUMBER(S))  

 

3

 

 

ASSIGNMENT

 

To Be Executed by the Registered Holder in Order to Assign Warrants

 

For Value Received,                                      hereby sell(s), assign(s), and transfer(s) unto

   
(PLEASE TYPE OR PRINT NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES))  
   
   
   
   
   
   

(SOCIAL SECURITY OR TAX IDENTIFICATION NUMBER(S))

 

and to be delivered to      
    (PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES))  
       
       
       
       

(SOCIAL SECURITY OR TAX IDENTIFICATION NUMBER(S))

 

of the Warrants represented by this Warrant Certificate, and hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint                      Attorney to transfer this Warrant Certificate on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.

 

Dated:

   
(SIGNATURE(S))  

 

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:

 

By    

 

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).

 

 

4

 

 

EX-4.4 8 fs12021a1ex4-4_aquarius1.htm SPECIMEN RIGHT CERTIFICATE

Exhibit 4.4

 

NUMBER

GBRGR

RIGHTS

 

AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.

 

INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS

 

RIGHT

SEE REVERSE FOR

CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

 

CUSIP: G0441B 139

 

THIS CERTIFIES THAT, for value received

 

is the registered holder of a right or rights (the “Right”) to automatically receive one-tenth of one ordinary share, with $0.0001 par value (“Ordinary Share”), of Aquarius I Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) for each Right evidenced by this Rights Certificate on the Company’s completion of an initial business combination (as defined in the prospectus relating to the Company’s initial public offering (“Prospectus”)) upon surrender of this Right Certificate pursuant to the Rights Agreement between the Company and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as Rights Agent. In no event will the Company be required to net cash settle any Right.

 

Upon liquidation of the Company in the event an initial business combination is not consummated during the required period as identified in the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Right shall expire and be worthless. The holder of a Right shall have no right or interest of any kind in the Company’s trust account (as defined in the Prospectus).

 

Upon due presentment for registration of transfer of the Right Certificate at the office or agency of the Rights Agent, a new Right Certificate or Right Certificates of like tenor and evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Rights shall be issued to the transferee in exchange for this Right Certificate, without charge except for any applicable tax or other governmental charge. The Company shall not issue fractional shares upon exchange of Rights. The Company reserves the right to deal with any fractional entitlement at the relevant time in any manner (as provided in the Rights Agreement).

 

The Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the registered holder as the absolute owner of this Right Certificate (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing hereon made by anyone), for the purpose of any conversion hereof, of any distribution to the registered holder, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Right Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

 

This Right does not entitle the registered holder to any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company.

 

Dated:

 

     
CHAIRMAN   CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

 

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)                      
JT TEN – as joint tenants with right of survivorship under Uniform Gifts to Minors
and not as tenants in common Act __________
  (State)

 

Additional Abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

 

 

 

 

To Be Executed by the Registered Holder in Order to Assign Rights

 

For value received, ___________________________ hereby sell, assign and transfer unto

 

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER

IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

 

 

 

 

(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE)

 

 
   
 
   
  rights

represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint

 

  Attorney
to transfer said rights on the books of the within named Company will full power of substitution in the premises.
     

Dated _____________________

 

  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:

   
THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD 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).  

 

The holder of this certificate shall have no right or interest of any kind in or to the funds held in the Company’s trust account (as defined in the Prospectus).

 

 

2

 

 

EX-4.5 9 fs12021a1ex4-5_aquarius1.htm FORM OF WARRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC AND THE REGISTRANT

Exhibit 4.5

 

WARRANT AGREEMENT

 

This WARRANT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of [●], 2021 between Aquarius I Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company with limited liability, with its principal executive office at Unit A-C, 33/F, Tower A, Billion Centre, 1 Wang Kwong Road, Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong (the “Company”), and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, a New York limited purpose trust company, with offices at 6201 15th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11219, as warrant agent (the “Warrant Agent”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company is engaged in a public offering (the “Public Offering”) of up to 5,750,000 units (including 750,000 units which may be issued pursuant to an over-allotment option granted to the underwriters of the Public Offering), each unit (the “Public Units”) comprised of one ordinary share of the Company, par value $0.0001 each (“Ordinary Share”), one right to receive one-tenth (1/10) of one Ordinary Share (the “Right”), and one warrant, where each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one-half (1/2) of one Ordinary Share at a price of $11.50 per full share, subject to adjustment as described herein, and, in connection therewith, will issue and deliver up to 2,875,000 warrants (the “Public Warrants”) to the public investors in connection with the Public Offering; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a Registration Statement on Form S-1, No. 333-257706 (as amended, the “Registration Statement”) and prospectus (the “Prospectus”), for the registration, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”) of, among other securities, the Public Warrants; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company has received binding commitments (the “Subscription Agreements”) from the Company’s sponsor, Aquarius Sponsor Ltd. (the “Sponsor”), to purchase, simultaneously with the closing of the Public Offering, up to an aggregate of 310,000 units (the “Private Units”), each containing one Ordinary Share, one right to receive one-tenth (1/10) of one Ordinary Share, and one redeemable warrant (the “Private Warrants”, including the warrants underlying the units that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans and any outstanding warrants issued upon exercise of the unit purchase option issued to the Representative (as defined below) and together with the Public Warrants, the “Warrants”), each exercisable to purchase one-half of one Ordinary Share at a price of $11.50 per full share, bearing the legend set forth in Exhibit B hereto; and

 

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; and

 

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, 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 be issued in registered form only, shall be in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto, the provisions of which are incorporated herein and shall be signed by, or bear the facsimile signature of, the Chairman of the Board of Directors or Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company and shall bear a facsimile of the Company’s seal. In the event the person whose facsimile 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.

 

2.2. Uncertificated Warrants. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any Warrant, or portion thereof, may be issued as part of, and be represented by, a Unit, and any Warrant may be issued in uncertificated or book-entry form through the Warrant Agent and/or the facilities of The Depository Trust Company (the “Depositary”) or other book-entry depositary system, in each case as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company or by an authorized committee thereof. Any Warrant so issued shall have the same terms, force and effect as a certificated Warrant that has been duly countersigned by the Warrant Agent in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

2.3. Effect of Countersignature. Except with respect to uncertificated Warrants as described above, unless and until countersigned by the Warrant Agent pursuant to this Agreement, a Warrant shall be invalid and of no effect and may not be exercised by the holder thereof.

 

2.4. Registration.

 

2.4.1. Warrant Register. The Warrant Agent shall maintain books (“Warrant Register”) for the registration of original issuance and the registration of transfer of the Warrants. Upon the initial issuance of the Warrants, 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.

 

2.4.2. 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 then registered in the Warrant Register (“registered holder”) as the absolute owner of such Warrant and of each Warrant represented thereby (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing on the Warrant 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.

 

2.5. Detachability of Warrants. The securities comprising the Units will not be separately transferable until the 52nd Business Day (as defined below) or earlier with the consent of Maxim Group LLC (the “Representative”), but in no event will the Representative allow separate trading of the securities comprising the Units until (i) the Company has filed a Current Report on Form 8-K which includes an audited balance sheet reflecting the receipt by the Company of the gross proceeds of the Public Offering including the proceeds received by the Company from the exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option in the Public Offering, if the over-allotment option is exercised prior to the filing of the Form 8-K, and (ii) the Company has issued a press release and has filed a Current Report on Form 8-K announcing when such separate trading shall begin (the “Detachment Date”). A “Business Day” means a day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or federal holiday, on which banks in New York City are generally open for normal business.

 

2.6. Private Warrant Attributes. The Private Warrants will be identical to the Public Warrants subject to the adjustments provided in Section 5.6.    

 

3. Terms and Exercise of Warrants

 

3.1. Warrant Price. Each Warrant shall, when countersigned by the Warrant Agent (except with respect to uncertificated Warrants), entitle the registered holder thereof, subject to the provisions of such Warrant and of this Agreement, to purchase from the Company the number of Ordinary Shares stated therein, at the price of $11.50 per full 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 refers to the price per share at which the Ordinary Shares may be purchased at the time a Warrant is exercised. The Company will not issue fractional shares. As a result, such Registered Holder must exercise Warrants in multiples of two at the Warrant Price (subject to adjustment) in order to validly exercise, his, her or its Warrants. 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; provided, that the Company shall provide at least twenty (20) days’ prior written notice of such reduction to registered holders of the Warrants and, provided further that any such reduction shall be applied consistently to all of the Warrants.

 

2

 

 

3.2. Duration of Warrants. A Warrant may be exercised only during the period commencing 30 days after the consummation by the Company of a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities (“Business Combination”)     (as described more fully in the Registration Statement) and 12 months from the date that the Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC, and terminating at 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the earlier to occur of (i) the date that is five (5) years after the date on which the Company consummates a Business Combination, (ii) at 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the Redemption Date as provided in Section 6.2 of this Agreement and (iii) the liquidation of the Trust Account (defined below) (“Expiration Date”). The period of time from the date the Warrants will first become exercisable until the expiration of the Warrants shall hereafter be referred to as the “Exercise Period.” Except with respect to the right to receive the Redemption Price (as set forth in Section 6 hereunder), as applicable, each outstanding Warrant 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 the close of business on the Expiration Date. The Company in its sole discretion may extend the duration of the Warrants by delaying the Expiration Date; provided, however, that the Company will provide at least twenty (20) days’ prior written notice of any such extension to registered holders and, provided further that any such extension shall be applied consistently to all of the Warrants.

 

3.3. Exercise of Warrants.

 

3.3.1. Payment. Subject to the provisions of the Warrant and this Agreement, a Warrant, when countersigned by the Warrant Agent, may be exercised by the registered holder thereof by surrendering it, at the office of the Warrant Agent, or at the office of its successor as Warrant Agent, in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York, with the subscription form, as set forth in the Warrant, duly executed, and by paying in full the Warrant Price for each Ordinary Share as to which the Warrant is exercised and any and all applicable taxes due in connection with the exercise of the Warrant, as follows:

 

(a) in lawful money of the United States, by good certified check or good bank draft payable to the order of the Warrant Agent or wire transfer;

 

(b) in the event of a redemption pursuant to Section 6.1 hereof in which the Company’s management has elected to force all holders of Warrants to exercise such Warrants on a “cashless basis,” by surrendering the Warrants for that number of Ordinary Shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of Ordinary Shares underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “Fair Market Value” (defined below) over the Warrant Price by (y) the Fair Market Value. Solely for purposes of this Section 3.3.1(b), the “Fair Market Value” shall mean the average reported closing price of the Ordinary Shares for the ten (10) trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date of exercise on which the notice of redemption is sent to holders of the Warrants pursuant to Section 6 hereof; or

  

(c) in the event the registration statement required by Section 7.4 hereof is not effective and current within ninety (90) days    after the closing of a Business Combination, by surrendering such Warrants for that number of Ordinary Shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of Ordinary Shares underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “Fair Market Value” over the Warrant Price by (y) the Fair Market Value; provided, however, that no cashless exercise shall be permitted unless the Fair Market Value is equal to or higher than the Warrant Price. Solely for purposes of this Section 3.3.1(c), the “Fair Market Value” shall mean the average reported last sale price of the Ordinary Shares for the ten (10) trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date of exercise.

 

3.3.2. Issuance of Ordinary Shares. As soon as practicable after the exercise of any Warrant and the clearance of the funds in payment of the Warrant Price (if any), the Company shall issue to the registered holder of such Warrant a certificate or certificates, or book entry position, for the number of Ordinary Shares 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 countersigned Warrant, or book entry position, for the number of shares as to which such Warrant shall not have been exercised. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the Warrant exercise. No Warrant shall be exercisable for cash and the Company shall not be obligated to issue Ordinary Shares upon exercise of a Warrant unless the Ordinary Shares issuable upon such Warrant exercise have 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 condition in the immediately preceding sentence is not satisfied with respect to a Warrant, the holder of such Warrant shall not be entitled to exercise such Warrant for cash and such Warrant may have no value and expire worthless, in which case the purchaser of a Unit containing such Warrants shall have paid the full purchase price for the Unit solely for the Ordinary Shares and the rights underlying such Unit  . Warrants may not be exercised by, or securities issued to, any registered holder in any state in which such exercise or issuance would be unlawful.

 

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3.3.3. Valid Issuance. All Ordinary Shares 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 for Ordinary Shares is issued shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of such shares 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, 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 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 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 cause 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), to the Warrant Agent’s actual knowledge, would beneficially own in excess of 9.8% (the “Maximum Percentage”) of the Ordinary Shares outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the aggregate number of Ordinary Shares beneficially owned by such person and its affiliates shall include the number of Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrant with respect to which the determination of such sentence is being made, but shall exclude Ordinary Shares that would be issuable upon (x) exercise of the remaining, unexercised portion of the Warrant beneficially owned by such person and 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 its affiliates (including, without limitation, any convertible notes or convertible preferred shares 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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). For purposes of the Warrant, in determining the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares, the holder may rely on the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares 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 SEC as the case may be, (2) a more recent public announcement by the Company or (3) any other notice by the Company or the Warrant Agent setting forth the number of Ordinary Shares 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 Ordinary Shares then outstanding. In any case, the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of equity securities of the Company by the holder and its affiliates since the date as of which such number of outstanding Ordinary Shares 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. Share Dividends; Split Ups. If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 4.6 below, the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares is increased by a share dividend payable in Ordinary Shares, or by a split up of Ordinary Shares, or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such share dividend, split up or similar event, the number of Ordinary Shares issuable on exercise of each Warrant shall be increased in proportion to such increase in outstanding Ordinary Shares.

 

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4.2. Aggregation of Shares. If after the date hereof, the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares is decreased by a consolidation, combination, reverse share split or reclassification of Ordinary Shares or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such consolidation, combination, reverse share split, reclassification or similar event, the number of Ordinary Shares issuable on exercise of each Warrant shall be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding Ordinary Shares.

  

4.3 Extraordinary Dividends. If the Company, at any time while the Warrants (or rights to purchase the Warrants) are outstanding and unexpired, shall pay a dividend or make a distribution in cash, securities or other assets to the holders of the Ordinary Shares on account of such Ordinary Shares (or other shares of the Company’s capital stock into which the Warrants are convertible), other than (a) as described in subsection 4.1 above, (b) Ordinary Cash Dividends (as defined below), (c) to satisfy the redemption rights of the holders of the Ordinary Shares in connection with a proposed initial Business Combination, (d) as a result of the repurchase of Ordinary Shares by the Company in connection with an initial Business Combination or as otherwise permitted by the Investment Management Trust Agreement between the Company and the Warrant Agent dated of even date herewith, (e) or as a result of the issuance of Ordinary Shares as a result of conversion of the Rights issued in the Public Offering, or (f) in connection with the Company’s liquidation and the distribution of its assets upon its failure to consummate a Business Combination (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 the fair market value (as determined by the Company’s board of directors, in good faith) of any securities or other assets paid on each Ordinary Share in respect of such Extraordinary Dividend. For purposes of this subsection 4.3, “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 Ordinary Shares 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 Ordinary Shares issuable on exercise of each Warrant) does not exceed $0.50 (being 5% of the offering price of the Units in the Offering).

 

4.4 Adjustments in Exercise Price.

 

4.4.1 Whenever the number of Ordinary Shares purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants is adjusted, as provided in Sections 4.1 and 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, (a) the numerator of which shall be the number of Ordinary Shares purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants immediately prior to such adjustment, and (b) the denominator of which shall be the number of Ordinary Shares so purchasable immediately thereafter, provided that no adjustment shall be made to the Warrant Price if this would result in the Warrant Price falling below the par value of the Ordinary Shares. In such cases, the Warrant Price would be equal to the par value of the Ordinary Shares.

 

4.4.2 If (i) the Company issues additional Ordinary Shares or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Ordinary Shares 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 Ordinary Share, with such issue price or effective issue price to be determined in good faith by the Board, (ii) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for funding the initial business combination, and (iii) the volume weighted average trading price of the Ordinary Shares during the 20 trading day period starting on the trading day prior to the day on which the Company consummates the initial business combination (the “Market Value”) is below $9.20 per share, the Warrant Price shall be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 115% of the Market Value, and the $18.00 per share redemption triggers the Company’s right to redeem the Warrants pursuant to Section 6.1 below shall be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the Market Price.

 

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4.5. Replacement of Securities upon Reorganization, etc. In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding Ordinary Shares (other than a change covered by Section 4.1, 4.2 or 4.3 hereof or that solely affects the par value of the Ordinary Shares), or in the case of any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation (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 Ordinary Shares), 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 Warrant holders 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 Ordinary Shares 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 Warrant holder would have received if such Warrant holder had exercised his, her or its Warrant(s) immediately prior to such event. If any reclassification also results in a change in the Ordinary Shares covered by Section 4.1, 4.2 or 4.3, then such adjustment shall be made pursuant to Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4 and this Section 4.5. The provisions of this Section 4.5 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. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in the event of any tender offer for Ordinary Shares, the offeror shall not make any tender offer for Warrants if the effect of such offer would be to require the Warrants to be accounted for as liabilities under applicable accounting principles. 

 

4.6. Issuance in connection with a Business Combination. If, in connection with a Business Combination, the Company (a) issues additional Ordinary Shares or equity-linked securities at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $9.20 per share (with such issue price or effective issue price as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors, in good faith, and in the case of any such issuance to the Company’s initial shareholders, or their affiliates, without taking into account any founders’ shares held by them prior to such issuance), (b) 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 Business Combination on the date of the consummation of such Business Combination (net of redemptions), and (c) the Fair Market Value (as defined below) 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 greater of (i) the Fair Market Value or (ii) the price at which the Company issues the Ordinary Shares or equity-linked securities, and the $18.00 per share redemption trigger price will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the higher of the Fair Market Value and the price at which the Company issues Ordinary Shares or equity-linked securities. Solely for purposes of this Section 4.6, the “Fair Market Value” shall mean the volume weighted average reported trading price of the Ordinary Shares for the twenty (20) trading days starting on the trading day prior to the date of the consummation of the Business Combination.

 

4.7 Notices of Changes in Warrant. Upon every adjustment of the Warrant Price or the number of shares 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 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, 4.4, 4.5, or 4.6, then, in any such event, the Company shall give written notice to each Warrant holder, 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.

 

4.8. No Fractional Shares. Notwithstanding any provision contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not issue fractional shares upon 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 up to the nearest whole number of Ordinary Shares to be issued to the Warrant holder.

 

4.9. 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 as is stated in the Warrants initially issued pursuant to this Agreement. However, 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.

 

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4.10 Other Events. In case any event shall occur affecting the Company as to which none of the provisions of 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 4.10 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.

 

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, properly endorsed with signatures, in the case of certificated Warrants, 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, either in certificated form or in book entry position, together with a written request for exchange or transfer, and thereupon the Warrant Agent shall issue in exchange therefor one or more new Warrants, or book entry positions, as requested by the registered holder of the Warrants so surrendered, representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants; provided, however, that in the event that a Warrant surrendered for transfer bears a restrictive legend, the Warrant Agent shall not cancel such Warrant and issue new Warrants in exchange therefor 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 will result in the issuance of a warrant certificate or book-entry position for a fraction of a Warrant.

 

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, will supply the Warrant Agent with Warrants duly executed on behalf of the Company for such purpose.

 

5.6. Private Warrants. The Warrant Agent shall not register any transfer of Private Warrants until 30 days after   the consummation by the Company of an initial Business Combination, except for transfers (i) among the initial shareholders or to the initial shareholders’ or the Company’s officers, directors, consultants or their affiliates, (ii) to a holder’s shareholders or members upon the holder’s liquidation, in each case if the holder is an entity, (iii) by bona fide gift to a member of the holder’s immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is the holder or a member of the holder’s immediate family, in each case for estate planning purposes, (iv) by virtue of the laws of descent and distribution upon death, (v) pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, (vi) to the Company for no value for cancellation in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination, (vii) in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination by private sales at prices no greater than the price at which the Private Warrants were originally purchased, (viii) in the event of the Company’s liquidation prior to its consummation of an initial Business Combination or (ix) in the event that, subsequent to the consummation of an initial Business Combination, the Company completes a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the Company’s shareholders having the right to exchange their Ordinary Shares for cash, securities or other property, in each case (except for clauses (vi), (viii) or (ix) or with the Company’s prior written consent) on the condition that prior to such registration for transfer, the Warrant Agent shall be presented with written documentation pursuant to which each transferee (each, a “Permitted Transferee”) or the trustee or legal guardian for such transferee agrees to be bound by the transfer restrictions contained in this section and any other applicable agreement the transferor is bound by.

 

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5.7. Transfers prior to Detachment. Prior to the Detachment Date, the Public Warrants may be transferred or exchanged only together with the Unit in which such Warrants are included, and only for the purpose of effecting, or in conjunction with, a transfer or exchange of such Units. Furthermore, each transfer of a Unit on the register relating to such Unit shall operate also to transfer the Warrants included in such Unit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Section 5.7 shall have no effect on any transfer of Warrants on or after the Detachment Date.

 

6. Redemption.

 

6.1. Redemption. 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 the notice referred to in Section 6.2, at the price of $0.01     per Warrant (“Redemption Price”), provided that the closing price of the Ordinary Shares equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 4 hereof), on each of twenty (20) trading days within any thirty (30) trading day period commencing after the Warrants become exercisable and ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which notice of redemption is given and provided that there is an effective registration statement covering the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, and a current prospectus relating thereto, available throughout the 30-day redemption or the Company has elected to require the exercise of the Warrants on a “cashless basis” pursuant to subsection 3.3.1(b); provided, however, that if and when the Warrants become redeemable by the Company, the Company may not exercise such redemption right if the issuance of Ordinary Shares upon exercise of the Warrants is not exempt from registration or qualification under applicable state blue sky laws or the Company is unable to effect such registration or qualification.

 

6.2. Date Fixed for, and Notice of, Redemption. In the event the Company shall elect to redeem all of the Warrants, 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 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.

    

6.3. Exercise After Notice of Redemption. The Warrants may be exercised, for cash (or on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3 of this Agreement) at any time after notice of redemption shall have been given by the Company pursuant to Section 6.2 hereof and prior to the Redemption Date. In the event the Company determines to require all holders of Warrants to exercise their Warrants on a “cashless basis” pursuant to Section 3.3.1(b), the notice of redemption will contain the information necessary to calculate the number of Ordinary Shares to be received upon exercise of the Warrants, including the “Fair Market Value” (as such term is defined in subsection 3.3.1(b) hereof) in such case. 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.

 

7. Other Provisions Relating to Rights of Holders of Warrants.

 

7.1. No Rights as Shareholder. A Warrant does not entitle the registered holder thereof to any of the rights of a shareholder 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 shareholders in respect of the meetings of shareholders 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 Ordinary Shares. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available a number of its authorized but unissued Ordinary Shares that will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Warrants issued pursuant to this Agreement.

 

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7.4. Registration of Ordinary Shares. The Company agrees that as soon as practicable after the closing of its initial Business Combination, it shall use its best efforts to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement for the registration, under the Act, of the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, and it shall use its best efforts to take such action as is necessary to register or qualify for sale, in those states in which the Warrants were initially offered by the Company and in those states where holders of Warrants then reside, the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, to the extent an exemption is not available. The Company will use its best efforts to cause the same to become effective and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement, and a current prospectus relating thereto, until the expiration of the Warrants in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. If any such registration statement has not been declared effective by the 90th day following the closing of the Business Combination, holders of the Warrants shall have the right, during the period beginning on the 91st day after the closing of the Business Combination and ending upon such registration statement being declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and during any other period when the Company shall fail to have maintained an effective registration statement covering the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, to exercise such Warrants on a “cashless basis” as determined in accordance with Section 3.3.1(c). The Company shall 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 Section 7.4 is not required to be registered under the Act and (ii) the Ordinary Shares issued upon such exercise will be freely tradable under U.S. federal securities laws by anyone who is not an affiliate (as such term is defined in Rule 144 under the Act) of the Company and, accordingly, will not be required to bear a restrictive legend. 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 Section 7.4. The provisions of this Section 7.4 may not be modified, amended, or deleted without the prior written consent of the Representative. 

 

8. Concerning the Warrant Agent and Other Matters.

 

8.1. Payment of Taxes. The Company will 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 Ordinary Shares upon the exercise of Warrants, but the Company shall not be obligated to pay any transfer taxes in respect of the Warrants or such Ordinary Shares.

 

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 the Warrant (who shall, with such notice, submit his 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 organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, in good standing and having its principal office in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York, 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.

 

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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 Ordinary Shares not later than the effective date of any such appointment.

 

8.2.3. Merger or Consolidation of Warrant Agent. Any corporation into which the Warrant Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated or any corporation 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 will 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 or Chairman of the Board of Directors 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 fraud, gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. The Company agrees to indemnify the Warrant Agent and save it harmless against any and all liabilities, including judgments, costs and reasonable 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 fraud, gross negligence, willful misconduct, 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); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Warrant; nor shall it 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 Ordinary Shares to be issued pursuant to this Agreement, the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company, or any Warrant or as to whether any Ordinary Shares will, 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 Ordinary Shares through the exercise of Warrants.

 

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.

 

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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 (i) if by email when the email is sent, (ii) if by hand or overnight delivery, when so delivered, or (iii) 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:

 

Aquarius I Acquisition Corp.

Unit A-C, 33/F, Tower A, Billion Centre

1 Wang Kwong Road

Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong SAR

Attn: Sze Hau Lee, Chief Executive Officer

E-mail: alex.lee@liongrouphl.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 (i) if by email, when the email is sent, (ii) if by hand or overnight delivery, when so delivered, or (iii) if sent by certified mail or private courier service within five 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:

 

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC

6201 15th Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11219

Attn: Legal Department

Email: legalteamAST@astfinancial.com

 

with a copy in each case to:

 

Loeb & Loeb LLP

2206-19 Jardine House

1 Connaught Place

Central, Hong Kong SAR

Attn: Lawrence Venick, Esq.

E-mail: lvenick@loeb.com

 

and

Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP

1345 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10105

Attn: Barry I. Grossman, Esq.

Email: bigrossman@egsllp.com

 

and

Maxim Group LLC

405 Lexington Ave.

New York, New York 10174

Attn: Clifford A. Teller

Email: cteller@maximgrp.com

 

and

Ogier

11th Floor Central Tower

28 Queen's Road Central

Central, Hong Kong SAR

Attn: Nathan Powell

 

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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 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 exclusive forum for any such action, proceeding or claim. The Company hereby waives any objection to such exclusive 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 such process or summons to be served upon the Company may be served by transmitting a copy thereof by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to it at the address set forth in Section 9.2 hereof. Such mailing shall be deemed personal service and shall be legal and binding upon the Company in any action, proceeding or claim.

 

9.4. Persons Having Rights under this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement expressed and nothing that may be implied from any of the provisions hereof is intended, or shall be construed, to confer upon, or give to, any person or corporation other than the parties hereto and the registered holders of the Warrants and, for the purposes of Sections 7.4, 9.4 and 9.8 hereof, the Representative, any right, remedy, or claim under or by reason of this Warrant Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise, or agreement hereof. The Representative shall be deemed to be a third-party beneficiary of this Agreement with respect to Sections 7.4, 9.4 and 9.8 hereof. All covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises, and agreements contained in this Warrant Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto (and the Representative with respect to the Sections 7.4, 9.4 and 9.8 hereof) 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 his Warrant for inspection by it.

 

9.6. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of original or facsimile 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.

  

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 for the purpose of curing any ambiguity, 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. All other modifications or amendments, including any amendment to increase the Warrant Price or shorten the Exercise Period, shall require the written consent or vote of the registered holders of a majority of the then outstanding Warrants. 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. The provisions of this Section 9.8 may not be modified, amended or deleted without the prior written consent of the Representative.

 

9.9 Trust Account Waiver. The Warrant Agent acknowledges and agrees that it shall not make any claims or proceed against the trust account established by the Company in connection with the Public Offering (as more fully described in the Registration Statement) (“Trust Account”), including by way of set-off, and shall not be entitled to any funds in the Trust Account under any circumstance. In the event that the Warrant Agent has a claim against the Company under this Agreement, the Warrant Agent will pursue such claim solely against the Company and not against the property held in the Trust Account.

 

9.10 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.

  

[signature page follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed by the parties hereto as of the day and year first above written.

  

  AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.
     
  By:  
    Name: Sze Hau Lee
    Title: Chief Executive Officer
   
  AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC
     
  By:                             
    Name: Michael A. Nespoli
    Title: Executive Director

 

[Signature Page to Warrant Agreement]

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

WARRANT CERTIFICATE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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EXHIBIT B

 

LEGEND FOR PRIVATE WARRANTS

 

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE 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 AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP. (THE “COMPANY”), MAXIM GROUP LLC AND THE OTHER PARTIES THERETO, THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE 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 5.6 OF THE WARRANT AGREEMENT) WHO AGREES IN WRITING WITH THE COMPANY TO BE SUBJECT TO SUCH TRANSFER PROVISIONS.

 

SECURITIES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE AND ORDINARY SHARES OF THE COMPANY ISSUED UPON EXERCISE OF SUCH SECURITIES SHALL BE ENTITLED TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS UNDER A REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT TO BE EXECUTED BY THE COMPANY.

  

 

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EX-4.6 10 fs12021a1ex4-6_aquarius1.htm FORM OF RIGHTS AGREEMENT BETWEEN AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC AND THE REGISTRANT

Exhibit 4.6

 

RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made as of [*], 2021 between Aquarius I Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands company, with its principal executive office at Unit A-C, 33/F, Tower A, Billion Centre, 1 Wang Kwong Road, Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong (the “Company”), and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, a New York limited liability trust company, with offices at 6201 15th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11219 (the “Right Agent”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company has received a firm commitment from Maxim Group LLC (“Maxim”), as representative of the several underwriters, to purchase up to an aggregate of 5,000,000 units, each unit (“Unit”) comprised of one ordinary share of the Company, par value $0.0001 each (the “Ordinary Shares”), one warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one-half (1/2) of one Ordinary Share, and one right to receive one-tenth of one Ordinary Share (a “Public Right”) upon the happening of the triggering event described herein, and in connection therewith, will issue and deliver up to an aggregate of 5,750,000 Public Rights upon consummation of such public offering, 750,000 of which are attributable to the over-allotment option (“Public Offering”);

 

WHEREAS, simultaneously with the consummation of the Public Offering, the Company will issue and deliver an aggregate of 310,000 rights underlying private units (the “Private Rights”);

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the Public Offering, the Company will issue and deliver up to 287,500 rights (underlying unit purchase options) to Maxim or its designees (“Maxim Rights”);

 

WHEREAS, the Company may issue up to an additional 100,000 Rights, which will be identical to the Private Rights, in consideration of certain working capital loans that may be made by Aquarius Sponsor Ltd., the Company’s sponsor, or the Company’s officers, directors or affiliates (together with the Public Rights, the Private Rights, the Maxim Rights, and along with such other rights as the Company issues from time to time hereunder, the “Rights”);

 

WHEREAS, the Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-257706 (“Registration Statement”), for the registration, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Act”) of, among other securities, the Public Rights and the Ordinary Shares issuable to the holders of the Public Rights; 

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires the Right Agent to act on behalf of the Company, and the Right Agent is willing to so act, in connection with the issuance, registration, transfer and exchange of the Rights;

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide for the form and provisions of the Rights, the terms upon which they shall be issued, and the respective rights, limitation of rights, and immunities of the Company, the Right Agent, and the holders of the Rights; and

 

WHEREAS, all acts and things have been done and performed which are necessary to make the Rights, when executed on behalf of the Company and countersigned by or on behalf of the Right Agent, 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 Right Agent. The Company hereby appoints the Right Agent to act as agent for the Company for the Rights, and the Right Agent hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to perform the same in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

 

 

 

 

2. Rights.

 

  2.1. Form of Right. Each Right shall be issued in registered form only, shall be in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto, the provisions of which are incorporated herein and shall be signed by, or bear the facsimile signature of, the Chairman of the Board or Chief Executive Officer and Treasurer, Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company and shall bear a facsimile of the Company’s seal. In the event the person whose facsimile signature has been placed upon any Right shall have ceased to serve in the capacity in which such person signed the Right before such Right 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.

 

  2.2. Effect of Countersignature. Unless and until countersigned by the Right Agent pursuant to this Agreement, a Right shall be invalid and of no effect and may not be exchanged for Ordinary Shares.

 

  2.3. Registration.

 

  2.3.1. Right Register. The Right Agent shall maintain books (“Right Register”) for the registration of original issuance and the registration of transfer of the Rights. Upon the initial issuance of the Rights, the Right Agent shall issue and register the Rights in the names of the respective holders thereof in such denominations and otherwise in accordance with instructions delivered to the Right Agent by the Company.

 

  2.3.2. Registered Holder. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Right, the Company and the Right Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name such Right shall be registered upon the Right Register (“registered holder”) as the absolute owner of such Right and of each Right represented thereby (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing on the Right Certificate made by anyone other than the Company or the Right Agent), for the purpose of the exchange thereof, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Right Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

 

  2.4. Detachability of Rights. The securities comprising the Units, including the Rights, will not be separately transferable until the fifty-second (52nd) Business Day (as defined below) after the date hereof unless Maxim informs the Company of its decision to allow earlier separate trading, but in no event will separate trading of the securities comprising the Units begin until (i) the Company files a Current Report on Form 8-K which includes an audited balance sheet reflecting the receipt by the Company of the gross proceeds of the Public Offering including the proceeds received by the Company from the exercise of the over-allotment option, if the over-allotment option is exercised on the date hereof, and (ii) the Company issues a press release and files a Current Report on Form 8-K announcing when such separate trading shall begin. For purposes of this Agreement, Business Day shall means a day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or federal holiday, on which banks in New York City are generally open for normal business.

 

3. Terms and Exchange of Rights.

 

  3.1. Rights. Each Right shall entitle the holder thereof to receive one-tenth of one Ordinary Share upon the happening of the Exchange Event (described below). No additional consideration shall be paid by a holder of Rights in order to receive his, her or its Ordinary Shares upon the Exchange Event as the purchase price for such Ordinary Shares has been included in the purchase price for the Units. In no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the Rights or issue fractional Ordinary Shares.

 

  3.2. Exchange Event. The Exchange Event shall be the Company’s consummation of an initial Business Combination (as defined in the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association).

 

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  3.3. Exchange of Rights.

 

  3.3.1. Issuance of Certificates. As soon as practicable upon the occurrence of the Exchange Event, the Company shall direct holders of the Rights to return their Rights Certificates to the Right Agent. If the Company is not the surviving entity in a Business Combination, the holder of Rights must affirmatively elect to such conversion. Upon receipt of a valid Rights Certificate, the Company shall issue to the registered holder of such Right(s) a certificate or certificates for the number of full Ordinary Shares to which he, she or it is entitled, registered in such name or names as may be directed by him, her or it. Notwithstanding the foregoing, or any provision contained in this Agreement to the contrary, in no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the Rights. The Company shall not issue fractional shares upon exchange of Rights. At the time of the Exchange Event, the Company will instruct the Right Agent to round down to the nearest whole Ordinary Share or otherwise inform it how fractional shares will be addressed in accordance with Cayman Islands law.

 

  3.3.2. Valid Issuance. All Ordinary Shares issued upon an Exchange Event in conformity with this Agreement shall be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

  3.3.3. Date of Issuance. Each person in whose name any such certificate for Ordinary Shares is issued shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of such shares on the date of the Exchange Event, irrespective of the date of delivery of such certificate.

 

  3.3.4. Company Not Surviving Following Exchange Event. If the Exchange Event results in the Company not continuing as a publicly held reporting entity, the definitive agreement will provide for the holders of Rights to receive the same per share consideration as the holders of the Ordinary Shares will receive in with the Exchange Event, for the number of shares such holder is entitled to pursuant to Section 3.1 above.

 

  3.4. Duration of Rights. If the Exchange Event does not occur within 12 months from the date that the registration statement is declared effective (or up to 21 months from the date that the registration statement is declared effective if the Company extends the period of time to consummate a Business Combination, as described in the Registration Statement), and such Business Combination has not yet been consummated within the applicable time period, the Rights shall expire and shall be worthless; provided that, for as long as any of the Maxim Rights are held by Maxim, or its designees or affiliates, such Rights may not be converted after five years, from the effective date of the Registration Statement.

 

4. Transfer and Exchange of Rights.

 

  4.1. Registration of Transfer. The Right Agent shall register the transfer, from time to time, of any outstanding Right upon the Right Register, upon surrender of such Right for transfer, properly endorsed with signatures properly guaranteed and accompanied by appropriate instructions for transfer. Upon any such transfer, a new Right representing an equal aggregate number of Rights shall be issued and the old Right shall be cancelled by the Right Agent. The Rights so cancelled shall be delivered by the Right Agent to the Company from time to time upon request.

 

  4.2. Procedure for Surrender of Rights. Rights may be surrendered to the Right Agent, together with a written request for exchange or transfer, and thereupon the Right Agent shall issue in exchange therefor one or more new Rights as requested by the registered holder of the Rights so surrendered, representing an equal aggregate number of Rights; provided, however, that in the event that a Right surrendered for transfer bears a restrictive legend, the Right Agent shall not cancel such Right and issue new Rights in exchange therefor until the Right Agent has received an opinion of counsel for the Company stating that such transfer may be made and indicating whether the new Rights must also bear a restrictive legend.

 

  4.3. Fractional Rights. The Right Agent shall not be required to effect any registration of transfer or exchange which will result in the issuance of a Right Certificate for a fraction of a Right.

 

  4.4. Service Charges. No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Rights.

 

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  4.5. Adjustments to Conversion Ratios. The number of Ordinary Shares that the holders of Rights are entitled to receive as a result of the occurrence of an Exchange Event shall be equitably adjusted to reflect appropriately the effect of any share split, reverse share split, share dividend, reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, combination, exchange of shares or other like change with respect to the Ordinary Shares occurring on or after the date hereof and prior to the Exchange Event.

 

4.6. Right Execution and Countersignature. The Right Agent is hereby authorized to countersign and to deliver, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Rights required to be issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 4, and the Company, whenever required by the Right Agent, will supply the Right Agent with Rights duly executed on behalf of the Company for such purpose.

 

5. Other Provisions Relating to Rights of Holders of Rights.

 

  5.1. No Rights as Shareholder. Until exchange of a Right for Ordinary Shares as provided for herein, a Right does not entitle the registered holder thereof to any of the rights of a shareholder 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 shareholders in respect of the meetings of shareholders or the election of directors of the Company or any other matter.

 

  5.2. Lost, Stolen, Mutilated, or Destroyed Rights. If any Right is lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed, the Company and the Right 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 Right, include the surrender thereof), issue a new Right of like denomination, tenor, and date as the Right so lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed. Any such new Right shall constitute a substitute contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the allegedly lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed Right shall be at any time enforceable by anyone.

 

  5.3. Reservation of Ordinary Shares. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available a number of its authorized but unissued Ordinary Shares that will be sufficient to permit the exchange of all outstanding Rights issued pursuant to this Agreement.

 

6. Concerning the Right Agent and Other Matters.

 

  6.1. Payment of Taxes. The Company will from time to time promptly pay all taxes and charges that may be imposed upon the Company or the Right Agent in respect of the issuance or delivery of Ordinary Shares upon the exchange of Rights, but the Company shall not be obligated to pay any transfer taxes in respect of the Rights or such shares.

 

  6.2. Resignation, Consolidation, or Merger of Right Agent.

 

  6.2.1. Appointment of Successor Right Agent. The Right 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 Right Agent becomes vacant by resignation or incapacity to act or otherwise, the Company shall appoint in writing a successor Right Agent in place of the Right Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of 30 days after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the Right Agent or by the holder of the Right (who shall, with such notice, submit his, her or its Right for inspection by the Company), then the holder of any Right may apply to the Supreme Court of the State of New York for the County of New York for the appointment of a successor Right Agent at the Company’s cost. Any successor Right Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such court, shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, in good standing and having its principal office in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York, 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 Right Agent shall be vested with all the authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations of its predecessor Right Agent with like effect as if originally named as Right Agent hereunder, without any further act or deed; but if for any reason it becomes necessary or appropriate, the predecessor Right Agent shall execute and deliver, at the expense of the Company, an instrument transferring to such successor Right Agent all the authority, powers, and rights of such predecessor Right Agent hereunder; and upon request of any successor Right 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 Right Agent all such authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations.

 

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  6.2.2. Notice of Successor Right Agent. In the event a successor Right Agent shall be appointed, the Company shall give notice thereof to the predecessor Right Agent and the transfer agent for the Ordinary Shares not later than the effective date of any such appointment.

 

  6.2.3. Merger or Consolidation of Right Agent. Any corporation into which the Right Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated or any corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Right Agent shall be a party shall be the successor Right Agent under this Agreement without any further act.

 

  6.3. Fees and Expenses of Right Agent.

 

  6.3.1. Remuneration. The Company agrees to pay the Right Agent reasonable remuneration for its services as such Right Agent hereunder and will reimburse the Right Agent upon demand for all expenditures that the Right Agent may reasonably incur in the execution of its duties hereunder.

 

  6.3.2. 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 Right Agent for the carrying out or performing of the provisions of this Agreement.

 

  6.4. Liability of Right Agent.

 

  6.4.1. Reliance on Company Statement. Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement, the Right 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 or Chief Financial Officer and delivered to the Right Agent. The Right Agent may rely upon such statement for any action taken or suffered in good faith by it pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.

 

  6.4.2. Indemnity. The Right Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. Subject to Section 6.6, the Company agrees to indemnify the Right Agent and save it harmless against any and all liabilities, including judgments, costs and reasonable counsel fees, for anything done or omitted by the Right Agent in the execution of this Agreement except as a result of the Right Agent’s gross negligence, willful misconduct, or bad faith.

 

  6.4.3. Exclusions. The Right Agent shall have no responsibility with respect to the validity of this Agreement or with respect to the validity or execution of any Right (except its countersignature thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Right; nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any Ordinary Shares to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Right or as to whether any Ordinary Shares will, when issued, be valid and fully paid and non-assessable.

 

  6.5. Acceptance of Agency. The Right Agent hereby accepts the agency established by this Agreement and agrees to perform the same upon the terms and conditions herein set forth.

 

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  6.6. Waiver. The Right Agent hereby waives any 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 Right 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.

 

7. Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

  7.1. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Right Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns.

 

  7.2. Notices. Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Right Agent or by the holder of any Right 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 days after deposit of such notice, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the Right Agent), as follows:

 

Aquarius I Acquisition Corp.

Unit A-C, 33/F, Tower A, Billion Centre

1 Wang Kwong Road

Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong

Attn: Sze Hau Lee

 

Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the holder of any Right or by the Company to or on the Right 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 days after deposit of such notice, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Right Agent with the Company), as follows:

 

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC

6201 15th Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11219

Attn: Legal Department

 

and

 

Loeb & Loeb LLP
2206-19 Jardine House
1 Connaught Place
Central, Hong Kong SAR

Attn: Lawrence Venick, Esq.

 

and

 

Maxim Group LLC

405 Lexington Ave.

New York, New York 10174

Attn: Alex Jin

 

and

 

Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP

1345 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10105

Attn: Barry I. Grossman

 

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  7.3. Applicable Law. The validity, interpretation, and performance of this Agreement and of the Rights 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 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 exclusive. The Company hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. Any such process or summons to be served upon the Company may be served by transmitting a copy thereof by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to it at the address set forth in Section 7.2 hereof. Such mailing shall be deemed personal service and shall be legal and binding upon the Company in any action, proceeding or claim.

 

  7.4. Persons Having Rights under this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement expressed and nothing that may be implied from any of the provisions hereof is intended, or shall be construed, to confer upon, or give to, any person or corporation other than the parties hereto and the registered holders of the Rights and, for the purposes of Sections 3.1, 3.2, 7.4 and 7.8 hereof, Maxim, any right, remedy, or claim under or by reason of this Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise, or agreement hereof. Maxim shall be deemed to be a third-party beneficiary of this Agreement with respect to Sections 3.1, 3.2, 7.4 and 7.8 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 Maxim with respect to Sections 3.1, 3.2, 7.4 and 7.8 hereof) and their successors and assigns and of the registered holders of the Rights.

 

  7.5. Examination of this Agreement. A copy of this Agreement shall be available at all reasonable times at the office of the Right Agent in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York, for inspection by the registered holder of any Right. The Right Agent may require any such holder to submit his, her or its Right for inspection by it.

 

  7.6. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of original or facsimile 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.

 

  7.7. 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.

 

  7.8. Amendments. This Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto without the consent of any registered holder for the purpose of curing any ambiguity, or of 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. All other modifications or amendments shall require the written consent or vote of the registered holders of a majority of the then outstanding Rights. The provisions of this Section 7.8 may not be modified, amended or deleted without the prior written consent of Maxim.

 

  7.9. 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.

 

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed by the parties hereto as of the day and year first above written.

 

  AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.
   
  By:  
    Name: Sze Hau Lee
    Title: Chief Executive Officer
     
     
  AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC
     
  By:  
    Name: Michael A. Nespoli
    Title: Executive Director

 

 

[Signature Page to Rights Agreement]

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

Form of Right

 

A-1

EX-4.7 11 fs12021a1ex4-7_aquarius1.htm FORM OF UNIT PURCHASE OPTION BETWEEN THE REGISTRANT AND MAXIM GROUP LLC

Exhibit 4.7

 

THE REGISTERED HOLDER OF THIS PURCHASE OPTION BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT SELL, TRANSFER OR ASSIGN THIS PURCHASE OPTION EXCEPT AS HEREIN PROVIDED AND THE REGISTERED HOLDER OF THIS PURCHASE OPTION AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT SELL, TRANSFER, ASSIGN, PLEDGE OR HYPOTHECATE THIS PURCHASE OPTION OR CAUSE IT TO BE THE SUBJECT OF ANY HEDGING, SHORT SALE, DERIVATIVE, PUT, OR CALL TRANSACTION THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE EFFECTIVE ECONOMIC DISPOSITION OF THE PURCHASE OPTION BY ANY PERSON FOR A PERIOD OF ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY DAYS FOLLOWING THE EFFECTIVE DATE (AS DEFINED HEREIN) TO ANYONE OTHER THAN TO (I) MAXIM GROUP LLC (“MAXIM”) OR AN UNDERWRITER OR SELECTED DEALER PARTICIPATING IN THE OFFERING OR (II) AN OFFICER OR PARTNER OF MAXIM OR OF ANY SUCH UNDERWRITER OR SELECTED DEALER AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH FINRA RULE 5110(G)(2).

 

THIS PURCHASE OPTION IS NOT EXERCISABLE PRIOR TO THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT OF AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP. (“COMPANY”) AS DESCRIBED MORE FULLY IN THE COMPANY’S REGISTRATION STATEMENT (DEFINED HEREIN))] AND [●]1. VOID AFTER 5:00 P.M. NEW YORK CITY LOCAL TIME, ON THE EARLIER OF THE LIQUIDATION OF THE COMPANY’S TRUST ACCOUNT (AS DESCRIBED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT) IF THE COMPANY HAS NOT COMPLETED A MERGER, SHARE EXCHANGE, ASSET ACQUISITION, RECAPITALIZATION, REORGANIZATION OR OTHER SIMILAR BUSINESS COMBINATION (“BUSINESS COMBINATION”) WITHIN THE REQUIRED TIME PERIODS OR [●]2.

 

UNIT PURCHASE OPTION FOR THE PURCHASE OF UP TO 287,500 UNITS

OF AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.

 

1. Purchase Option.

 

THIS CERTIFIES THAT, in consideration of $100.00 duly paid by or on behalf of Maxim Group LLC (“Holder”), as registered owner of this Purchase Option, to Company, a Cayman Islands company, Holder is entitled, at any time or from time to time on or after the first anniversary of the effective date (“Effective Date”) of the Registration Statement (“Commencement Date”), (as described in the Company’s registration statement (“Registration Statement”) pursuant to which Units are offered for sale to the public in Company’s initial public offering (“Offering”)) until five years from the Effective Date of the Registration Statement (“Expiration Date”), but not thereafter, to subscribe for, purchase and receive, in whole or in part, up to 250,000 (Two Hundred And Fifty Thousand) units (or up to 287,500 (Two Hundred And Eighty Seven Thousand Five Hundred) units with full exercise of the over-allotment option in the offering) (“Units”) of the Company, each Unit consisting of one (1) ordinary share of the Company, $0.0001 par value each (“Ordinary Share(s)”), one-half (1/2) of one redeemable warrant (“Warrant(s)”), each whole Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one (1) Ordinary Share and one (1) right to receive one-tenth (1/10) of an Ordinary Share upon the consummation of a Business Combination (“Right(s)”). Each Right is the same as the right included in the units being registered for sale to the public by way of the Registration Statement (“Public Rights”). Each Warrant is the same as the whole warrant included in the Units being registered for sale to the public by way of the Registration Statement (the “Public Warrants”). If the Expiration Date is a day on which banking institutions are authorized by law to close, then this Purchase Option may be exercised on the next succeeding day which is not such a day in accordance with the terms herein. During the period ending on the Expiration Date, the Company agrees not to take any action that would terminate the Purchase Option. This Purchase Option is initially exercisable at $11.00 per Unit so purchased; provided, however, that upon the occurrence of any of the events specified in Section 6 hereof, the rights granted by this Purchase Option, including the exercise price per Unit and the number of Units (and Ordinary Shares, Warrants and Rights) to be received upon such exercise, shall be adjusted as therein specified. The term “Exercise Price” shall mean the initial exercise price or the adjusted exercise price, depending on the context.

 

 

 

1Insert date that is one (1) year from the effective date of the registration statement.

2Insert date that is five (5) years from the effective date of the registration statement.

 

 

 

 

2. Exercise OF PUrchase option.

 

2.1 Exercise Form. In order to exercise this Purchase Option, the exercise form attached hereto must be duly executed and completed and delivered to the Company, together with this Purchase Option and payment of the Exercise Price for the Units being purchased payable in cash or by certified check or official bank check. If the subscription rights represented hereby shall not be exercised at or before 5:00 p.m., New York City local time, on the Expiration Date, this Purchase Option shall become and be void without further force or effect, and all rights represented hereby shall cease and expire.

 

2.2 Legend. Each certificate for the securities purchased under this Purchase Option shall bear a legend as follows, unless such securities have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Act”):

 

“The securities represented by this certificate have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Act”) or applicable state law. The securities may not be offered for sale, sold or otherwise transferred except pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Act, or pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Act and applicable state law.”

 

2.3 Cashless Exercise.

 

2.3.1 Determination of Amount. In lieu of the payment of the Exercise Price multiplied by the number of Units for which this Purchase Option is exercisable (and in lieu of being entitled to receive Ordinary Shares and Warrants) in the manner required by Section 2.1, and subject to Section 6.1 hereof, the Holder shall have the right (but not the obligation) to convert any exercisable but unexercised portion of this Purchase Option into Units (“Cashless Exercise Right”) as follows: upon exercise of the Cashless Exercise Right, the Company shall deliver to the Holder (without payment by the Holder of any of the Exercise Price in cash) that number of Units (or that number of Ordinary Shares, Warrants and Rights comprising that number of Units) equal to the number of Units to be exercised multiplied by the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the “Value” (as defined below) of the portion of the Purchase Option being converted by (y) the Current Market Value (as defined below). The “Value” of the portion of the Purchase Option being converted shall equal the remainder derived from subtracting (a) (i) the Exercise Price multiplied by (ii) the number of Units underlying the portion of this Purchase Option being converted from (b) the Current Market Value of a Unit multiplied by the number of Units underlying the portion of the Purchase Option being converted. As used herein, the term “Current Market Value” per Unit at any date means: (A) in the event that the Units, Ordinary Shares, Public Warrants, and Public Rights are still trading, (i) if the Units are listed on a national securities exchange or quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board (or successor exchange), the average reported last sale price of the Units in the principal trading market for the Units as reported by the exchange, Nasdaq or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), as the case may be, for the three trading days preceding the date in question; or (ii) if the Units are not listed on a national securities exchange or quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board (or successor exchange), but is traded in the residual over-the-counter market, the average reported last sale price for Units for the three trading days preceding the date in question for which such quotations are reported by the Pink Sheets, LLC or similar publisher of such quotations; (B) in the event that the Units are not still trading but the Ordinary Shares, Public Warrants, and Public Rights underlying the Units are still trading, the aggregate of (i) the product of (x) the Current Market Price of the Ordinary Share and (y) the number of the Ordinary Shares underlying one Unit (which shall include the portion of an Ordinary Share the holder of a Unit would automatically receive in connection with the Right included in each such Unit), plus (ii) the product of (x) the Current Market Price of the Public Warrants and (y) the number of Warrants included in one Unit; or (C) in the event that neither the Units nor the Public Warrants are still trading, the aggregate of (i) the product of (x) the Current Market Price of the Ordinary Shares and (y) the number of the Ordinary Shares underlying one Unit (which shall include the portion of an Ordinary Share the holder of a Unit would automatically receive in connection with the Right included in each such Unit), plus (ii) the remainder derived from subtracting (x) the exercise price of the Warrants multiplied by the number of Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants underlying one Unit from (y) the product of (aa) the Current Market Price of the Ordinary Shares multiplied by (bb) the number of Ordinary Shares underlying the Warrants included in each such Unit. The “Current Market Price” shall mean (i) if the Ordinary Shares (or Public Warrants, as the case may be) are listed on a national securities exchange or quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board (or successor exchange), the average reported last sale price of the Ordinary Shares (or Public Warrants) in the principal trading market for the Ordinary Share (or Public Warrants) as reported by the exchange, Nasdaq or FINRA, as the case may be, for the three trading days preceding the date in question; (ii) if the Ordinary Shares (or Public Warrants) are not listed on a national securities exchange or quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board (or successor exchange), but are traded in the residual over-the-counter market, the average reported last sale price for the Ordinary Share (or Public Warrants) on for the three (3) trading days preceding the date in question for which such quotations are reported by the Pink Sheets, LLC or similar publisher of such quotations; and (iii) if the fair market value of the Ordinary Share cannot be determined pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) above, such price as the Board of Directors of the Company shall determine, in good faith. In the event the Public Warrants have expired and are no longer exercisable, no “Value” shall be attributed to Warrants underlying this Purchase Options.

 

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2.3.2 Mechanics of Cashless Exercise. The Cashless Exercise Right may be exercised by the Holder on any business day on or after the Commencement Date and not later than the Expiration Date by delivering the Purchase Option with the duly executed exercise form attached hereto with the cashless exercise section completed to the Company, exercising the Cashless Exercise Right and specifying the total number of Units the Holder will purchase pursuant to such Cashless Exercise Right

 

2.4 No Obligation to Net Cash Settle. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Purchase Option, in no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the exercise of the Purchase Option or Warrants underlying the Purchase Option. The holder of the Purchase Option and Warrants underlying the Purchase Option will not be entitled to exercise the Purchase Option or the Warrants underlying such Purchase Option unless it exercises such Purchase Option pursuant to the Cashless Exercise Right or a registration statement is effective, or an exemption from the registration requirements is available at such time and, if the holder is not able to exercise the Purchase Option or underlying Warrants, the Purchase Option and/or the underlying Warrants, as applicable, will expire worthless.

 

3. Transfer of purchase option.

 

3.1 General Restrictions. The registered Holder of this Purchase Option, by its acceptance hereof, agrees that it will not sell, transfer, assign, pledge or hypothecate this Purchase Option (or the Ordinary Shares and Warrants underlying this Purchase Option), or cause the Purchase Option (or the Ordinary Shares and Warrants underlying this Purchase Option) to be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put, or call transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of the Purchase Option by any person, for a period of 180 days (pursuant to Rule 5110(g)(1) of the Conduct Rules of FINRA) following the Effective Date to anyone other than (i) Maxim or an underwriter or selected dealer in connection with the Offering, or (ii) a bona fide officer or partner of Maxim or of any such underwriter or selected dealer. On and after the 181st day following the Effective Date, transfers to others may be made subject to compliance with or exemptions from applicable securities laws. In order to make any permitted assignment, the Holder must deliver to the Company the assignment form attached hereto duly executed and completed, together with the Purchase Option and payment of all transfer taxes, if any, payable in connection therewith. The Company shall within 5 business days transfer this Purchase Option on the books of the Company and shall execute and deliver a new Purchase Option of like tenor to the appropriate assignee(s) expressly evidencing the right to purchase the aggregate number of Units purchasable hereunder or such portion of such number as shall be contemplated by any such assignment.

 

3.2 Restrictions Imposed by the Act. The securities evidenced by this Purchase Option shall not be transferred unless and until (i) the Company has received the opinion of counsel for the Holder that the securities may be transferred pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Act and applicable state securities laws, the availability of which is established to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company (the Company hereby agreeing that the opinion of Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP shall be deemed satisfactory evidence of the availability of an exemption), or (ii) a registration statement or a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement relating to such securities has been filed by the Company and declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and compliance with applicable state securities law has been established.

 

4. New Purchase Option to be Issued.

 

4.1 Partial Exercise or Transfer. Subject to the restrictions in Section 3 hereof, this Purchase Option may be exercised or assigned in whole or in part. In the event of the exercise or assignment hereof in part only, upon surrender of this Purchase Option for cancellation, together with the duly executed exercise or assignment form and funds sufficient to pay any Exercise Price (except to the extent that the Holder elects to exercise this Purchase Option by means of a cashless exercise as provided in Section 2.3 above) and/or transfer tax, the Company shall cause to be delivered to the Holder without charge a new Purchase Option of like tenor to this Purchase Option in the name of the Holder evidencing the right of the Holder to purchase the number of Units purchasable hereunder as to which this Purchase Option has not been exercised or assigned

 

4.2 Lost Certificate. Upon receipt by the Company of evidence satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Purchase Option and of reasonably satisfactory indemnification or the posting of a bond, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Purchase Option of like tenor and date. Any such new Purchase Option executed and delivered as a result of such loss, theft, mutilation or destruction shall constitute a substitute contractual obligation on the part of the Company.

 

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5. REGISTRATION RIGHTS.

 

5.1 Demand Registration.

 

5.1.1 Grant of Right. The Company, upon written demand (“Initial Demand Notice”) of the Holder(s) of at least 51% of the Purchase Option and/or the underlying Units and/or the underlying securities (“Majority Holders”), agrees to use its best efforts to register (the “Demand Registration”) under the Act on one occasion, all or any portion of the (i) Purchase Option requested by the Majority Holders in the Initial Demand Notice and all of the securities underlying such Purchase Option, including the Units, Ordinary Shares, Warrants, Rights and the Ordinary Shares underlying the Warrants and Rights and (ii) the securities issued to the Holder prior to or concurrently with the Offering and all the securities underlying such securities (collectively, the “Registrable Securities”). On such occasion, the Company will use its best efforts to file a registration statement or a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement covering the Registrable Securities as expeditiously as possible within sixty (60) days after receipt of the Initial Demand Notice and use its best efforts to have such registration statement or post-effective amendment declared effective as soon as possible thereafter. The demand for registration may be made at any time during a period of four and one-half years beginning [180] days after the Effective Date. The Initial Demand Notice shall specify the number of shares of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold and the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. The Company will notify all holders of the Purchase Option and/or Registrable Securities of the demand within ten days from the date of the receipt of any such Initial Demand Notice. Each holder of Registrable Securities who wishes to include all or a portion of such holder’s Registrable Securities in the Demand Registration (each such holder including shares of Registrable Securities in such registration, a “Demanding Holder”) shall so notify the Company within fifteen (15) days after the receipt by the holder of the notice from the Company. Upon any such request, the Demanding Holders shall be entitled to have their Registrable Securities included in the Demand Registration, subject to Section 5.1.4. The Company shall not be required to effect more than one (1) Demand Registrations under this Section 5.1 in respect of all Registrable Securities.

 

5.1.2 Effective Registration. Notwithstanding Section 5.1.5, a registration will not count as a Demand Registration until the registration statement filed with the Commission, with respect to such Demand Registration, has been declared effective and the Company has complied with all of its obligations under this Purchase Option with respect thereto.

 

5.1.3 Underwritten Offering. If the Majority Holders so elect and such holders so advise the Company as part of the Initial Demand Notice, the offering of such Registrable Securities pursuant to such Demand Registration shall be in the form of an underwritten offering. In such event, the right of any holder to include its Registrable Securities in such registration shall be conditioned upon such holder’s participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of such holder’s Registrable Securities in the underwriting to the extent provided herein. All Demanding Holders proposing to distribute their securities through such underwriting shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the underwriter or underwriters selected for such underwriting by the Majority Holders.

 

5.1.4 Reduction of Offering. If the managing underwriter or underwriters for a Demand Registration that is to be an underwritten offering advises the Company and the Demanding Holders in writing that the dollar amount or number of shares of Registrable Securities which the Demanding Holders desire to sell, taken together with all other Ordinary Shares or other securities which the Company desires to sell and the Ordinary Shares, if any, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to written contractual piggy-back registration rights held by other shareholders of the Company who desire to sell, exceeds the maximum dollar amount or maximum number of shares that can be sold in such 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 shares, as applicable, the “Maximum Number of Shares”), then the Company shall include in such registration: (i) first, the Registrable Securities as to which Demand Registration has been requested by the Demanding Holders (pro rata in accordance with the number of shares that each such person has requested be included in such registration, regardless of the number of shares held by each such person (such proportion is referred to herein as “Pro Rata”)) that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; (ii) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clause (i), the Ordinary Shares or other securities that the Company desires to sell that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; (iii) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), the Ordinary Shares or other securities registrable pursuant to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement between the Company and the initial investors in the Company and Maxim, dated as of [_______] (the “Registration Rights Agreement” and such registrable securities, the “Investor Securities”) as to which “piggy-back” registration has been requested by the holders thereof, Pro Rata, that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; and (iv) fourth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i), (ii), and (iii), the Ordinary Shares or other securities for the account of other persons that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to written contractual arrangements with such persons and that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares.

 

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5.1.5 Withdrawal. If a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders disapprove of the terms of any underwriting or are not entitled to include all of their Registrable Securities in any offering, such majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders may elect to withdraw from such offering by giving written notice to the Company and the underwriter or underwriters of their request to withdraw prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Demand Registration. If the majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders withdraws from a proposed offering relating to a Demand Registration, then the Company does not have to continue its obligations under Section 5.1, provided that, any such withdrawal will not count as the Demand Registration if the Demanding Holders pay all of the Company’s out-of-pocket expenses, with respect to such withdrawn registration.

 

5.1.6 Terms. The Company shall bear all fees and expenses attendant to registering the Registrable Securities, including the expenses of one legal counsel selected by the Holders to represent them in connection with the sale of the Registrable Securities, but the Holders shall pay any and all underwriting commissions. The Company agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to qualify or register the Registrable Securities in such states as are reasonably requested by the Majority Holder(s); provided, however, that in no event shall the Company be required to register the Registrable Securities in a state in which such registration would cause (i) the Company to be obligated to qualify to do business in such state, or would subject the Company to taxation as a foreign corporation doing business in such jurisdiction or (ii) the principal shareholders of the Company to be obligated to escrow their shares of the Company. The Company shall use its best efforts to cause any registration statement or post-effective amendment filed pursuant to the demand rights granted under Section 5.1.1 to remain effective for a period of nine consecutive months from the effective date of such registration statement or post-effective amendment.

 

5.2 Piggy-Back Registration.

 

5.2.1 Piggy-Back Rights. If at any time during the seven year period commencing on the Effective Date the Company proposes to file a registration statement under the Act with respect to an offering of equity securities, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into, equity securities, by the Company for its own account or for shareholders of the Company for their account (or by the Company and by shareholders of the Company including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 5.1), 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 shareholders, (iii) for an offering of debt that is convertible into equity securities of the Company or (iv) for a dividend reinvestment plan, then the Company shall (x) give written notice of such proposed filing to the holders of Registrable Securities as soon as practicable but in no event less than ten (10) days before the anticipated filing date, which notice shall 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, of the offering, and (y) offer to the holders of Registrable Securities in such notice the opportunity to register the sale of such number of shares of Registrable Securities as such holders may request in writing within five (5) days following receipt of such notice (a “Piggy-Back Registration”). The Company shall cause such Registrable Securities to be included in such 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 to be included in a Piggy-Back Registration on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of the Company and to permit the sale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. All holders of Registrable Securities proposing to distribute their securities through a Piggy-Back Registration that involves an underwriter or underwriters shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the underwriter or underwriters selected for such Piggy-Back Registration.

 

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5.2.2 Reduction of Offering. If the managing underwriter or underwriters for a Piggy-Back Registration that is to be an underwritten offering advises the Company and the holders of Registrable Securities in writing that the dollar amount or number of Ordinary Shares which the Company desires to sell, taken together with Ordinary Shares, if any, as to which registration has been demanded pursuant to written contractual arrangements with persons other than the holders of Registrable Securities hereunder, the Registrable Securities as to which registration has been requested under this Section 5.2, and the Ordinary Shares, if any, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to the written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other shareholders of the Company, exceeds the Maximum Number of Shares, then the Company shall include in any such registration:

 

(a) If the registration is undertaken for the Company’s account: (A) first, Ordinary Shares or other securities that the Company desires to sell that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Ordinary Shares or other securities, if any, comprised of Registrable Securities and Investor Securities, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to the applicable written contractual piggy-back registration rights of such security holders, Pro Rata, that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; and (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of shares has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the Ordinary Shares or other securities for the account of other persons that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to written contractual piggy-back registration rights with such persons and that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares;

 

(b) If the registration is a “demand” registration undertaken at the demand of holders of Investor Securities, (A) first, the Ordinary Shares or other securities for the account of the demanding persons, Pro Rata, that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Ordinary Shares or other securities that the Company desires to sell that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the shares of Registrable Securities, Pro Rata, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to the terms hereof, that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; and (D) fourth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A), (B) and (C), the Ordinary Shares or other securities for the account of other persons that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to written contractual arrangements with such persons, that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; and

 

(c) If the registration is a “demand” registration undertaken at the demand of persons other than either the holders of Registrable Securities or of Investor Securities, (A) first, the Ordinary Shares or other securities for the account of the demanding persons that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Ordinary Shares or other securities that the Company desires to sell that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), collectively the Ordinary Shares or other securities comprised of Registrable Securities and Investor Securities, Pro Rata, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to the terms hereof and of the Registration Rights Agreement, as applicable, that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; and (D) fourth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A), (B) and (C), the Ordinary Shares or other securities for the account of other persons that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to written contractual arrangements with such persons, that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares.

 

5.2.3 Withdrawal. Any holder of Registrable Securities may elect to withdraw such holder’s request for inclusion of Registrable Securities in any Piggy-Back Registration by giving written notice to the Company of such request to withdraw prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement. The Company (whether on its own determination or as the result of a withdrawal by persons making a demand pursuant to written contractual obligations) may withdraw a registration statement at any time prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement. Notwithstanding any such withdrawal, the Company shall pay all expenses incurred by the holders of Registrable Securities in connection with such Piggy-Back Registration as provided in Section 5.2.4.

 

6

 

 

5.2.4 Terms. The Company shall bear all fees and expenses attendant to registering the Registrable Securities, including the expenses of one legal counsel selected by the Holders to represent them in connection with the sale of the Registrable Securities but the Holders shall pay any and all underwriting commissions related to the Registrable Securities. In the event of such a proposed registration, the Company shall furnish the then Holders of outstanding Registrable Securities with not less than fifteen days written notice prior to the proposed date of filing of such registration statement. Such notice to the Holders shall continue to be given for each applicable registration statement filed (during the period in which the Purchase Option is exercisable) by the Company until such time as all of the Registrable Securities have been registered and sold. The Holders of the Registrable Securities shall exercise the “piggy-back” rights provided for herein by giving written notice within ten days of the receipt of the Company’s notice of its intention to file a registration statement. The Company shall use its best efforts to cause any registration statement filed pursuant to the above “piggyback” rights to remain effective for at least nine months from the date that the Holders of the Registrable Securities are first given the opportunity to sell all of such securities.

 

5.3 General Terms.

 

5.3.1 Indemnification. The Company shall indemnify the Holder(s) of the Registrable Securities to be sold pursuant to any registration statement hereunder and each person, if any, who controls such Holders within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), against all loss, claim, damage, expense or liability (including all reasonable attorneys’ fees and other expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against litigation, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever whether arising out of any action between the underwriter and the Company or between the underwriter and any third party or otherwise) to which any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, arising from such registration statement but only to the same extent and with the same effect as the provisions pursuant to which the Company has agreed to indemnify the underwriters contained in Section 5 of the Underwriting Agreement between the Company, Maxim and the other underwriters named therein dated the Effective Date (“Underwriting Agreement”). The Holder(s) of the Registrable Securities to be sold pursuant to such registration statement, and their successors and assigns, shall severally, and not jointly, indemnify the Company, its officers and directors and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act, against all loss, claim, damage, expense or liability (including all reasonable attorneys’ fees and other expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any claim whatsoever) to which they may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, arising from information furnished by or on behalf of such Holders, or their successors or assigns for specific inclusion in such registration statement or arising from any omission or the alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statement contained therein not misleading in connection with the registration of the Registrable Securities, to the same extent and with the same effect as the provisions contained in Section 5 of the Underwriting Agreement pursuant to which the underwriters have agreed to indemnify the Company.

 

5.3.2 Exercise of Purchase Option. Nothing contained in this Purchase Option shall be construed as requiring the Holder(s) to exercise their Purchase Option or Warrants underlying such Purchase Option prior to or after the initial filing of any registration statement or the effectiveness thereof.

 

5.3.3 Documents Delivered to Holders. The Company shall furnish Maxim, for as long as it is a Holder, as representative of the Holders participating in any of the foregoing offerings, a signed counterpart, addressed to the participating Holders, of (i) an opinion of counsel to the Company, dated the effective date of such registration statement (and, if such registration includes an underwritten public offering, an opinion dated the date of the closing under any underwriting agreement related thereto), and (ii) a “cold comfort” letter dated the effective date of such registration statement (and, if such registration includes an underwritten public offering, a letter dated the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement) signed by the independent public accountants who have issued a report on the Company’s financial statements included in such registration statement, in each case covering substantially the same matters with respect to such registration statement (and the prospectus included therein) and, in the case of such accountants’ letter, with respect to events subsequent to the date of such financial statements, as are customarily covered in opinions of issuer’s counsel and in accountants’ letters delivered to underwriters in underwritten public offerings of securities. The Company shall also deliver promptly to Maxim, as representative of the Holders participating in the offering, the correspondence and memoranda described below and copies of all correspondence between the Commission and the Company, its counsel or auditors and all memoranda relating to discussions with the Commission or its staff with respect to the registration statement and permit Maxim, as representative of the Holders, to do such investigation, upon reasonable advance notice, with respect to information contained in or omitted from the registration statement as it deems reasonably necessary to comply with applicable securities laws or rules of FINRA. Such investigation shall include access to books, records and properties and opportunities to discuss the business of the Company with its officers and independent auditors, all to such reasonable extent and at such reasonable times and as often as Maxim, as representative of the Holders, shall reasonably request. The Company shall not be required to disclose any confidential information or other records to Maxim, as representative of the Holders, or to any other person, until and unless such persons shall have entered into reasonable confidentiality agreements (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company), with the Company with respect thereto.

 

7

 

 

5.3.4 Underwriting Agreement. The Company shall enter into an underwriting agreement with the managing underwriter(s), if any, selected by any Holders whose Registrable Securities are being registered pursuant to this Section 5, which managing underwriter shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company. Such agreement shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Company, each Holder and such managing underwriters, and shall contain such representations, warranties and covenants by the Company and such other terms as are customarily contained in agreements of that type used by the managing underwriter. The Holders shall be parties to any underwriting agreement relating to an underwritten sale of their Registrable Securities and may, at their option, require that any or all the representations, warranties and covenants of the Company to or for the benefit of such underwriters shall also be made to and for the benefit of such Holders. Such Holders shall not be required to make any representations or warranties to or agreements with the Company or the underwriters except as they may relate to such Holders and their intended methods of distribution. Such Holders, however, shall agree to such covenants and indemnification and contribution obligations for selling shareholders as are customarily contained in agreements of that type used by the managing underwriter. Further, such Holders shall execute appropriate custody agreements and otherwise cooperate fully in the preparation of the registration statement and other documents relating to any offering in which they include securities pursuant to this Section 5. Each Holder shall also furnish to the Company such information regarding itself, the Registrable Securities held by it, and the intended method of disposition of such securities as shall be reasonably required to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities.

 

5.3.5 Rule 144 Sale. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section 5 to the contrary, the Company shall have no obligation pursuant to Sections 5.1 or 5.2 to use its best efforts to obtain the registration of Registrable Securities held by any Holder (i) where such Holder would then be entitled to sell under Rule 144 within any three-month period (or such other period prescribed under Rule 144 as may be provided by amendment thereof) all of the Registrable Securities then held by such Holder, or (ii) where the number of Registrable Securities held by such Holder is within the volume limitations under paragraph (e) of Rule 144 (calculated as if such Holder were an affiliate within the meaning of Rule 144).

 

5.3.6 Supplemental Prospectus. Each Holder agrees, that upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus included in the registration statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing, such Holder will immediately discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration statement covering such Registrable Securities until such Holder’s receipt of the copies of a supplemental or amended prospectus, and, if so desired by the Company, such Holder shall deliver to the Company (at the expense of the Company) or destroy (and deliver to the Company a certificate of such destruction) all copies, other than permanent file copies then in such Holder’s possession, of the prospectus covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice.

 

6. ADJUSTMENTS.

 

6.1 Adjustments to Exercise Price and Number of Securities. The Exercise Price and the number of Units underlying the Purchase Option shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as hereinafter set forth, provided that no adjustment shall be made to the Exercise Price if this would result in the Exercise Price falling below the par value of the Ordinary Shares. In such cases, the Exercise Price would be equal to the par value of the Ordinary Shares:

 

6.1.1 Share Dividends - Split-Ups. If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 6.3 below, the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares is increased by a share dividend payable in Ordinary Shares or by a split-up of Ordinary Shares or other similar event, then, on the effective date thereof, the number of Ordinary Shares underlying each of the Units purchasable hereunder shall be increased in proportion to such increase in outstanding shares. In such case, the number of Ordinary Shares, and the exercise price applicable thereto, underlying the Warrants underlying each of the Units purchasable hereunder shall be adjusted in accordance with the terms of the Warrants.

 

8

 

 

6.1.2 Aggregation of Shares. If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 6.3, the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares is decreased by a consolidation, combination or reclassification of Ordinary Shares or other similar event, then, on the effective date thereof, the number of Ordinary Shares underlying each of the Units purchasable hereunder shall be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding shares and the Exercise Price shall be proportionately increased. In such case, the number of Ordinary Shares, and the exercise price applicable thereto, underlying the Warrants underlying each of the Units purchasable hereunder shall be adjusted in accordance with the terms of the Warrants.

 

6.1.3 Replacement of Securities upon Reorganization, etc. In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding Ordinary Shares other than a change covered by Section 6.1.1 or 6.1.2 hereof or that solely affects the par value of such Ordinary Shares, or in the case of any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another company (other than a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing entity and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding Ordinary Shares), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another company or entity of the property of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in connection with which the Company is dissolved, the Holder of this Purchase Option shall have the right thereafter (until the expiration of the right of exercise of this Purchase Option) to receive upon the exercise hereof, for the same aggregate Exercise Price payable hereunder immediately prior to such event, the kind and amount of shares 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, by a Holder of the number of Ordinary Shares of the Company obtainable upon exercise of this Purchase Option and the underlying Warrants immediately prior to such event; and if any reclassification also results in a change in Ordinary Shares covered by Section 6.1.1 or 6.1.2, then such adjustment shall be made pursuant to Sections 6.1.1, 6.1.2 and this Section 6.1.3. The provisions of this Section 6.1.3 shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications, reorganizations, mergers or consolidations, sales or other transfers.

 

6.1.4 Changes in Form of Purchase Option. This form of Purchase Option need not be changed because of any change pursuant to this Section, and a Purchase Option issued after such change may state the same Exercise Price and the same number of Units as are stated in the Purchase Option as initially issued. The acceptance by any Holder of the issuance of a new Purchase Option reflecting a required or permissive change shall not be deemed to waive any rights to an adjustment occurring after the Commencement Date or the computation thereof.

 

6.2 Substitute Purchase Option. In case of any consolidation of the Company with, or merger of the Company with, or merger of the Company into, another entity (other than a consolidation or merger which does not result in any reclassification or change of the outstanding Ordinary Shares), the entity formed by such consolidation or merger shall execute and deliver to the Holder a supplemental Purchase Option providing that the holder of each Purchase Option then outstanding or to be outstanding shall have the right thereafter (until the stated expiration of such Purchase Option) to receive, upon exercise of such Purchase Option, the kind and amount of shares and other securities and property receivable upon such consolidation or merger, by a holder of the number of Ordinary Shares of the Company for which such Purchase Option might have been exercised immediately prior to such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer. Such supplemental Purchase Option shall provide for adjustments which shall be identical to the adjustments provided in Section 6. The above provision of this Section shall similarly apply to successive consolidations or mergers.

 

6.3 Elimination of Fractional Interests. The Company shall not be required to issue certificates representing fractions of Ordinary Shares or Warrants upon the exercise of the Purchase Option, nor shall it be required to issue scrip or pay cash in lieu of any fractional interests, it being the intent of the parties that all fractional interests shall be eliminated by rounding any fraction up or down to the nearest whole number of Warrants, Ordinary Shares or other securities, properties or rights.

 

9

 

 

7. RESERVATION AND LISTING. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued Ordinary Shares, solely for the purpose of issuance upon exercise of the Purchase Option (including the Ordinary Shares underlying the Rights) or the Warrants, such number of Ordinary Shares or other securities, properties or rights as shall be issuable upon the exercise thereof. The Company covenants and agrees that, upon exercise of the Purchase Option and payment of the Exercise Price therefor, all Ordinary Shares and other securities issuable upon such exercise shall be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and not subject to preemptive rights of any shareholder. The Company further covenants and agrees that upon exercise of the Warrants underlying the Purchase Option and payment of the respective Warrant exercise price therefor, all Ordinary Shares and other securities issuable upon such exercise shall be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and not subject to preemptive rights of any shareholders. As long as the Purchase Option shall be outstanding, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause all (i) Units and Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Purchase Option, (ii) Warrants issuable upon exercise of the Purchase Option, (iii) Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants included in the Units issuable upon exercise of the Purchase Option, (iv) Rights issuable upon exercise of the Purchase Option and (v) Ordinary Shares underlying the Rights included in the Units issuable upon exercise of the Purchase Option to be listed and/or quoted (subject to official notice of issuance) on all securities exchanges (or, if applicable, on the OTC Bulletin Board or OTC Markets Group, Inc. or any successor trading market) on which the Ordinary Shares or the Public Warrants may then be listed and/or quoted.

 

8. CERTAIN NOTICE REQUIREMENTS.

 

8.1 Holder’s Right to Receive Notice. Nothing herein shall be construed as conferring upon the Holders the right to vote or consent as a shareholders for the election of directors or any other matter, or as having any rights whatsoever as a shareholders of the Company. If, however, at any time prior to the expiration of the Purchase Option and its exercise, any of the events described in Section 8.2 shall occur, then, in each such event, the Company shall give written notice of such event at least fifteen days prior to the date fixed as a record date or the date of closing the transfer books for the determination of the shareholders entitled to such dividend, distribution, conversion or exchange of securities or subscription rights, or entitled to vote on such proposed dissolution, liquidation, winding up or sale. Such notice shall specify such record date or the date of the closing of the transfer books, as the case may be. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall deliver to each Holder a copy of each notice given to the other shareholders of the Company at the same time and in the same manner that such notice is given to the shareholders.

 

8.2 Events Requiring Notice. The Company shall be required to give the notice described in this Section 8 upon one or more of the following events: (i) if the Company shall take a record of the holders of its Ordinary Shares for the purpose of entitling them to receive a dividend or distribution payable otherwise than in cash, or a cash dividend or distribution payable otherwise than out of retained earnings, as indicated by the accounting treatment of such dividend or distribution on the books of the Company, or (ii) the Company shall offer to all the holders of its Ordinary Shares any additional shares of the Company or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of the Company, or any option, right or warrant to subscribe therefor, or (iii) a dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company (other than in connection with a consolidation or merger) or a sale of all or substantially all of its property, assets and business shall be proposed.

 

8.3 Notice of Change in Exercise Price. The Company shall, promptly after an event requiring a change in the Exercise Price pursuant to Section 6 hereof, send notice to the Holders of such event and change (“Price Notice”). The Price Notice shall describe the event causing the change and the method of calculating same and shall be certified as being true and accurate by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer.

 

8.4 Transmittal of Notices. All notices, requests, consents and other communications under this Purchase Option shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly made when hand delivered, or mailed by express mail or private courier service: (i) if to the registered Holder of the Purchase Option, to the address of such Holder as shown on the books of the Company, or (ii) if to the Company, to the following address or to such other address as the Company may designate by notice to the Holders:

 

Sze Hau Lee

Chief Executive Officer

Unit A-C, 33/F, Tower A, Billion Centre

1 Wang Kwong Road

Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong

Tel: +(852) 2820-9000

 

10

 

 

9. MISCELLANEOUS.

 

9.1 Amendment The Company and Maxim, for as long as it is a Holder, may from time to time supplement or amend this Purchase Option without the approval of any of the Holders in order to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision contained herein that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein, or to make any other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising hereunder that the Company and Maxim may deem necessary or desirable and that the Company and Maxim deem shall not adversely affect the interest of the Holders. All other modifications or amendments shall require the written consent of and be signed by the party against whom enforcement of the modification or amendment is sought.

 

9.2 Headings. The headings contained herein are for the sole purpose of convenience of reference, and shall not in any way limit or affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the terms or provisions of this Purchase Option.

 

9.3 Entire Agreement. This Purchase Option (together with the other agreements and documents being delivered pursuant to or in connection with this Purchase Option) constitutes the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings of the parties, oral and written, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

9.4 Binding Effect. This Purchase Option shall inure solely to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the Holder and the Company and their permitted assignees, respective successors, legal representative and assigns, and no other person shall have or be construed to have any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of or by virtue of this Purchase Option or any provisions herein contained.

 

9.5 Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction. This Purchase Option shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflict of laws principles thereof. Each of the Holder and the Company hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of, or relating in any way to this Purchase Option shall be brought and enforced in the New York Supreme Court, County of New York, or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive. Each of the Holder and the Company hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. Any process or summons to be served upon the Company may be served by transmitting a copy thereof by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to it at the address set forth in Section 8.4 hereof. Such mailing shall be deemed personal service and shall be legal and binding upon the Company in any action, proceeding or claim. The Company and the Holder agree that the prevailing party(ies) in any such action shall be entitled to recover from the other party(ies) all of its reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses relating to such action or proceeding and/or incurred in connection with the preparation therefore.

 

9.6 Waiver, Etc. The failure of the Company or the Holder to at any time enforce any of the provisions of this Purchase Option shall not be deemed or construed to be a waiver of any such provision, nor to in any way affect the validity of this Purchase Option or any provision hereof or the right of the Company or any Holder to thereafter enforce each and every provision of this Purchase Option. No waiver of any breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment of any of the provisions of this Purchase Option shall be effective unless set forth in a written instrument executed by the party or parties against whom or which enforcement of such waiver is sought; and no waiver of any such breach, non-compliance or non- fulfillment shall be construed or deemed to be a waiver of any other or subsequent breach or non-compliance.

 

9.7 Execution in Counterparts. This Purchase Option may be executed in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts has been signed by each of the parties hereto and delivered to each of the other parties hereto.

 

9.8 Exchange Agreement. As a condition of the Holder’s receipt and acceptance of this Purchase Option, Holder agrees that, at any time prior to the complete exercise of this Purchase Option by Holder, if the Company and Maxim enter into an agreement (“Exchange Agreement”) pursuant to which they agree that all outstanding Purchase Options will be exchanged for securities or cash or a combination of both, then Holder shall agree to such exchange and become a party to the Exchange Agreement.

 

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

11

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Purchase Option to be signed by its duly authorized officer as of the ____ day of __________, 2021.

 

  AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.
   
  By:  
  Name:  Sze Hau Lee
  Title:  Chief Executive Officer

 

12

 

 

Form to be used to exercise Purchase Option

 

Sze Hau Lee

Chief Executive Officer

Unit A-C, 33/F, Tower A, Billion Centre

1 Wang Kwong Road

Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong

Tel: +(852) 2820-9000

 

Date: [●], 20__

 

The undersigned hereby elects irrevocably to exercise all or a portion of the within Purchase Option and to purchase ____ Units of Aquarius I Acquisition Corp. and hereby makes payment of $____________ (at the rate of $_________ per Unit) in payment of the Exercise Price pursuant thereto. Please issue the securities as to which this Purchase Option is exercised in accordance with the instructions given below.

 

Or

 

The undersigned hereby elects irrevocably to convert its right to purchase _________ Units purchasable under the within Purchase Option by surrender of the unexercised portion of the attached Purchase Option (with a “Value” based of $_______ based on a “Market Price” of $_______). Please issue the securities comprising the Units as to which this Purchase Option is exercised in accordance with the instructions given below.

 

________________________

 

NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the purchase option in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever

 

Signature(s) Guaranteed:

 

 

THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD 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).

 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR REGISTRATION OF SECURITIES

 

Name

 

 
(Print in Block Letters)

 

Address

 

13

 

 

Form to be used to assign Purchase Option:

 

ASSIGNMENT

 

(To be executed by the registered Holder to effect a transfer of the within Purchase Option):

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED,______________________________________________ does hereby sell, assign and transfer unto___________________________________________ the right to purchase __________ Units of Aquarius I Acquisition Corp. (“Company”) evidenced by the within Purchase Option and does hereby authorize the Company to transfer such right on the books of the Company.

 

Dated:___________________, 20__

 

   
  Signature

 

   
  NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the purchase option in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.

 

 

Signature(s) Guaranteed:

 

 

THE SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD 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).

 

14

EX-5.1 12 fs12021a1ex5-1_aquarius1.htm OPINION OF OGIER

Exhibit 5.1

 

 

 

Aquarius I Acquisition Corp.

89 Nexus Way, Camana Bay

Grand Cayman, KY1-9009

Cayman Islands

 

  D  +852 3656 6054
  E  nathan.powell@ogier.com
   
  Reference: NMP/FYC/182196.00001
   
    2 July 2021

 

Dear Sirs

 

Aquarius I Acquisition Corp. (the Company)

 

We have been requested to provide you with an opinion on matters of Cayman Islands law in relation to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1, including all amendments or supplements thereto, filed with the United States Securities Exchange Commission under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the Act), as amended (including its exhibits, the Registration Statement) related to the offering and sale of (the Offering):

 

(i)up to 5,000,000 units (each a Unit, and together, the Units), with each Unit consisting of (a) one ordinary share of the Company with a par value of US$0.0001 each (the Ordinary Shares); (b) one redeemable warrant to acquire one-half of one Ordinary Share (the Warrants); and (c) one right which entitles its holder to receive one-tenth (1/10) of one Ordinary Share upon consummation of our initial business combination (the Rights);

 

(ii)up to 750,000 units (the Over-allotment Units, and together with the Units, the Public Units) which the underwriter, Maxim Group LLC (the Underwriter), will have a right to purchase from the Company to cover over-allotments, if any; and

 

(iii)all Ordinary Shares, Warrants and Rights issued as part of the Units and Over-Allotment Units and all Ordinary Shares that may be issued upon exercise of the Warrants and Rights comprised in such Units and Over-Allotment Units (which together constitute all of the Ordinary Shares or rights to acquire the same in the Company being registered pursuant to the Registration Statement).

 

This opinion letter is given in accordance with the terms of the legal matters section of the Registration Statement.

 

A reference to a Schedule is a reference to a schedule to this opinion and the headings herein are for convenience only and do not affect the construction of this opinion.

 

Ogier

British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Guernsey, Jersey and Luxembourg practitioners

 

Floor 11 Central Tower

28 Queen’s Road Central

Central

Hong Kong

 

T +852 3656 6000

F +852 3656 6001

ogier.com

 

Partners

Nicholas Plowman

Nathan Powell

Anthony Oakes

Oliver Payne

Kate Hodson

David Nelson

Michael Snape

Justin Davis

James Bergstrom

Marcus Leese

 

 

 

 

1Documents examined

 

For the purposes of giving this opinion, we have examined the corporate and other documents and conducted the searches listed in Schedule 1. We have not made any searches or enquiries concerning, and have not examined any documents entered into by or affecting the Company or any other person, save for the searches, enquiries and examinations expressly referred to in Schedule 1.

 

2Assumptions

 

In giving this opinion we have relied upon the assumptions set forth in Schedule 2 without having carried out any independent investigation or verification in respect of those assumptions.

 

3Opinions

 

On the basis of the examinations and assumptions referred to above and subject to the qualifications set forth in Schedule 3 and the limitations set forth below, we are of the opinion that:

 

Corporate status

 

(a)The Company has been duly incorporated as an exempted company and is validly existing and in good standing with the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands (the Registrar of Companies).

 

Corporate power

 

(b)The Company has all requisite power under its memorandum and articles of association to exercise its rights and perform its obligations under and as described in the Registration Statement.

 

Shares

 

(c)The Ordinary Shares included in the Public Units to be offered and issued by the Company as contemplated by the Registration Statement have been duly authorised for issue and, when:

 

(i)issued by the Company against payment in full of the consideration therefor in accordance with the terms set out in the Registration Statement, the terms in the underwriting agreement referred to within the Registration Statement and the Company’s then effective memorandum and articles association; and

 

(ii)such issuance of Shares have been duly registered in the Company’s register of members,

 

will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

2

 

(d)Any Ordinary Shares which are to be issued pursuant to the Warrants and Rights, in each case when the Warrants and Rights are exercisable under the terms of the warrant agreement and rights agreement, respectively, as referred to within the Registration Statement, have been duly authorised for issue and, when:

 

(i)issued by the Company upon due exercise of the Warrants and Rights in accordance with the terms of the warrant agreement and rights agreement, respectively, as referred to in the Registration Statement and in accordance with the Company’s then effective memorandum and articles of association; and

 

(ii)such issuance of Ordinary Shares have been duly registered in the Company’s register of members,

 

will be, subject to payment of the exercise price therefor under the terms of the Warrants and Rights (as applicable), validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

No litigation revealed

 

(e)Based solely on our investigation of the Register of Writs and Other Originating Process (Register of Writs), no litigation was pending in the Cayman Islands against the Company, nor had any petition been presented or order made for the winding up of the Company, as of the close of business on the day before our inspection.

 

4Matters not covered

 

We offer no opinion:

 

(a)as to any laws other than the laws of the Cayman Islands, and we have not, for the purposes of this opinion, made any investigation of the laws of any other jurisdiction, and we express no opinion as to the meaning, validity, or effect of references in the Documents to statutes, rules, regulations, codes or judicial authority of any jurisdiction other than the Cayman Islands;

 

(b)except to the extent that this opinion expressly provides otherwise, as to the commercial terms of, or the validity, enforceability or effect of the documents reviewed (or as to how the commercial terms of such documents reflect the intentions of the parties), the accuracy of representations, the fulfilment of warranties or conditions, the occurrence of events of default or terminating events or the existence of any conflicts or inconsistencies among the documents and any other agreements into which the Company may have entered or any other documents; or

 

(c)as to whether the acceptance, execution or performance of the Company’s obligations under the documents reviewed by us will result in the breach of or infringe any other agreement, deed or document (other than the Memorandum and Articles of Association) entered into by or binding on the Company.

 

5Governing law of this opinion

 

5.1This opinion is:

 

(a)governed by, and shall be construed in accordance with, the laws of the Cayman Islands;

 

3

 

(b)limited to the matters expressly stated in it; and

 

(c)confined to, and given on the basis of, the laws and practice in the Cayman Islands at the date of this opinion.

 

5.2Unless otherwise indicated, a reference to any specific Cayman Islands legislation is a reference to that legislation as amended to, and as in force at, the date of this opinion.

 

6Who can rely on this opinion

 

6.1This opinion is given for your benefit in connection with the Company. With the exception of your professional advisers (acting only in that capacity) and purchasers of the Units pursuant to the Registration Statement, it may not be relied upon by any person, other than persons entitled to rely upon it pursuant to the provisions of the Act, without our prior written consent.

 

6.2We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to this firm in the Registration Statement under the heading “Legal Matters”, “Risk Factors”, “Enforceability of Civil Liabilities” and “Enforcement of Civil Liabilities”.

 

Yours faithfully  
   
Ogier  

 

4

 

SCHEDULE 1

 

List of Documents Examined

 

1The Certificate of Incorporation of the Company dated 15 April 2021 issued by the Registrar of Companies.

 

2The memorandum and articles of association of the Company dated 15 April 2021 (the Memorandum and Articles of Association).

 

3The draft amended and restated articles of association of the Company appended to the Registration Statement to be adopted by the Company with effect from the closing of the Offering.

 

4A certificate of good standing dated 29 June 2021 issued by the Registrar of Companies in respect of the Company (the Good Standing Certificate).

 

5The written resolutions of all of the directors of the Company dated 30 June 2021 (together, the Board Resolutions).

 

6The register of members of the Company as at 20 April 2021 (the Register of Members)

 

7The register of Directors and officers of the Company as at 20 April 2021 (the Register of Directors, and together with the Register of Members, the Statutory Books).

 

8A certificate from a director of the Company dated 30 June 2021 as to certain matters of fact (the Director’s Certificate).

 

9The Registration Statement.

 

10The Register of Writs maintained by the office of the Clerk of Courts in the Cayman Islands as inspected by us on 1 July 2021.

 

5

 

SCHEDULE 2

 

Assumptions

 

Assumptions of general application

 

1All original documents examined by us are authentic and complete.

 

2All copy documents examined by us (whether in facsimile, electronic or other form) conform to the originals and those originals are authentic and complete.

 

3All signatures, seals, dates, stamps and markings (whether on original or copy documents) are genuine.

 

4Each of the Good Standing Certificate and the Statutory Books is accurate and complete as at the date of this opinion.

 

5The form of the underwriting agreement, the warrant agreement and the rights agreement (collectively, the Documents) has been or will be duly executed by all parties in materially the form as exhibited to the Registration Statement.

 

Status, authorisation and execution

 

6Each of the parties to the Documents other than the Company is duly incorporated, formed or organised (as applicable), validly existing and in good standing under all relevant laws.

 

7Any individuals who are parties to a Document, or who sign or have signed documents or give information on which we rely, have the legal capacity under all relevant laws (including the laws of the Cayman Islands) to enter into and perform their obligations under such Document, sign such documents and give such information.

 

8Each Document has been duly authorised, executed and unconditionally delivered by or on behalf of all parties to it in accordance with all applicable laws (other than, in the case of the Company, the laws of the Cayman Islands).

 

9In authorising the execution and delivery of the Documents by the Company, the exercise of its rights and performance of its obligations under the Documents, each of the directors of the Company has acted in good faith with a view to the best interests of the Company and has exercised the standard of care, diligence and skill that is required of him or her.

 

10Each Document has been duly executed and unconditionally delivered by the Company in the manner authorised in the Board Resolutions.

 

6

 

Choice of law

 

11The express choice in each Document of its Proper Law as the governing law of that Document was made in good faith.

 

12The express choice of its Proper Law as the governing law of each Document whose Proper Law is not Cayman Islands law is a valid and binding selection under its Proper Law and all other relevant laws (other than the laws of the Cayman Islands).

 

13There is nothing under any law (other than the laws of the Cayman Islands) that would or might affect the opinions herein.

 

Enforceability

 

14Each Document is legal, valid, binding and enforceable against all relevant parties in accordance with its terms under the laws of the jurisdiction specified in such Document to be the governing law of that Document (the Proper Law) and all other relevant laws (other than, in the case of the Company, the laws of the Cayman Islands).

 

15If an obligation is to be performed in a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands, its performance will not be contrary to an official directive, impossible or illegal under the laws of that jurisdiction.

 

16No moneys paid to or for the account of any party under the Documents represent, or will represent, criminal property or terrorist property (as defined in the Proceeds of Crime Law (Revised), and the Terrorism Law (Revised) respectively). None of the parties to the Documents is acting or will act in relation to the transactions contemplated by the Documents, in a manner inconsistent with United Nations sanctions or measures extended by statutory instrument to the Cayman Islands by order of Her Majesty in Council.

 

17None of the opinions expressed herein will be adversely affected by the laws or public policies of any jurisdiction other than the Cayman Islands. In particular, but without limitation to the previous sentence:

 

(a)the laws or public policies of any jurisdiction other than the Cayman Islands will not adversely affect the capacity or authority of the Company; and

 

(b)neither the execution or delivery of the Documents nor the exercise by any party to the Documents of its rights or the performance of its obligations under them contravene those laws or public policies.

 

18There are no agreements, documents or arrangements (other than the documents expressly referred to in this opinion as having been examined by us) that materially affect or modify the Documents or the transactions contemplated by them or restrict the powers and authority of the Company in any way.

 

7

 

19None of the transactions contemplated by the Documents relate to any shares, voting rights or other rights (Relevant Interests) that are subject to a restrictions notice issued pursuant to the Companies Act (Revised) (the Companies Act) or the Limited Liability Companies Act, 2016 of the Cayman Islands (a Restrictions Notice).

 

Approvals, consents and filings

 

20The Company has obtained all consents, licences, approvals and authorisations of any governmental or regulatory authority or agency or of any other person that it is required to obtain pursuant to the laws of all relevant jurisdictions (other than those of the Cayman Islands) to ensure the legality, validity, enforceability, proper performance and admissibility in evidence of the Documents. Any conditions to which such consents, licences, approvals and authorisations are subject have been, and will continue to be, satisfied or waived by the parties entitled to the benefit of them.

 

21All of the following that are necessary to ensure the validity, legality, enforceability or admissibility in evidence of the Documents have been made or paid:

 

(a)all notarisations, apostillings and consularisations required pursuant to the laws of all relevant jurisdictions (other than those of the Cayman Islands); and

 

(b)all filings, recordings, registrations and enrolments of the Documents with any court, public office or elsewhere in any jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands; and

 

(c)all payments outside the Cayman Islands of stamp duty, registration or other tax on or in relation to the Documents.

 

Submission to jurisdiction

 

22The submission by the Company to the jurisdiction of the courts specified in each of the Documents is binding on the Company as a matter of all relevant laws (other than the laws of the Cayman Islands).

 

Sovereign immunity

 

23The Company is not a sovereign entity of any state and does not have sovereign immunity for the purposes of the UK State Immunity Act 1978 (which has been extended by statutory instrument to the Cayman Islands).

 

Pari passu ranking

 

24As a contractual matter under the governing law of the Documents, the payment obligations of the Company under those Documents are unsubordinated and the parties to those Documents will not subsequently agree to subordinate or defer their claims.

 

8

 

No Cayman Islands establishment

 

25No party to a Document (other than the Company) will enter into that document or administer the transactions contemplated by it through a branch or office in the Cayman Islands.

 

Share Issuance

 

26The Shares have been issued at an issue price in excess of the par value thereof and have been entered on the register of members of the Company as fully paid.

 

27The draft amended and restated articles of association appended to the Registration Statement will be adopted by the Company in accordance with the Memorandum and Articles of Association prior to the date that any Units, Ordinary Shares or Over-Allotment Units are issued by the Company.

 

9

 

Schedule 3

 

Qualifications

 

Good Standing

 

1Under the Companies Act, annual returns in respect of the Company must be filed with the Registrar of Companies, together with payment of annual filing fees. A failure to file annual returns and pay annual filing fees may result in the Company being struck off the Register of Companies, following which its assets will vest in the Financial Secretary of the Cayman Islands and will be subject to disposition or retention for the benefit of the public of the Cayman Islands.

 

2In good standing means only that as of the date of the Good Standing Certificate the Company is up-to-date with the filing of its annual returns and payment of annual fees with the Registrar of Companies. We have made no enquiries into the Company’s good standing with respect to any filings or payment of fees, or both, that it may be required to make under the laws of the Cayman Islands other than the Companies Act.

 

Register of Writs

 

3Our examination of the Register of Writs cannot conclusively reveal whether or not there is:

 

(a)any current or pending litigation in the Cayman Islands against the Company; or

 

(b)any application for the winding up or dissolution of the Company or the appointment of any liquidator or trustee in bankruptcy in respect of the Company or any of its assets,

 

as notice of these matters might not be entered on the Register of Writs immediately or updated expeditiously or the court file associated with the matter or the matter itself may not be publicly available (for example, due to sealing orders having been made). Furthermore, we have not conducted a search of the summary court. Claims in the summary court are limited to a maximum of CI $20,000.

 

Choice of law

 

4Where the Proper Law of a Document is not Cayman Islands law:

 

(a)the courts of the Cayman Islands will not recognise the choice of its Proper Law as the governing law of a Document to the extent that such choice of Proper Law would be incompatible with the public policy of Cayman Islands law; and

 

(b)in any action brought in respect of a Document in the courts of the Cayman Islands, those courts will not apply its Proper Law unless that law is pleaded and proved in the courts of the Cayman Islands, nor will they apply that law:

 

(i)to matters of procedure; and

 

(ii)to the extent the application of that Proper Law would be incompatible with the public policy of Cayman Islands law or contrary to mandatorily-applicable provisions of Cayman Islands law.

 

10

 

Enforceability

 

5In this opinion, the term “enforceable” means that the relevant obligations are of a type that the courts of the Cayman Islands will ordinarily enforce, but it does not mean that those obligations will necessarily be enforced in all circumstances in accordance with their terms. In particular, but without limitation:

 

(a)enforcement may be limited by insolvency or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors;

 

(b)enforcement may be limited by general principles of equity. In particular, equitable remedies, such as specific performance and injunction, will only be granted by a court in its discretion and may not be available where the court considers damages to be an adequate remedy;

 

(c)a claim may be barred by statutes of limitation, or it may be or become subject to defences of set-off, abatement, laches or counterclaim and the doctrines of estoppel, waiver, election, forbearance or abandonment;

 

(d)a court may refuse to allow unjust enrichment;

 

(e)a person who is not a party to a Document that is governed by Cayman Islands law may not have the benefit of and may not be able to enforce its terms except to the extent that the relevant Document expressly provides that the third party may, in its own right, enforce such rights (subject to and in accordance with the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act, 2014;

 

(f)enforcement of an obligation of a party under a Document may be invalidated or vitiated by reason of fraud, duress, misrepresentation or undue influence or it may be limited by Cayman Islands law dealing with frustration of contracts;

 

(g)a provision of a Document that fetters any statutory power of a Cayman Islands’ company, such as a provision restricting the company’s power to commence its winding up, to alter its memorandum and articles of association or to increase its share capital, may not be enforceable;

 

(h)the effectiveness of a provision in a Document releasing a party from a liability or duty otherwise owed may be limited by law;

 

(i)a court will not enforce a provision of a Document to the extent that it may be illegal or contrary to public policy in the Cayman Islands or purports to bar a party unconditionally from, seeking any relief from the courts of the Cayman Islands or any other court or tribunal chosen by the parties;

 

(j)a provision of a Document that is construed as being penal in nature, in that it provides that a breach of a primary obligation results in a secondary obligation that imposes a detriment on the contract-breaker out of all proportion to any legitimate interest of the innocent party in the enforcement of the primary obligation, will not be enforceable (and we express no opinion as to whether such a provision is proportionate);

 

(k)a court may refuse to give effect to a provision in a Document (including a provision that relates to contractual interest on a judgment debt) that it considers usurious;

 

11

 

(l)a court may not enforce a provision of a Document to the extent that the transactions contemplated by it contravene economic or other sanctions imposed in respect of certain states or jurisdictions by a treaty, law, order or regulation applicable to the Cayman Islands;

 

(m)a court may refuse to give effect to a provision in a Document that involves the enforcement of any foreign revenue or penal laws;

 

(n)where a contract provides for the payment of legal fees and expenses incurred by a party to that contract in enforcing the contract, a party who succeeds in enforcing the contract is entitled to recover by court judgment the amount of the legal fees and expenses found to be due under the terms of the contract. In all other cases, costs of legal proceedings can only be recovered from another party to the proceedings by a court order, which is a matter for the discretion of the court, and such costs are liable to taxation (assessment by the court); and

 

(o)enforcement may be prohibited or otherwise prejudiced if a Relevant Interest is subject to a Restrictions Notice.

 

6A court may determine in its discretion the extent of enforceability of a provision of a Document that provides for or requires, as the case may be:

 

(a)severability of any provision of the Documents held to be illegal or unenforceable;

 

(b)any calculation, determination or certificate to be conclusive or binding, including if that calculation, determination or certificate is fraudulent or manifestly inaccurate or has an unreasonable or arbitrary basis;

 

(c)the vesting in a party of a discretion or of a power to determine a matter in its opinion, if that discretion is exercised unreasonably or the opinion is not based on reasonable grounds; or

 

(d)written amendments or waivers of the Documents, if a purported amendment or waiver is effected by oral agreement or course of conduct,

 

and we express no opinion on any provisions of that type.

 

7The law of the Cayman Islands may not recognise a difference between negligence and gross negligence.

 

8Where any Document is dated “as of” a specific date, although the parties to that Document have agreed between themselves that, as a matter of contract and to the extent possible, their rights and obligations under it take effect from a date prior to the date of execution and delivery, the Document still comes into effect on the date it is actually executed and delivered. Rights of third parties under that Document also take effect from the date the Document is actually executed and delivered, rather than the “as of” date.

 

12

 

Jurisdiction clauses

 

9Exclusive jurisdiction: Notwithstanding any provision of the Documents providing for the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of another country, the courts of the Cayman Islands may not stay or strike out proceedings brought in contravention of such a provision if the claimant shows that it is just and proper to allow such proceedings to continue. In relation to some matters the courts of the place of incorporation have exclusive jurisdiction and, where that place of incorporation or registration is not the Cayman Islands, the Cayman Islands court will not accept jurisdiction.

 

10Non-exclusive jurisdiction: Notwithstanding any provision of the Documents providing for the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of another country, a Cayman Islands court will only refuse leave to serve a writ outside of the Cayman Islands if the Cayman Islands are not the most appropriate forum and will only stay or strike out proceedings if pursuing the case in the Cayman Islands court would be vexatious or oppressive. There is no presumption that the nomination of a non-exclusive forum will give priority to that forum over the Cayman Islands.

 

Stamp duty

 

11Cayman Islands stamp duty will be payable if a Document is executed in, or brought to, the Cayman Islands (including being produced to a court of the Cayman Islands).

 

Private Funds

 

12A company, unit trust or exempted limited partnership that is a “private fund”, as such term is defined in the Private Funds Act, 2020, is prohibited from accepting capital contributions from investors in respect of investments until it is registered with the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority.

 

 

13

 

 

EX-5.2 13 fs12021a1ex5-2_aquarius1.htm OPINION OF LOEB & LOEB LLP

Exhibit 5.2

 

Lawrence Venick
Partner
 
   
2206-19 Jardine House Tel +852 3923 1188
1 Connaught Place Fax +852 3923 1100
Central Email lvenick@loeb.com
Hong Kong  

 

July 27, 2021

 

Aquarius I Acquisition Corp.

Unit A-C, 33/F, Tower A, Billion Centre

1 Wang Kwong Road

Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong

 

Re:Aquarius I Acquisition Corp.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as counsel to Aquarius I Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands company (the “Company”), in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (the “Registration Statement”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), covering an underwritten public offering of (i) 5,000,000 units (the “Units”), with each Unit consisting of one of the Company’s ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Ordinary Shares”), one redeemable warrant (collectively the “Warrants”), each warrant entitling its holder to purchase 1/2 of one Ordinary Share and one right (the “Rights”), each ten rights entitling its holder to receive one Ordinary Share, (ii) up to 750,000 Units (the “Over-Allotment Units”) for which the underwriters have been granted an over-allotment option, (iii) an option (“Unit Purchase Option”) to purchase up to 287,500 Units (the “Purchase Option Units”) granted to Maxim Group, LLC, the representative of the underwriters (the “Representative”) or its designees, pursuant to the Registration Statement, and (iv) all Ordinary Shares, Warrants and Rights issued as part of the Units, Over-Allotment Units and the Purchase Option Units; (v) all Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants included in the Units, Over-Allotment Units and the Purchase Option Units; and (vi) all Ordinary Shares issuable upon conversion of the Rights included in the Units, Over-Allotment Units and the Purchase Option Units.

 

We have examined such documents and considered such legal matters as we have deemed necessary and relevant as the basis for the opinion set forth below. With respect to such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as reproduced or certified copies, and the authenticity of the originals of those latter documents. As to questions of fact material to this opinion, we have, to the extent deemed appropriate, relied upon certain representations of certain officers of the Company. Because the agreements governing the Warrants, the Rights, the Units, the Unit Purchase Option and the Purchase Option Units contain provisions stating that they are to be governed by the laws of the State of New York, we are rendering this opinion as to New York law. We are admitted to practice in the State of New York, and we express no opinion as to any matters governed by any law other than the law of the State of New York. In particular, we do not purport to pass on any matter governed by the laws of the Cayman Islands.

 

San Francisco      Los Angeles       New York      Chicago      Nashville       Washington, DC      Beijing Hong Kong
www.loeb.com

 

 

 

 

 July 27, 2021
Page 2

 

Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that each of the Warrants (including the Warrants issuable in connection with the Over-Allotment Units and the Purchase Option Units), the Rights (including the Rights issuable in connection with the Over-Allotment Units and the Purchase Option Units), the Units, the Over-Allotment Units, the Unit Purchase Option and the Purchase Option Units, if and when paid for in accordance with the terms of the underwriting agreement between the Company and the Representative (the “Underwriting Agreement”), will constitute the valid and legally binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.

 

In addition, the foregoing opinions are qualified to the extent that (a) enforceability may be limited by and be subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law (including, without limitation, concepts of notice and materiality), and by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws affecting creditors’ and debtors’ rights generally (including, without limitation, any state or federal law in respect of fraudulent transfers); and (b) no opinion is expressed herein as to compliance with or the effect of federal or state securities or blue sky laws.

 

We hereby consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, to the use of our name as your U.S. counsel and to all references made to us in the Registration Statement and in the prospectus forming a part thereof. In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act, or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Very truly yours,

 

/s/ Loeb & Loeb LLP

 

Loeb & Loeb LLP

 

 

EX-10.1 14 fs12021a1ex10-1_aquarius1.htm FORM OF LETTER AGREEMENT AMONG THE REGISTRANT, MAXIM GROUP LLC AND THE COMPANY'S OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS

Exhibit 10.1

 

____, 2021

 

Aquarius I Acquisition Corp.

Unit A-C, 33/F, Tower A, Billion Centre

1 Wang Kwong Road

Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong

 

Maxim Group LLC

405 Lexington Ave.

New York, NY 10174

 

  Re: Initial Public Offering

 

Gentlemen:

 

This letter is being delivered to you in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) entered into by and between Aquarius I Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands company (the “Company”), and Maxim Group LLC, as Representative (the “Representative”) of the several underwriters named on Schedule A thereto (the “Underwriters”), relating to an underwritten initial public offering (the “IPO”) of the Company’s units (the “Units”), each comprised of one ordinary share of the Company, $0.0001 par value each (the “Ordinary Shares”), one redeemable warrant, each warrant entitling its holder to purchase one-half (1/2) of one Ordinary Share at an exercise price of $11.50 per full share (the “Warrants”), and one right to receive one-tenth (1/10) of one Ordinary Share (the “Rights”). Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in paragraph 14 hereof.

 

In order to induce the Company and the Underwriters to enter into the Underwriting Agreement and to proceed with the IPO, and in recognition of the benefit that such IPO will confer upon the undersigned as a shareholder of the Company, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the undersigned hereby agrees with the Company as follows:

 

1. If the Company solicits approval of its shareholders of a Business Combination, the undersigned will vote all Ordinary Shares beneficially owned by him, her or it, whether acquired before, in or after the IPO, in favor of such Business Combination.

 

2. (a) Unless the Company’s shareholders are previously given the option to redeem their shares in connection with amending applicable documents to extend the time that the Company has to complete a Business Combination and that the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within 12 months from the date that the registration statement is declared effective (or, in the event that the Company extended the period of time to consummate a business combination up to three times, each by an additional three months, within 21 months) from the date that the registration statement is declared effective, the undersigned shall take all reasonable steps to (i) cause the Trust Fund to be liquidated and distributed to the holders of the IPO Shares and (ii) cause the Company to liquidate as soon as reasonably practicable.

 

(b) The undersigned hereby waives any and all right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any distribution of the Trust Fund and any remaining net assets of the Company as a result of such liquidation with respect to his, her or its Insider Shares [including any shares underlying the Private Units]1 (“Claim”) and hereby waives any Claim the undersigned may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any contracts or agreements with the Company and will not seek recourse against the Trust Fund for any reason whatsoever. [The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that there will be no distribution from the Trust Fund with respect to any Warrants or Rights underlying the Private Units, all of which will terminate on the Company’s liquidation.]2

 

[(c) In the event of the liquidation of the Trust Fund, the undersigned agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company against any and all loss, liability, claims, 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, or any claim whatsoever) which the Company may become subject as a result of any claim by any vendor or other person who is owed money by the Company for services rendered or products sold or contracted for, but only to the extent necessary to ensure that such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense does not reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Fund; provided, that such indemnity shall not apply if such vendor or other person has executed an agreement waiving any claims against the Trust Fund.]3

 

 

 

1NTD: Only include for Aquarius Sponsor Limited.

2NTD: Only include for Aquarius Sponsor Limited.

3NTD: Only include for Aquarius Sponsor Limited.

 

 

 

 

3. [In the event that the Company does not consummate a Business Combination and must liquidate and its remaining net assets are insufficient to complete such liquidation, the undersigned agrees to advance such funds necessary to complete such liquidation and agrees not to seek recourse for such expenses.]4

 

4. The undersigned will escrow all of his, her or its Insider Shares pursuant to the terms of a Stock Escrow Agreement, which the Company will enter into with the undersigned and an escrow agent acceptable to the Company.

 

5. [The undersigned agrees that until the Company consummates a Business Combination, the undersigned’s Private Units will be subject to the transfer restrictions described in the Subscription Agreement relating to the undersigned’s Private Units.]5

 

6. In order to minimize potential conflicts of interest which may arise from multiple affiliations, the undersigned agrees to present to the Company for its consideration, prior to presentation to any other person or entity, any suitable opportunity to acquire a target business, until the earlier of the consummation by the Company of a Business Combination or the liquidation of the Company, subject to any pre-existing fiduciary and contractual obligations the undersigned might have.

 

7. The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that prior to entering into a Business Combination with a target business that is affiliated with any Insiders of the Company or their affiliates, including any company that is a portfolio company of, or otherwise affiliated with, or has received financial investment from, an entity with which any Insider or their affiliates is affiliated, 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 that such Business Combination is fair to the Company’s unaffiliated shareholders from a financial point of view.

 

8. Neither the undersigned, any member of the family of the undersigned, nor any affiliate of the undersigned will be entitled to receive and will not accept any compensation or other cash payment prior to, or for services rendered in connection with, the consummation of the Business Combination; provided that the Company shall be allowed to repay working capital loans made by the undersigned to the Company in cash upon consummation of the Business Combination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the undersigned and any affiliate of the undersigned shall be entitled to reimbursement from the Company for their out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with identifying, investigating and consummating a Business Combination.

 

9. Neither the undersigned, any member of the family of the undersigned, nor any affiliate of the undersigned will be entitled to receive or accept a finder’s fee or any other compensation in the event the undersigned, any member of the family of the undersigned or any affiliate of the undersigned originates a Business Combination.

 

10. [The undersigned agrees to be a director/officer of the Company until the earlier of the consummation by the Company of a Business Combination or the liquidation of the Company. The undersigned’s biographical information previously furnished to the Company and the Representative is true and accurate in all material respects, does not omit any material information with respect to the undersigned’s biography and contains all of the information required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 401 of Regulation S-K, promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933.]6 The undersigned’s FINRA Questionnaire previously furnished to the Company and the Representative is true and accurate in all material respects. The undersigned represents and warrants that:

 

 

 

4NTD: Only include for Aquarius Sponsor Limited.

5NTD: Only include for Aquarius Sponsor Limited.

6NTD: Only remove for Aquarius Sponsor Limited.

 

2

 

 

  (a) He, she or it has never had a petition under the federal bankruptcy laws or any state insolvency law been filed by or against (i) him, her or it, or any partnership in which he or she was a general partner at or within two years before the time of filing; or (ii) any corporation or business association of which he or she was an executive officer at or within two years before the time of such filing;

 

  (b) He, she or it has never had a receiver, fiscal agent or similar officer been appointed by a court for his business or property, or any such partnership;

 

  (c) He, she or it has never been convicted of fraud in a civil or criminal proceeding;

 

  (d) He, she or it has never been convicted in a criminal proceeding or named the subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and minor offenses);

 

  (e) He, she or it has never been the subject of any order, judgment or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any court of competent jurisdiction, permanently or temporarily enjoining or otherwise limiting him, her or it from (i) acting as a futures commission merchant, introducing broker, commodity trading advisor, commodity pool operator, floor broker, leverage transaction merchant, any other person regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) or an associated person of any of the foregoing, or as an investment adviser, underwriter, broker or dealer in securities, or as an affiliated person, director or employee of any investment company, bank, savings and loan association or insurance company, or from engaging in or continuing any conduct or practice in connection with any such activity; or (ii) engaging in any type of business practice; or (iii) engaging in any activity in connection with the purchase or sale of any security or commodity or in connection with any violation of federal or state securities or federal commodities laws;

 

  (f) He, she, or it has never been 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 his, her or its right to engage in any activity described in 10(e)(i) above, or to be associated with persons engaged in any such activity;

 

  (g) He, she, or it has never been found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by the SEC to have violated any federal or state securities law, where the judgment in such civil action or finding by the SEC has not been subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated;

 

  (h) He, she, or it has never been found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by the CFTC to have violated any federal commodities law, where the judgment in such civil action or finding by the CFTC has not been subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated;

 

  (i) He, she, or it has never been the subject of, or a party to, any Federal, State or foreign judicial or administrative order, judgment, decree or finding, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, relating to an alleged violation of (i) any Federal, State or foreign securities or commodities law or regulation, (ii) any law or regulation respecting financial institutions or insurance companies including, but not limited to, a temporary or permanent injunction, order of disgorgement or restitution, civil money penalty or temporary or permanent cease-and desist order, or removal or prohibition order or (iii) any law or regulation prohibiting mail or wire fraud or fraud in connection with any business entity;

 

  (j) He, she or it has never been the subject of, or party to, any sanction or order, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, or any self-regulatory organization, any registered entity, or any equivalent exchange, association, entity or organization that has disciplinary authority over its members or persons associated with a member;

 

3

 

 

  (k) He, she or it has never been convicted of any felony or misdemeanor: (i) in connection with the purchase or sale of any security; (ii) involving the making of any false filing with the SEC; or (iii) arising out of the conduct of the business of an underwriter, broker, dealer, municipal securities dealer, investment advisor or paid solicitor of purchasers of securities;

 

  (l) He, she or it was never subject to a final order of a state or foreign securities commission (or an agency of officer of a state performing like functions); a state or foreign authority that supervises or examines banks, savings associations, or credit unions; a state or foreign insurance commission (or an agency or officer of a state performing like functions); an appropriate federal or foreign banking agency; the CFTC; or the National Credit Union Administration that is based on a violation of any law or regulation that prohibits fraudulent, manipulative, or deceptive conduct;

 

  (m) He, she or it has never been subject to any order, judgment or decree of any court of competent jurisdiction, that, at the time of the sale of the Units, restrained or enjoined him, her or it from engaging or continuing to engage in any conduct or practice: (i) in connection with the purchase or sale of any security; (ii) involving the making of any false filing with the SEC or any foreign regulatory agency with similar functions; or (iii) arising out of the conduct of the business of an underwriter, broker, dealer, municipal securities dealer, investment adviser or paid solicitor of purchasers of securities;

 

  (n) He, she or it has never been subject to any order of the SEC or any foreign regulatory agency with similar functions that orders him, her or it to cease and desist from committing or causing a future violation of: (i) any scienter-based anti-fraud provision of the federal securities laws, including, but not limited to, Section 17(a)(1) of the Securities Act, Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, Section 15(c) and Section 206(1) of the Advisers Act or any other rule or regulation thereunder; or (ii) Section 5 of the Securities Act;

 

  (o) He, she or it has never filed (as a registrant or issuer), or been named as an underwriter in any registration statement or Regulation A offering statement filed with the SEC that was the subject of a refusal order, stop order, or order suspending the Regulation A exemption, or is, currently, the subject of an investigation or proceeding to determine whether a stop order or suspension order should be issued;

 

  (p) He, she or it has never been subject to a United States Postal Service false representation order, or is currently subject to a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction with respect to conduct alleged by the United States Postal Service to constitute a scheme or device for obtaining money or property through the mail by means of false representations;

 

  (q) He, she or it is not subject to a final order of a state securities commission (or an agency of officer of a state performing like functions); a state authority that supervises or examines banks, savings associations, or credit unions; a state insurance commission (or an agency or officer of a state performing like functions); an appropriate federal banking agency; the CFTC; or the National Credit Union Administration that bars the undersigned from: (i) association with an entity regulated by such commission, authority, agency or officer; (ii) engaging in the business of securities, insurance or banking; or (iii) engaging in savings association or credit union activities;

 

  (r) He, she or it is not subject to an order of the SEC entered pursuant to section 15(b) or 15B(c) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) or section 203(e) or 203(f) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the “Advisers Act”) that: (i) suspends or revokes the undersigned’s registration as a broker, dealer, municipal securities dealer or investment adviser; (ii) places limitations on the activities, functions or operations of, or imposes civil money penalties on, such person; or (iii) bars the undersigned from being associated with any entity or from participating in the offering of any penny stock; and

 

4

 

 

  (s) He, she or it has never been suspended or expelled from membership in, or suspended or barred from association with a member of, a securities self-regulatory organization (e.g., a registered national securities exchange or a registered national or affiliated securities association) for any act or omission to act constituting conduct inconsistent with just and equitable principles of trade.

 

11. [The undersigned has full right and power, without violating any agreement by which he, she or it is bound, to enter into this letter agreement and to serve as a Director and/or officer of the Company.]7

 

11. The undersigned hereby waives his, her or its right to exercise redemption rights with respect to any Ordinary Shares owned or to be owned by the undersigned, directly or indirectly (or to sell such shares to the Company in a tender offer), whether purchased by the undersigned prior to the IPO, in the IPO or in the aftermarket, and agrees that he, she or it will not seek redemption with respect to or otherwise sell, such shares in connection with any vote to approve a Business Combination with respect thereto, a vote to amend the provisions of the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, or a tender offer by the Company prior to a Business Combination.

 

12. The undersigned hereby agrees to not propose, or vote in favor of, an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association with respect to the Company’s pre-Business Combination activities prior to the consummation of a Business Combination unless the Company offers holders of IPO Shares the right to receive their pro rata portion of the funds then held in the Trust Fund.

 

13. In connection with Section 5-1401 of the General Obligations Law of the State of New York, this letter agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York without regard to principles of conflicts of law that would result in the application of the substantive law of another jurisdiction. The parties hereto agree that any action, proceeding or claim arising out of or relating in any way to this letter agreement shall be resolved through final and binding arbitration in accordance with the International Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”). The arbitration shall be brought before the AAA International Center for Dispute Resolution’s offices in New York City, New York, will be conducted in English and will be decided by a panel of three arbitrators selected from the AAA Commercial Disputes Panel and that the arbitrator panel’s decision shall be final and enforceable by any court having jurisdiction over the party from whom enforcement is sought. The cost of such arbitrators and arbitration services, together with the prevailing party’s legal fees and expenses, shall be borne by the non-prevailing party or as otherwise directed by the arbitrators.

 

14. As used herein, (i) a “Business Combination” shall mean a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, contractual arrangement, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities; (ii) “Insiders” shall mean all officers, directors and shareholders of the Company immediately prior to the IPO; (iii) “Insider Shares” shall mean all of the Ordinary Shares of the Company acquired by an Insider prior to the IPO and any Ordinary Shares underlying the Private Units; (iv) “IPO Shares” shall mean the Ordinary Shares issued in the Company’s IPO; (v) [“Private Units” shall mean (x) the Units purchased in the private placement taking place simultaneously with the consummation of the Company’s IPO and (y) the additional Units that may be purchased in connection with the exercise of the over-allotment option by the underwriters in the IPO as described in the Registration Statement;]8 (vi) “Registration Statement” means the registration statement on Form S-1 filed by the Company with respect to the IPO; and (vii) “Trust Fund” shall mean the trust fund into which a portion of the net proceeds of the Company’s IPO will be deposited.

 

15. 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 transmission.

 

 

 

7NTD: Only remove for Aquarius Sponsor Limited.

8NTD: Only include for Aquarius Sponsor Limited.

 

5

 

 

If to the Representative:

 

Maxim Group LLC

405 Lexington Ave

New York, NY 10174

Attn: Alex Jin

Facsimile: (212) 895-3773

 

with a copy (which copy shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP

1345 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10105

Attn: Barry Grossman, Esq.

Facsimile.: (212) 370-7889

 

If to the Company:

 

Aquarius I Acquisition Corp.

Unit A-C, 33/F, Tower A, Billion Centre

1 Wang Kwong Road

Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong

Attn: Sze Hau Lee, Chief Executive Officer

 

with a copy (which copy shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Loeb & Loeb LLP

2206-19 Jardine House

1 Connaught Place

Central, Hong Kong SAR

Attn: Lawrence Venick

Facsimile: (852) 3923-1100

 

16. 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 party. 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 parties hereto and any successors and assigns thereof.

 

17. 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.

 

18. The undersigned acknowledges and understands that the Underwriters and the Company will rely upon the agreements, representations and warranties set forth herein in proceeding with the IPO. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to render the Underwriters a representative of, or a fiduciary with respect to, the Company, its shareholders or any creditor or vendor of the Company with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

6

 

 

  Aquarius Sponsor Limited
   
  By:  
    Name: Sze Hau Lee
    Title: Director

 

     
    Sze Hau Lee
     
     
    Chunning Wang
     
     
    Ngai Wong
     
     
    Chi Fai Choi
     
     
    Walter R. Cook
     
     
    Boyu Xu
     
     
    Feng Wu
     
     
    Di Wu

 

7

EX-10.2 15 fs12021a1ex10-2_aquarius1.htm FORM OF INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT TRUST AGREEMENT BETWEEN AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC AND THE REGISTRANT

Exhibit 10.2

 

INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT TRUST AGREEMENT

 

This Agreement is made as of [_______], 2021 by and between Aquarius I Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as trustee (“Trustee”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1, No. 333-257706 (“Registration Statement”) for its initial public offering of securities (“IPO”) has been declared effective as of the date hereof (“Effective Date”) by the Securities and Exchange Commission (capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Registration Statement); and

 

WHEREAS, Maxim Group LLC (“Maxim”) is acting as the underwriter in the IPO; and

 

WHEREAS, if a Business Combination is not consummated within the initial 12 month period from the date that the registration statement is declared effective, the Company’s insiders may extend such period by three three-months periods, up to a maximum of 21 months in the aggregate, by depositing $500,000 (or $575,000 if the Underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) into the Trust Account (as defined below) no later than the 12 month anniversary of the date that the registration statement is declared effective, the 15 month anniversary of the date that the registration statement is declared effective, the 18 month anniversary of the date that the registration statement is declared effective, or the 21 month anniversary of the date that the registration statement is declared effective (each, an “Applicable Deadline”), as applicable, for each three-month extension (each, an “Extension”), in exchange for which they will receive promissory notes; and

 

WHEREAS, as described in the Registration Statement, and in accordance with the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, $50,000,000 of the gross proceeds of the IPO and the net proceeds of a private placement taking place simultaneously therewith ($57,500,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full), plus any amount eventually deposited on account of any Extension, will be delivered to the Trustee to be deposited and held in the Trust Account for the benefit of the Company and the holders of the Company’s ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value, issued in the IPO as hereinafter provided (the proceeds to be delivered to the Trustee, including the proceeds from any loans in connection with an Extension, if any, will be referred to herein as the “Property”; the shareholders for whose benefit the Trustee shall hold the Property will be referred to as the “Public Shareholders,” and the Public Shareholders and the Company will be referred to together as the “Beneficiaries”); 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.

 

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 a segregated trust account (“Trust Account”) established by the Trustee at Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas in the United States, maintained by 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 instruction of the Company, invest and reinvest the Property (i) in United States government treasury bills, notes or bonds having a maturity of 180 days or less and/or (ii) in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and that invest solely in U.S. treasuries, as determined by the Company;

 

(d) Collect and receive, when due, all principal and income arising from the Property, which shall become part of the “Property,” as such term is used herein;

 

 

 

 

(e) Notify the Company and Maxim of all communications received by it with respect to any Property requiring action by the Company;

 

(f) Supply any necessary information or documents as may be requested by the Company in connection with the Company’s preparation of its tax returns;

 

(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; and

 

(i) Commence liquidation of the Trust Account only after and promptly after receipt of, and only in accordance with, the terms of a letter (“Termination Letter”), in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as either Exhibit A or Exhibit B, signed on behalf of the Company by its President, Chief Executive Officer or Chairman of the Board and Secretary or Assistant Secretary and, in the case of a Termination Letter in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit A, acknowledged and agreed to by Maxim, and complete the liquidation of the Trust Account and distribute the Property in the Trust Account only as directed in the Termination Letter and the other documents referred to therein; provided, however, that in the event that a Termination Letter has not been received by the Trustee by the 12-month anniversary of the closing of the IPO (“Closing”) or, in the event that the Company extended the time to complete the Business Combination for up to 21-months from the closing of the IPO but has not completed the Business Combination within the applicable monthly anniversary of the Closing, (“Last Date”), the Trust Account shall be liquidated in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Termination Letter attached as Exhibit B hereto and distributed to the Public Shareholders as of the Last Date.

 

(j) Upon receipt of an extension letter (“Extension Letter”) substantially similar to Exhibit D hereto at least five business days prior to the Applicable Deadline, signed on behalf of the Company by an executive officer, and receipt of the dollar amount specified in the Extension Letter on or prior to the Applicable Deadline, to follow the instructions set forth in the Extension Letter.

 

(k) Not disburse any amounts from the Trust Account in connection with a Business Combination in the event that the amount per share to be received by the redeeming Public Shareholders is less than $10.00 per share (plus the amount per share deposited in the Trust Account pursuant to any Extension Letter).

 

(l) In connection with a Business Combination, before making disbursements to the Depository Trust Company, the Company or any other person, disburse the per share amount to redeeming Public Shareholders (other than shares tendered through the Depository Trust Company) that have tendered their shares directly to the Trustee.

 

(m) Promptly acknowledge and comply with any irrevocable instruction letter delivered in the form of Exhibit E delivered by the Company in connection with the disbursement of funds to a Public Shareholder.

 

(n) Promptly acknowledge, in writing to any redeeming Public Shareholder and the Company, any irrevocable instruction letter in the form of Exhibit F delivered by such redeeming Public Shareholder after the announcement by the Company of a proposed Business Combination and promptly comply with any irrevocable written instruction letter in the form of Exhibit F delivered by such Public Shareholder in connection with the disbursement of funds to such Public Shareholder if the Company has not notified the Trustee in writing during the Objection Period that such irrevocable written instruction letter is a Non-Compliant Instruction Letter (as defined below).

 

2. Limited Distributions of Income from Trust Account.

 

(a) 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, the Trustee shall distribute to the Company the amount of interest income earned on the Trust Account requested by the Company to cover any income or other tax obligation owed by the Company.

 

2

 

 

(b) The limited distributions referred to in Section 2(a) above shall be made only from income collected on the Property. Except as provided in Section 2(a), no other distributions from the Trust Account shall be permitted except in accordance with Section 1(i) hereof.

 

(c) The Company shall provide Maxim with a copy of any Termination Letters and/or any other correspondence that it issues to the Trustee with respect to any proposed withdrawal from the Trust Account promptly after such issuance.

 

3. 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, President or Chief Financial Officer. In addition, except with respect to its duties under paragraphs 1(i), 2(a) and 2(b) above, 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 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 the provisions of Sections 5 and 7(g) of this Agreement, hold the Trustee harmless and indemnify the Trustee from and against, any and all expenses, including reasonable counsel fees and disbursements, or loss suffered by the Trustee in connection with any claim, potential claim, 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 income earned from investment of the Property, except for expenses and losses resulting from the Trustee’s gross negligence 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 paragraph, it shall notify the Company in writing of such claim (hereinafter referred to as the “Indemnified Claim”); provided, however, that the Trustee’s failure to provide such notice shall not relieve the Company of its liability hereunder, except to the extent that it is materially prejudiced by such failure. 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 consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. The Company may participate in such action with its own counsel;

 

(c) Pay the Trustee an initial acceptance fee, an annual fee and a transaction processing fee for each disbursement made pursuant to Sections 2(a) and 2(b) as set forth on Schedule A hereto, 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 and further agreed that any fees owed to the Trustee shall be deducted by the Trustee from the disbursements made to the Company pursuant to Sections 1(i) solely in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination, or pursuant to Section 2(b). The Company shall pay the Trustee the initial acceptance fee and first year’s fee at the consummation of the IPO and thereafter on the anniversary of the Effective Date;

 

(d) In connection with any vote of the Company’s shareholders regarding a Business Combination, provide to the Trustee an affidavit or certificate of a firm regularly engaged in the business of soliciting proxies and/or tabulating shareholder votes verifying the vote of the Company’s shareholders regarding such Business Combination; and

 

(e) In the event that the Company directs the Trustee to commence liquidation of the Trust Account pursuant to Section 1(i), the Company agrees that it will not direct the Trustee to make any payments that are not specifically authorized by this Agreement.

 

(f) Upon receiving the written request of a Public Shareholder to do so at any time after the date hereof, provide such Public Shareholder with a copy of any instruction provided to the Trustee pursuant to Section 1(i) or Section 1(j) along with any Notification (as defined in Exhibit A), Instruction Letter (as defined in Exhibit A), applicable flow of funds memorandum (or similar document), or any other notice delivered to the Trustee by the Company regarding the disbursement of Property from the Trust Account resulting in the Property left in the Trust Account being less than $50,500,000 (or $58,075,000 if the Underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) plus any amount eventually deposited on account of any Extension, which, in each case, shall specify to whom the Property shall be disbursed (such written notice, a “Disbursement Notice” and the date such Public Shareholder receives a Disbursement Notice, a “Disbursement Notice Date”). Each Disbursement Notice shall be delivered to such Public Shareholder at least two business days prior to the disbursement of any Property pursuant to Section 1(i) or Section 1(j) and no Property shall be disbursed from the Trust Account prior to the date that is two business days from the applicable Disbursement Notice Date.

 

3

 

 

(g) At the request of any Public Shareholder who has removed shares from street name and holds such shares either in certificated or book-entry form and, except if such shares are held in book-entry form, delivered such certificated shares to the Trustee for purposes of redemption in connection with a Business Combination, concurrently with the delivery of such shares, solely if such shares are certificated. to the Trustee, send an irrevocable written instruction letter in the form of Exhibit E to the Trustee directing the Trustee to disburse no less than $10.00 per share (plus the amount per share deposited in the Trust Account pursuant to any Extension Letter) to such Public Shareholder.

 

(h) Following receipt of a copy of an irrevocable written instruction letter in the form of Exhibit F delivered by a Public Shareholder who has removed shares from street name and holds such shares either in certificated or book-entry form and, except if such shares are held in book-entry form, delivered such certificated shares to the Trustee for purposes of redemption in connection with a Business Combination to the Trustee, review such letter to confirm (i) such letter is in the form of Exhibit F, (ii) a Business Combination has been announced on or prior to the date of such letter and (iii) the number of ordinary shares set forth on such letter to be redeemed is not greater than the number of ordinary shares held by the applicable Public Shareholder. Solely if the Company cannot confirm the requirements of clauses (i) through (iii) of this Section 3(h), but not for any other reason, then within two days of the Company’s receipt of the applicable copy of the irrevocable written instruction letter in the form of Exhibit F (such time period, the “Objection Period”), the Company will notify the applicable Public Shareholder and the Trustee in writing that such irrevocable written instruction letter is a “Non-Compliant Instruction Letter” and that the Trustee shall not comply with such letter.

 

(i). If applicable, the Company shall issue a press release at least three days prior to the Applicable Deadline announcing that, at least five days prior to the Applicable Deadline, the Company received notice from the Company’s insiders that the insiders intend to extend the Applicable Deadline;

 

(j). Promptly following the Applicable Deadline, disclose whether or not the term the Company has to consummate a Business Combination has been extended.

 

4. Limitations of Liability. The Trustee shall have no responsibility or liability to:

 

(a) Take any action with respect to the Property, other than as directed in paragraphs 1 and 2 hereof and the Trustee shall have no liability to any party except for liability arising out of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct;

 

(b) 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 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;

 

(c) Change the investment of any Property, other than in compliance with paragraph 1(c);

 

(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 exercise of its own best judgment, except for its gross negligence 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), 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 is believed by the Trustee, in good faith, 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;

 

4

 

 

(g) Verify the correctness of the information set forth in the Registration Statement or to confirm or assure that any acquisition made by the Company or any other action taken by it is as contemplated by the Registration Statement;

 

(h) File local, state and/or federal tax returns or information returns with any taxing authority on behalf of the Trust Account and payee statements with the Company documenting the taxes, if any, payable by the Company or the Trust Account, relating to the income earned on the Property;

 

(i) Pay any taxes on behalf of the Trust Account (it being expressly understood that the Property shall not be used to pay any such taxes and that such taxes, if any, shall be paid by the Company from funds not held in the Trust Account or released to it under Section 2(a) hereof);

 

(j) 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; and

 

(k) Verify calculations, qualify or otherwise approve Company requests for distributions pursuant to Section 1(i), 2(a) or 2(b) above.

 

5. 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 3(b) or Section 3(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.

 

6. 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 during which time the Trustee shall 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 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 in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1(i) hereof, and distributed the Property in accordance with the provisions of the Termination Letter, this Agreement shall terminate except with respect to Paragraph 3(b).

 

7. 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 information, or of any change in its authorized personnel. In executing funds transfers, the Trustee will 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. The Trustee shall not be liable for any loss, liability or expense resulting from any error in the information or transmission of the wire.

 

5

 

 

(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. It 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. Except for Sections 1(i), 1(m), 1(n), 1(o), 1(p), 3(g), 3(h) 7(c) and 7(h) (which may only be amended with the approval of the holders of at least 50% of the ordinary shares sold in the IPO, provided that all Public Shareholders must be given the right to receive a pro-rata portion of the trust account (no less than $10.00 per share plus the amount per share deposited in the Trust Account pursuant to any Extension Letter) in connection with any such amendment), this Agreement or any provision hereof may only be changed, amended or modified by a writing signed by each of the parties hereto; provided, however, that no such change, amendment or modification may be made without the prior written consent of Maxim. As to any claim, cross-claim or counterclaim in any way relating to this Agreement, each party waives the right to trial by jury. The Trustee may require from Company counsel an opinion as to the propriety of any proposed amendment.

 

(d) The parties hereto consent to the jurisdiction and venue of any state or federal court located in the City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, for purposes of resolving any disputes hereunder.

 

(e) 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 facsimile transmission:

 

if to the Trustee, to:

 

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC

6201 15th Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11219

Attn: Legal Department

Email: legalteamAST@astfinancial.com

 

if to the Company, to:

 

Aquarius I Acquisition Corp.

Unit A-C, 33/F, Tower A, Billion Centre

1 Wang Kwong Road

Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong

Attn: Sze Hau Lee

 

in either case with a copy (which copy shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Maxim Group LLC

405 Lexington Ave

New York, NY 10174

Attn: Alex Jin

Facsimile: (212) 895-3773

 

and

 

Loeb & Loeb LLP

2206-19 Jardine House

1 Connaught Place

Central, Hong Kong SAR

Attn: Lawrence Venick

Fax No.: (852) 3923-1100

 

6

 

 

and 

 

Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP

1345 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10105

Attn: Barry Grossman, Esq.

         Wei Wang, Esq.

Facsimile.: (212) 370-7889

 

(f) This Agreement may not be assigned by the Trustee without the prior consent of the Company.

 

(g) Each of the Trustee and the Company 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.

 

(h) Each of the Company and the Trustee hereby acknowledge that Maxim is a third party beneficiary of this Agreement.

 

7

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Investment Management Trust Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

  AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC, as Trustee
   
  By:    
    Name:  Michael A. Nespoli
    Title:  Executive Director
   
   
  AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.
   
  By:    
    Name: Sze Hau Lee
    Title:  Chief Executive Officer

 

8

 

 

SCHEDULE A

 

Fee Item   Time and method of payment   Amount  
Initial acceptance fee   Initial closing of IPO by wire transfer   $

[_______]

 
Annual fee   Initial closing of IPO by wire transfer; thereafter on the anniversary of the effective date of the IPO by wire transfer or check   $ [_______]  
Transaction processing fee for disbursements to Company under Section 2   Deduction by Trustee from accumulated income following disbursement made to Company under Section 2   $ [_______]  
Paying Agent services as required pursuant to section 1(i)   Billed to Company upon delivery of service pursuant to section 1(i)     Prevailing rates  

 

Sch. A-1

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

[Letterhead of Company]

 

[Insert date]

 

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC

6201 15th Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11219

Attn: Relationship Management

 

  Re: Trust Account No. [_____________] - Termination Letter

 

Gentlemen:

 

Pursuant to paragraph 1(i) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Aquarius I Acquisition Corp. (“Company”) and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (“Trustee”), dated as of [*], 2021 (“Trust Agreement”), this is to advise you that the Company has entered into an agreement with [__________________] (“Target Business”) to consummate a business combination with Target Business (“Business Combination”) on or about [insert date]. The Company shall notify you at least 48 hours in advance of the actual date of the consummation of the Business Combination (“Consummation Date”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined 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 the Trust Account investments on [__________] and to transfer the proceeds to the above-referenced account at Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas to the effect that, on the Consummation Date, all of funds held in the Trust Account will be immediately available for transfer to the account or accounts that the Company shall direct on the Consummation Date. It is acknowledged and agreed that while the funds are on deposit in the trust account 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, and (ii) the Company shall deliver to you (a) [an affidavit] [a certificate] of [__________________], which verifies the vote of the Company’s shareholders in connection with the Business Combination if a vote is held and (b) joint written instructions from the Company and Maxim Group LLC with respect to the transfer of the funds held in the Trust Account, which must provide for the disbursement of no less than $10.00 per share plus the amount per share deposited in the Trust Account per Extension Letter to redeeming Public Shareholders (“Instruction Letter”). You are hereby directed and authorized to transfer the funds held in the Trust Account immediately upon your receipt of the counsel’s letter 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 of the same and the Company shall direct you as to whether such funds should remain in the Trust Account and distributed after the Consummation Date to the Company. Upon the distribution of all the funds in the Trust Account pursuant to the terms hereof, 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 the Trust Agreement on the business day immediately following the Consummation Date as set forth in the notice.

 

  Very truly yours,
     
  AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.
     
  By:  
  Name:  Sze Hau Lee
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

A-1

 

 

  By:  
  Name:  
  Title:  Secretary/Assistant Secretary

 

Acknowledged and Agreed:  
     
Maxim Group LLC  
     
By:    
Name:     
Title:    

 

A-2

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

[Letterhead of Company]

 

[Insert date]

 

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC

6201 15th Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11219

Attn: Relationship Management

 

  Re: Trust Account No. [______________] - Termination Letter

 

Gentlemen:

 

Pursuant to paragraph 1(i) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Aquarius I Acquisition Corp. (“Company”) and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (“Trustee”), dated as of [*], 2021 (“Trust Agreement”), this is to advise you that the Company has been unable to effect a Business Combination with a Target Company within the time frame specified in the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, as described in the Company’s prospectus relating to its IPO. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined 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 the Trust Account investments on [______________] and to transfer the total proceeds to the Trust Operating Account at Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas to await distribution to the Public Shareholders. The Company has selected [____________, 20__] as the effective date for the purpose of determining when the Public Shareholders will be entitled to receive their share of the liquidation proceeds. It is acknowledged that no interest will be earned by the Company on the liquidation proceeds while on deposit in the Trust Checking Account. You agree to be the Paying Agent of record and in your separate capacity as Paying Agent, to distribute said funds directly to the Public Shareholders in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement and the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company. Upon the distribution of all the funds in the Trust Account, your obligations under the Trust Agreement shall be terminated.

 

  Very truly yours,
     
  AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.
     
  By:  
  Name:  Sze Hau Lee
  Title: Chief Executive Officer
     
  By:  
  Name:  
  Title:  Secretary/Assistant Secretary

 

cc:Maxim Group LLC

 

B-1

 

 

EXHIBIT C

 

[Letterhead of Company]

 

[Insert date]

 

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC

6201 15th Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11219

Attn: Relationship Management

 

  Re: Trust Account No. [___________]

 

Gentlemen:

 

Pursuant to paragraph 2(a) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Aquarius I Acquisition Corp. (“Company”) and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (“Trustee”), dated as of [*], 2021 (“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. The Company needs such funds to pay for its tax obligations. 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]

 

  AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.
     
  By:  
  Name:  Sze Hau Lee
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

cc:Maxim Group LLC

 

C-1

 

 

EXHIBIT D

 

[Letterhead of Company]

 

[Insert date]

 

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC

6201 15th Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11219

Attn: Relationship Management

 

  Re: Trust Account No. [______________] Extension Letter

 

Gentlemen:

 

Pursuant to Section 1(l) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Aquarius I Acquisition Corp. (“Company”) and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, dated as of [*], 2021 (“Trust Agreement”), this is to advise you that the Company is extending the time available in order to consummate a Business Combination with the Target Businesses for an additional three (3) months, from _______ to _________ (the “Extension”).

 

This Extension Letter shall serve as the notice required with respect to Extension prior to the Applicable Deadline. Capitalized words used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Trust Agreement.

 

In accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement, we hereby authorize you to deposit $500,000 (or $575,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option was exercised in full)], which will be wired to you, into the Trust Account investments upon receipt.

 

This is the ____ of up to three Extension Letters.

 

  Very truly yours,
     
  AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.
     
  By:  
  Name:  Sze Hau Lee
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

cc:Maxim Group LLC

 

D-1

 

 

EXHIBIT E

 

[Letterhead of Company]

 

[Insert date]

 

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC

6201 15th Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11219

Attn: Relationship Management

 

  Re: Trust Account No. [______________] - Irrevocable Instruction in Connection with Business Combination

 

Gentlemen:

 

Pursuant to paragraphs 1(m) and 3(g) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Aquarius I Acquisition Corp. (“Company”) and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (“Trustee”), dated as of [*], 2021 (“Trust Agreement”), this constitutes our irrevocable instruction to you to (i) in conjunction with the Business Combination (as defined in the Trust Agreement), disburse a per share amount of $______, for a total disbursement of $__________________which is not less than $10.00 (plus the amount per share deposited in the Trust Account pursuant to any Extension Letter) to ________________ (the “Shareholder”) for the _____________________ ordinary shares of the Company delivered to you prior to or concurrently herewith for redemption in connection with the Business Combination, and (ii) deliver to the Shareholder the amounts specified in clause (i) prior to delivering and amounts to the Depository Trust Company, the Company, or any person from whom you have not received an irrevocable instruction substantially similar to this one. The Shareholder wire instructions are attached. A share advice or DWAC instruction from our broker is also attached.

 

The Company shall indemnify you and your officers, directors, principals, partners, agents and representatives, and hold each of them harmless from and against any and all loss, liability, damage, claim or expense (including the reasonable fees and disbursements of its attorneys) incurred by or asserted against you or any of them arising out of or in connection with the instructions set forth herein, the performance of your duties hereunder and otherwise in respect hereof, including the costs and expenses of defending yourself or themselves against any claim or liability hereunder, except that the Company shall not be liable hereunder as to matters in respect of which it is determined that you have acted with gross negligence or in bad faith. You shall have no liability to the Company in respect to any action taken or any failure to act in respect of this if such action was taken or omitted to be taken in good faith, and you shall be entitled to rely in this regard on the advice of counsel.

 

The Board of Directors of the Company has approved the foregoing irrevocable instructions and does hereby extend the Company’s irrevocable agreement to indemnify your firm for all loss, liability or expense in carrying out the authority and direction herein contained on the terms herein set forth.

 

The Shareholder is intended to be and is a third party beneficiary of this letter and the irrevocable instructions set forth herein, and no amendment or modification to the instructions set forth herein may be made without the prior written consent of the Shareholder.

 

By signing below, the person executing this letter certifies that they are duly authorized to execute this letter on behalf of the Company and to bind the Company to all of the terms and conditions contained herein.

 

 

[remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

E-1

 

 

  Very truly yours,
     
  AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.
     
  By:  
  Name: Sze Hau Lee
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

Acknowledged and Agreed:  
     
AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC, as Trustee  
     
     
Name:   Michael A. Nespoli  
Title: Executive Director  

 

 

Cc:[SHAREHOLDER].

 

 

Attachments:

Shareholder Wire Instructions

Share advice or instruction

 

E-2

 

 

EXHIBIT F

 

[Insert date]

 

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC

6201 15th Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11219

Attn: Relationship Management

 

  Re: Trust Account No. [______________] - Irrevocable Instruction in Connection with Business Combination

 

Gentlemen:

 

Pursuant to paragraphs 1(n) and 3(h) of the Investment Management Trust Agreement between Aquarius I Acquisition Corp. (“Company”) and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (“Trustee”), dated as of [_______], 2021 (“Trust Agreement”), this constitutes our irrevocable instruction to you to (i) in conjunction with the Business Combination (as defined in the Trust Agreement), disburse a per share amount of $______, for a total disbursement of $_________________which is not less than $10.00 (plus the amount per share deposited in the Trust Account pursuant to any Extension Letter) per share to ________________ (the “Shareholder”) for the _____________________ ordinary shares of the Company delivered to you prior to or concurrently herewith for redemption in connection with the Business Combination, and (ii) deliver to the Shareholder the amounts specified in clause (i) prior to delivering and amounts to the Depository Trust Company, the Company, or any person from whom you have not received an irrevocable instruction substantially similar to this one. Our wire instructions are attached. We understand that a servicing fee of $[250.00] will deducted from our payment. A share advice or DWAC instruction from our broker is attached.

 

The Company shall indemnify you and your officers, directors, principals, partners, agents and representatives, and hold each of them harmless from and against any and all loss, liability, damage, claim or expense (including the reasonable fees and disbursements of its attorneys) incurred by or asserted against you or any of them arising out of or in connection with the instructions set forth herein, the performance of your duties hereunder and otherwise in respect hereof, including the costs and expenses of defending yourself or themselves against any claim or liability hereunder, except that the Company shall not be liable hereunder as to matters in respect of which it is determined that you have acted with gross negligence or in bad faith. You shall have no liability to the Company in respect to any action taken or any failure to act in respect of this if such action was taken or omitted to be taken in good faith, and you shall be entitled to rely in this regard on the advice of counsel.

 

The Board of Directors of the Company does hereby extend the Company’s irrevocable agreement to indemnify your firm for all loss, liability or expense in carrying out the authority and direction herein contained on the terms herein set forth.

 

No amendment or modification to the instructions set forth herein may be made without the prior written consent of the Shareholder.

 

By signing below, the person executing this letter certifies that they are duly authorized to execute this letter on behalf of the Shareholder and to bind the Shareholder to all of the terms and conditions contained herein.

 

 

[remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

F-1

 

 

  Very truly yours,
     
  [SHAREHOLDER]
     
  By:
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

Acknowledged and Agreed:

 

AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC, as Trustee  
     
     
Name:  Michael A. Nespoli   
Title: Executive Director   

 

 

Cc:  Aquarius I Acquisition Corp.  
  Unit A-C, 33/F, Tower A, Billion Centre  
  1 Wang Kwong Road  
  Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong  
  Attn: Sze Hau Lee, Chief Executive Officer  

 

 

Attachments:

Shareholder Wire Instructions

Share advice or instruction

 

F-2

EX-10.3 16 fs12021a1ex10-3_aquarius1.htm FORM OF ESCROW AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE REGISTRANT, AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC AND THE INITIAL SHAREHOLDERS

Exhibit 10.3

 

STOCK ESCROW AGREEMENT

 

STOCK ESCROW AGREEMENT, dated as of [_______], 2021 (“Agreement”), by and among AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP., a Cayman Islands Company (the “Company”), the initial shareholders listed on Exhibit A attached hereto (each, an “Initial Shareholder” and collectively the “Initial Shareholders”) and AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC, a New York limited liability trust company (the “Escrow Agent”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company has entered into an Underwriting Agreement, dated as of [*], 2021 (“Underwriting Agreement”), with Maxim Group LLC, acting as the representative of the underwriters (collectively, the “Underwriters”), pursuant to which, among other matters, the Underwriters have agreed to purchase 5,000,000 units (“Units”) of the Company, plus an additional 750,000 Units if the Underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full. Each Unit consists of one ordinary share of the Company, $0.0001 par value (an “Ordinary Share”), one redeemable warrant, each redeemable warrant entitling its holder to purchase one-half (1/2) of one Ordinary Share at an exercise price of $11.50 per full Ordinary Share, and one right to receive one-tenth (1/10) of an Ordinary Share, all as more fully described in the Company’s final Prospectus, dated [_______], 2021 (“Prospectus”), comprising part of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-257706) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Registration Statement”), declared effective on [_______], 2021 (“Effective Date”).

 

WHEREAS, the Initial Shareholders have agreed as a condition of the sale of the Units to deposit their Insider Shares (as defined in the Prospectus), as set forth opposite their respective names in Exhibit A attached hereto (collectively “Escrow Shares”), in escrow as hereinafter provided.

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Initial Shareholders desire that the Escrow Agent accept the Escrow Shares, in escrow, to be held and disbursed as hereinafter provided.

 

IT IS AGREED:

 

1. Appointment of Escrow Agent. The Company and the Initial Shareholders hereby appoint the Escrow Agent to act in accordance with and subject to the terms of this Agreement and the Escrow Agent hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to act in accordance with and subject to such terms.

 

2. Deposit of Escrow Shares. On or prior to the date hereof, each of the Initial Shareholders delivered to the Escrow Agent certificates representing such Initial Shareholder’s respective Escrow Shares, together with applicable share powers, to be held and disbursed subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Each of the Initial Shareholders acknowledges that the certificate representing such Initial Shareholder’s Escrow Shares is legended to reflect the deposit of such Escrow Shares under this Agreement.

 

3. Disbursement of the Escrow Shares.

 

3.1 The Escrow Agent shall hold the Escrow Shares during the period (the “Escrow Period”) commencing on the date hereof and for 100% of the Escrow Shares, ending the earlier of (i) six month after the date of the consummation of an initial business combination; or (ii) after the date of the consummation of an initial business combination, and subsequently, we consummate a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the shareholders having the right to exchange their ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property. The Company shall promptly provide written notice of the consummation of a Business Combination to the Escrow Agent. Upon completion of the Escrow Period, the Escrow Agent shall disburse such amount of each Initial Shareholder’s Escrow Shares (and any applicable share power) to such Initial Shareholder; provided, however, that if the Escrow Agent is notified by the Company pursuant to Section 6.7 hereof that the Company is being liquidated at any time during the Escrow Period, then the Escrow Agent shall promptly destroy the certificates representing the Escrow Shares; provided further, however, that if, any time after the Company consummates a Business Combination, the Company (or the surviving entity) subsequently consummates a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the shareholders of such entity having the right to exchange their Ordinary Shares for cash, securities or other property, then the Escrow Agent will, upon receipt of a written notice executed by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer or other authorized officer of the Company, in form reasonably acceptable to the Escrow Agent, certifying that such transaction is then being consummated or such conditions have been achieved, as applicable, release the Escrow Shares to the Initial Shareholders. The Escrow Agent shall have no further duties hereunder after the disbursement or destruction of the Escrow Shares in accordance with this Section 3.

 

 

 

 

3.2 Notwithstanding Section 3.1, if the Underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option to purchase an additional 750,000 Units of the Company in full within 45 days of the date of the Prospectus (as described in the Underwriting Agreement), the Initial Shareholders agree that the Escrow Agent shall return to the Company for cancellation, at no cost, the number of Escrow Shares held by each such holder determined by multiplying (a) the product of (i) 750,000 multiplied by (ii) a fraction, (x) the numerator of which is the number of Escrow Shares held by each such holder, and (y) the denominator of which is the total number of Escrow Shares, by (b) a fraction, (i) the numerator of which is 750,000 minus the number of Ordinary Shares purchased by the Underwriters upon the exercise of their over-allotment option, and (ii) the denominator of which is 750,000. The Company shall promptly provide written notice to the Escrow Agent of the expiration or termination of the Underwriters’ over-allotment option and the number of Units, if any, purchased by the Underwriters in connection with their exercise thereof.

 

4. Rights of Initial Shareholders in Escrow Shares.

 

4.1 Voting Rights as a Shareholder. Subject to the terms of the Insider Letters described in Section 4.4 hereof and except as herein provided, the Initial Shareholders shall retain all of their rights as shareholders of the Company during the Escrow Period, including, without limitation, the right to vote such shares.

 

4.2 Dividends and Other Distributions in Respect of the Escrow Shares. During the Escrow Period, all dividends payable in cash with respect to the Escrow Shares shall be paid to the Initial Shareholders, but all dividends payable in shares or other non-cash property (“Non-Cash Dividends”) shall be delivered to the Escrow Agent to hold in accordance with the terms hereof. As used herein, the term “Escrow Shares” shall be deemed to include the Non-Cash Dividends distributed thereon, if any. 

 

4.3 Restrictions on Transfer. During the Escrow Period, the only permitted transfers of the Escrow Shares will be (i) to the Company’s pre-IPO shareholders, or to the Company’s officers, directors, advisors and employees, (ii) if the Initial Shareholder is an entity, as a distribution to partners, members or shareholders of the Initial Shareholder upon the liquidation and dissolution of the Initial Shareholder, (iii) by bona fide gift to a member of the Initial Shareholder’s immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is the Initial Shareholder or a member of the Initial Shareholder’s immediate family for estate planning purposes, (iv) by virtue of the laws of descent and distribution upon death of the Initial Shareholder, (v) pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, (vi) by private sales made in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination at prices no greater than the price at which the Private Units were originally purchased or (vii) to the Company for cancellation in accordance with Section 3.2 above or in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination, in each case, except for clause (vii), on the condition that such transfers may be implemented only upon the respective transferee’s written agreement to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement and of the Insider Letter (as defined below) signed by the Initial Shareholder transferring the Escrow Shares.

 

4.4 Insider Letters. Each of the Initial Shareholders has executed a letter agreement with Maxim and the Company, dated as indicated on Exhibit A hereto, and the form of which is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (“Insider Letter”), respecting the rights and obligations of such Initial Shareholder in certain events, including but not limited to the liquidation of the Company.

 

5. Concerning the Escrow Agent.

 

5.1 Good Faith Reliance. The Escrow Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and in the exercise of its own best judgment, and 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 Escrow Agent), 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 is believed by the Escrow Agent to be genuine and to be signed or presented by the proper person or persons. The Escrow Agent shall not be bound by any notice or demand, or any waiver, modification, termination or rescission of this Agreement unless evidenced by a writing delivered to the Escrow Agent signed by the proper party or parties and, if the duties or rights of the Escrow Agent are affected, unless it shall have given its prior written consent thereto.

 

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5.2 Indemnification. The Escrow Agent shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company from and against any expenses, including reasonable counsel fees and disbursements, or loss suffered by the Escrow Agent in connection with any action, suit or other proceeding involving any claim which in any way, directly or indirectly, arises out of or relates to this Agreement, the services of the Escrow Agent hereunder, or the Escrow Shares held by it hereunder, other than expenses or losses arising from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Escrow Agent. Promptly after the receipt by the Escrow Agent of notice of any demand or claim or the commencement of any action, suit or proceeding, the Escrow Agent shall notify the other parties hereto in writing. In the event of the receipt of such notice, the Escrow Agent, in its sole discretion, may commence an action in the nature of interpleader in an appropriate court to determine ownership or disposition of the Escrow Shares or it may deposit the Escrow Shares with the clerk of any appropriate court or it may retain the Escrow Shares pending receipt of a final, non-appealable order of a court having jurisdiction over all of the parties hereto directing to whom and under what circumstances the Escrow Shares are to be disbursed and delivered. The provisions of this Section 5.2 shall survive in the event the Escrow Agent resigns or is discharged pursuant to Sections 5.5 or 5.6 below.

 

5.3 Compensation. The Escrow Agent shall be entitled to reasonable compensation from the Company for all services rendered by it hereunder. The Escrow Agent shall also be entitled to reimbursement from the Company for all expenses paid or incurred by it in the administration of its duties hereunder including, but not limited to, all counsel, advisors’ and agents’ fees and disbursements and all taxes or other governmental charges.

 

5.4 Further Assurances. From time to time on and after the date hereof, the Company and the Initial Shareholders shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Escrow Agent such further documents and instruments and shall do or cause to be done such further acts as the Escrow Agent shall reasonably request to carry out more effectively the provisions and purposes of this Agreement, to evidence compliance herewith or to assure itself that it is protected in acting hereunder.

 

5.5 Resignation. The Escrow Agent may resign at any time and be discharged from its duties as escrow agent hereunder by its giving the other parties hereto written notice and such resignation shall become effective as hereinafter provided. Such resignation shall become effective at such time that the Escrow Agent shall turn over to a successor escrow agent appointed by the Company, the Escrow Shares held hereunder. If no new escrow agent is so appointed within the 60 day period following the giving of such notice of resignation, the Escrow Agent may deposit the Escrow Shares with any court it reasonably deems appropriate.

 

5.6 Discharge of Escrow Agent. The Escrow Agent shall resign and be discharged from its duties as escrow agent hereunder if so requested in writing at any time by the other parties hereto, jointly, provided, however, that such resignation shall become effective only upon acceptance of appointment by a successor escrow agent as provided in Section 5.5.

 

5.7 Liability. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Escrow Agent shall not be relieved from liability hereunder for its own gross negligence or its own willful misconduct.

 

5.8 Waiver. The Escrow Agent hereby waives any 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 Escrow 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. 

 

6. Miscellaneous.

 

6.1 Governing Law. This Agreement shall for all purposes be deemed to be made under and shall be construed 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.

 

6.2 Third Party Beneficiaries. Each of the Initial Shareholders hereby acknowledges that Maxim is a third party beneficiaries of this Agreement and this Agreement may not be modified or changed without the prior written consent of Maxim.

 

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6.3 Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and, except as expressly provided herein, may not be changed or modified except by an instrument in writing signed by the party to the charged.

 

6.4 Headings. The headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation thereof.

 

6.5 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the respective parties hereto and their legal representatives, successors and assigns.

 

6.6 Notices. Any notice or other communication required or which may be given hereunder shall be in writing and either be delivered personally or be mailed, certified or registered mail, or by private national courier service, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, and shall be deemed given when so delivered personally or, if mailed, two days after the date of mailing, as follows:

 

If to the Company, to:

 

Aquarius I Acquisition Corp.

Unit A-C, 33/F, Tower A, Billion Centre

1 Wang Kwong Road

Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong

Attn: Sze Hau Lee, Chief Executive Officer

 

If to a Shareholder, to his address set forth in Exhibit A.

 

and if to the Escrow Agent, to:

 

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC

6201 15th Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11219

Attn: Reorg Department

 

A copy (which copy shall not constitute notice) sent hereunder shall be sent to:

 

Maxim Group LLC

405 Lexington Ave

New York, NY 10174

Attn: Alex Jin

Facsimile: (212) 895-3773

 

and:

 

Loeb & Loeb LLP
2206-19 Jardine House
1 Connaught Place
Central, Hong Kong SAR

Attn: Lawrence Venick, Esq.

 

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and:

 

Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP

1345 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10105

Attn: Barry Grossman, Esq.

Wei Wang, Esq.

 

The parties may change the persons and addresses to which the notices or other communications are to be sent by giving written notice to any such change in the manner provided herein for giving notice.

 

6.7 Liquidation of the Company. The Company shall give the Escrow Agent written notification of the liquidation and dissolution of the Company in the event that the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination within the time period specified in the Prospectus.

 

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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WITNESS the execution of this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

  COMPANY:
     
  AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.
     
  By:  
    Name: Sze Hau Lee
    Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

 

  INITIAL SHAREHOLDERS:
   
  Aquarius Sponsor Limited
   
  By:  
    Name: Sze Hau Lee
    Title: Director

 

     
    Sze Hau Lee
     
     
    Chunning Wang
     
     
    Ngai Wong
     
     
    Chi Fai Choi
     
     
    Walter R. Cook
     
     
    Boyu Xu
     
     
    Feng Wu
     
     
    Di Wu

 

 

  AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC
     
  By:  
    Name: Michael A. Nespoli
    Title: Executive Director

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

Name and Address of Initial Shareholder[1]  Number
of Shares
   Date of
Insider Letter
 
Aquarius Sponsor Ltd   1,317,500     [_______], 2021  
Sze Hau Lee   30,000     [_______], 2021  
Chunning Wang   1,337,500     [_______], 2021  
Ngai Wong   20,000     [_______], 2021  
Boyu Xu   10,000     [_______], 2021  
Chi Fai Choi   10,000     [_______], 2021  
Walter R. Cook   10,000     [_______], 2021  
Feng Wu   10,000     [_______], 2021  
Di Wu   10,000     [_______], 2021  

 

 

[1]The address of each of the individuals is c/o, Aquarius I Acquisition Corp., Unit A-C, 33/F, Tower A, Billion Centre, 1 Wang Kwong Road, Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong.

 

A-1

EX-10.4 17 fs12021a1ex10-4_aquarius1.htm FORM OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT AMONG THE REGISTRANT AND THE INITIAL SHAREHOLDERS AND MAXIM GROUP LLC

Exhibit 10.4

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of the [_______], 2021, by and among Aquarius I Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands company (the “Company”) and the undersigned parties listed under Investor on the signature page hereto (each, an “Investor” and collectively, the “Investors”).

 

WHEREAS, the Investors and the Company desire to enter into this Agreement to provide the Investors with certain rights relating to the registration of the securities held by them as of the date hereof;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1. DEFINITIONS. The following capitalized terms used herein have the following meanings:

 

Agreement” means this Agreement, as amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Business Combination” means the acquisition of direct or indirect ownership through a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar type of transaction, of one or more businesses or entities.

 

Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any other Federal agency then administering the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.

 

Company” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Demand Registration” is defined in Section 2.1.1.

 

Demanding Holder” is defined in Section 2.1.1.

 

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time.

 

Form S-3” is defined in Section 2.3.

 

Indemnified Party” is defined in Section 4.3.

 

Indemnifying Party” is defined in Section 4.3.

 

Initial Shares” means all of the outstanding Ordinary Shares issued prior to the consummation of the Company’s initial public offering.

 

Investor” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Investor Indemnified Party” is defined in Section 4.1.

 

Maximum Number of Shares” is defined in Section 2.1.4.

 

Notices” is defined in Section 6.3.

 

Piggy-Back Registration” is defined in Section 2.2.1.

 

Ordinary Shares” means the ordinary shares of the Company, with $0.0001 par value.

 

Over-Allotment Units” means the additional number of Private Units the Sponsor will be required to purchase in the event that the underwriters in the Company’s initial public offering exercise their over-allotment option, as described in the prospectus relating to the Company’s initial public offering.

 

 

 

 

Private Units” means 310,000 Units which the Sponsor is privately purchasing simultaneously with the consummation of the Company’s initial public offering.

 

Register,” “Registered” and “Registration” 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.

 

Registrable Securities” means (i) the Initial Shares, (ii) the Private Units (and underlying securities), (iii) the Over-Allotment Units (and underlying Ordinary Shares), if any, and (iv) any securities issuable upon conversion of loans from Investors to the Company for the Company’s payment of its working capital, if any (the “Working Capital Loan Securities”). Registrable Securities include any warrants, rights, shares of capital stock or other securities of the Company issued as a dividend or other distribution with respect to or in exchange for or in replacement of such Initial Shares, Private Units (and underlying Ordinary Shares), Over-Allotment Units (and underlying Ordinary Shares) and Working Capital Loan Securities. As to any particular Registrable Securities, 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 them not bearing a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by the Company and subsequent public distribution of them shall not require registration under the Securities Act; (c) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding, or (d) the Registrable Securities are freely saleable under Rule 144 without volume limitations.

 

Registration Statement” means a registration statement filed by the Company with the Commission in compliance with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder for a public offering and sale of equity securities, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into, equity securities (other than a registration statement on Form S-4 or Form S-8, or their successors, or any registration statement covering only securities proposed to be issued in exchange for securities or assets of another entity).

 

Release Date” means the date on which the Initial Shares are disbursed from escrow pursuant to Section 3 of that certain Stock Escrow Agreement dated as of [_______], 2021 by and among the Investors and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC.

 

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time.

 

Sponsor” means Aquarius Sponsor Limited, a British Virgin Islands company.

 

Underwriter” means a securities dealer who purchases any Registrable Securities as principal in an underwritten offering and not as part of such dealer’s market-making activities.

 

Units” means the units of the Company, each comprised of one Ordinary Share, one redeemable Warrant, and one right to receive one-tenth (1/10) of an Ordinary Share.

 

Warrants(s)” means the warrants of the Company.

 

2. REGISTRATION RIGHTS.

 

2.1 Demand Registration.

 

2.1.1 Request for Registration. At any time and from time to time on or after (i) the date that the Company consummates a Business Combination with respect to the Private Units (or underlying Ordinary Shares), Over-Allotment Units (or underlying Ordinary Shares) and Working Capital Loan Securities, or (ii) three months prior to the Release Date with respect to all other Registrable Securities, the holders of a majority-in-interest of the Registrable Securities, as the case may be, held by the Investors, officers or directors of the Company or their affiliates, or the transferees of the Investors, on no more than two occasions, in each case make a written demand for registration under the Securities Act of all or part of their Registrable Securities, as the case may be (a “Demand Registration”). Any demand for a Demand Registration shall specify the number of shares of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold and the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. The Company will notify, in writing, all holders of Registrable Securities of the demand, with ten (10) days of the Company’s receipt of such demand, and each holder of Registrable Securities who wishes to include all or a portion of such holder’s Registrable Securities in the Demand Registration (each such holder including shares of Registrable Securities in such registration, a “Demanding Holder”) shall so notify the Company within fifteen (15) days after the receipt by the holder of the notice from the Company. Upon any such request, the Demanding Holders shall be entitled to have their Registrable Securities included in the Demand Registration, subject to Section 2.1.4 and the provisos set forth in Section 3.1.1. The Company shall not be obligated to effect more than an aggregate of two (2) Demand Registrations under this Section 2.1.1 in respect of all Registrable Securities.

 

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2.1.2 Effective Registration. A registration will not count as a Demand Registration until the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Demand Registration has been declared effective and the Company has complied with all of its obligations under this Agreement with respect thereto; provided, however, that if, after such Registration Statement has been declared effective, the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Demand Registration is interfered with by any stop order or injunction of the Commission or any other governmental agency or court, the Registration Statement with respect to such Demand Registration will 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) a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders thereafter elect to continue the offering; provided, further, that the Company shall not be obligated to file a second Registration Statement until a Registration Statement that has been filed is counted as a Demand Registration or is terminated.

 

2.1.3 Underwritten Offering. If a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders so elect and such holders so advise the Company as part of their written demand for a Demand Registration, the offering of such Registrable Securities pursuant to such Demand Registration shall be in the form of an underwritten offering. In such event, the right of any holder to include its Registrable Securities in such registration shall be conditioned upon such holder’s participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of such holder’s Registrable Securities in the underwriting to the extent provided herein. All Demanding Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through such underwriting shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter or Underwriters selected for such underwriting by a majority-in-interest of the holders initiating the Demand Registration.

 

2.1.4 Reduction of Offering. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters for a Demand Registration that is to be an underwritten offering advises the Company and the Demanding Holders in writing that the dollar amount or number of shares of Registrable Securities which the Demanding Holders desire to sell, taken together with all other Ordinary Shares or other securities which the Company desires to sell and the Ordinary Shares, if any, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to written contractual piggy-back registration rights held by other shareholders of the Company who desire to sell, exceeds the maximum dollar amount or maximum number of shares that can be sold in such 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 shares, as applicable, the “Maximum Number of Shares”), then the Company shall include in such registration: (i) first, the Registrable Securities as to which Demand Registration has been requested by the Demanding Holders (pro rata in accordance with the number of shares that each such Person has requested be included in such registration, regardless of the number of shares held by each such Person (such proportion is referred to herein as “Pro Rata”)) that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; (ii) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clause (i), the Ordinary Shares or other securities that the Company desires to sell that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; and (iii) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), the Ordinary Shares or other securities for the account of other persons that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to written contractual arrangements with such persons and that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares.

 

2.1.5 Withdrawal. If a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders disapprove of the terms of any underwriting or are not entitled to include all of their Registrable Securities in any offering, such majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders may elect to withdraw from such offering by giving written notice to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters of their request to withdraw prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Demand Registration. If the majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders withdraws from a proposed offering relating to a Demand Registration, then such registration shall not count as a Demand Registration provided for in Section 2.1. Notwithstanding any such withdrawal, the Company shall pay all expenses incurred by the holders of Registrable Securities in connection with such Demand Registration as provided in Section 3.3.

 

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2.2 Piggy-Back Registration.

 

2.2.1 Piggy-Back 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, by the Company for its own account or for shareholders of the Company for their account (or by the Company and by shareholders of the Company including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 2.1), 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 shareholders, (iii) for an offering of debt that is convertible into equity securities of the Company or (iv) for a dividend reinvestment plan, then the Company shall (x) give written notice of such proposed filing to the holders of Registrable Securities as soon as practicable but in no event less than ten (10) days before the anticipated filing date, which notice shall 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, of the offering, and (y) offer to the holders of Registrable Securities in such notice the opportunity to register the sale of such number of shares of Registrable Securities as such holders may request in writing within five (5) days following receipt of such notice (a “Piggy-Back Registration”). The Company shall cause such Registrable Securities to be included in such 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 to be included in a Piggy-Back Registration on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of the Company and to permit the sale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. All holders of Registrable Securities proposing to distribute their securities through a Piggy-Back Registration that involves an Underwriter or Underwriters shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter or Underwriters selected for such Piggy-Back Registration.

 

2.2.2 Reduction of Offering. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters for a Piggy-Back Registration that is to be an underwritten offering advises the Company and the holders of Registrable Securities in writing that the dollar amount or number of Ordinary Shares which the Company desires to sell, taken together with the Ordinary Shares, if any, as to which registration has been demanded pursuant to written contractual arrangements with persons other than the holders of Registrable Securities hereunder, the Registrable Securities as to which registration has been requested under this Section 2.2, and the Ordinary Shares, if any, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to the written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other shareholders of the Company, exceeds the Maximum Number of Shares, then the Company shall include in any such registration:

 

a) If the registration is undertaken for the Company’s account: (A) first, the Ordinary Shares or other securities that the Company desires to sell that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Ordinary Shares or other securities, if any, comprised of Registrable Securities, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to the applicable written contractual piggy-back registration rights of such security holders, Pro Rata, that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; and (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the Ordinary Shares or other securities for the account of other persons that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to written contractual piggy-back registration rights with such persons and that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares;

 

b) If the registration is a “demand” registration undertaken at the demand of persons other than either the holders of Registrable Securities, (A) first, the Ordinary Shares or other securities for the account of the demanding persons that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Ordinary Shares or other securities that the Company desires to sell that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), collectively the Ordinary Shares or other securities comprised of Registrable Securities, Pro Rata, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to the terms hereof, that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; and (D) fourth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A), (B) and (C), the Ordinary Shares or other securities for the account of other persons that the Company is obligated to register pursuant to written contractual arrangements with such persons, that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares.

 

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2.2.3 Withdrawal. Any holder of Registrable Securities may elect to withdraw such holder’s request for inclusion of Registrable Securities in any Piggy-Back Registration by giving written notice to the Company of such request to withdraw prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement. The Company (whether on its own determination or as the result of a withdrawal by persons making a demand pursuant to written contractual obligations) may withdraw a Registration Statement at any time prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding any such withdrawal, the Company shall pay all expenses incurred by the holders of Registrable Securities in connection with such Piggy-Back Registration as provided in Section 3.3.

 

2.2.4 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 register the resale of any or all of such Registrable Securities on Form S-3 or any similar short-form registration which 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. Upon receipt of such written request, the Company will promptly give written notice of the proposed registration to all other holders of Registrable Securities, and, as soon as practicable thereafter, effect the registration of all or such portion of such holder’s or holders’ Registrable Securities as are specified in such request, together with all or such portion of the Registrable Securities or other securities of the Company, if any, of any other holder or holders joining in such request as are specified in a written request given within fifteen (15) days after receipt of such written notice from the Company; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to effect any such registration pursuant to this Section 2.3: (i) if Form S-3 is not available for such offering; or (ii) if the holders of the Registrable Securities, together with the holders of any other securities of the Company entitled to inclusion in such registration, propose to sell Registrable Securities and such other securities (if any) at any aggregate price to the public of less than $500,000. Registrations effected pursuant to this Section 2.3 shall not be counted as Demand Registrations effected pursuant to Section 2.1.

 

3. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES.

 

3.1 Filings; Information. Whenever the Company is required to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2, the Company shall use its best efforts to effect the registration and sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof as expeditiously as practicable, and in connection with any such request:

 

3.1.1 Filing Registration Statement. The Company shall use its best efforts to, as expeditiously as possible after receipt of a request for a Demand Registration pursuant to Section 2.1, prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement on any form for which the Company then qualifies or which counsel for the Company shall deem appropriate and which form shall be available for the sale of all Registrable Securities to be registered thereunder in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof, and shall use its best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and use its best efforts to keep it effective for the period required by Section 3.1.3; provided, however, that the Company shall have the right to defer any Demand Registration for up to thirty (30) days, and any Piggy-Back Registration for such period as may be applicable to deferment of any demand registration to which such Piggy-Back Registration relates, in each case if the Company shall furnish to the holders a certificate signed by Chief Executive Officer or Chairman of the Company stating that, in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, it would be materially detrimental to the Company and its shareholders for such Registration Statement to be effected at such time; provided further, however, that the Company shall not have the right to exercise the right set forth in this provision more than once in any 365-day period in respect of a Demand Registration hereunder.

 

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3.1.2 Copies. The Company shall, prior to filing a Registration Statement or prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, furnish without charge to 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 holders of Registrable Securities included in such registration or legal counsel for any such holders may request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such holders.

 

3.1.3 Amendments and Supplements. The Company shall prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective amendments, and supplements to such Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective and in compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act until all Registrable Securities and other securities covered by such Registration Statement have been disposed of in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement or such securities have been withdrawn.

 

3.1.4 Notification. After the filing of a Registration Statement, the Company shall promptly, and in no event more than two (2) business days after such filing, notify the holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement of such filing, and shall further notify such holders promptly and confirm such advice in writing in all events within two (2) business days of the occurrence of any of the following: (i) when such Registration Statement becomes effective; (ii) when any post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement becomes effective; (iii) the issuance or threatened issuance by the Commission of any stop order (and the Company shall take all actions required to prevent the entry of such stop order or to remove it if entered); and (iv) any request by the Commission for any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or any prospectus relating thereto or for additional information or of the occurrence of an event requiring the preparation of a supplement or amendment to such prospectus so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the securities covered by such Registration Statement, such prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of the prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made), not misleading, and promptly make available to the holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement any such supplement or amendment; except that before filing with the Commission a Registration Statement or prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, including documents incorporated by reference, the Company shall furnish to the holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement and to the legal counsel for any such holders, copies of all such documents proposed to be filed sufficiently in advance of filing to provide such holders and legal counsel with a reasonable opportunity to review such documents and comment thereon, and the Company shall not file any Registration Statement or prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto, including documents incorporated by reference, to which such holders or their legal counsel shall object.

 

3.1.5 State Securities Laws Compliance. The Company shall 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 but for this paragraph or subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction.

 

3.1.6 Agreements for Disposition. The Company shall enter into customary agreements (including, if applicable, an underwriting agreement in customary form) and take such other actions as are reasonably required in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities. The representations, warranties and covenants of the Company in any underwriting agreement which are made to or for the benefit of any Underwriters, to the extent applicable, shall also be made to and for the benefit of the holders of Registrable Securities included in such registration statement. No holder of Registrable Securities included in such registration statement shall be required to make any representations or warranties in the underwriting agreement except, if applicable, with respect to such holder’s organization, good standing, authority, title to Registrable Securities, lack of conflict of such sale with such holder’s material agreements and organizational documents, and with respect to written information relating to such holder that such holder has furnished in writing expressly for inclusion in such Registration Statement.

 

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3.1.7 Cooperation. The principal executive officer of the Company, the principal financial officer of the Company, the principal accounting officer of the Company and all other officers and members of the management of the Company shall cooperate fully in any offering of Registrable Securities hereunder, which cooperation shall include, without limitation, the preparation of the Registration Statement with respect to such offering and all other offering materials and related documents, and participation in meetings with Underwriters, attorneys, accountants and potential investors.

 

3.1.8 Records. The Company shall make available for inspection by the holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement, any Underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such registration statement and any attorney, accountant or other professional retained by any holder of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement or any Underwriter, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company, as shall be necessary to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information requested by any of them in connection with such Registration Statement.

 

3.1.9 Opinions and Comfort Letters. In the case of any underwritten offering or if reasonably requested by any participant in any other offering pursuant to a Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Agreement, the Company shall obtain opinions of counsel representing the Company for the purposes of a registration pursuant to this Agreement, addressed to the holders participating in such registration, the placement agent or sales agent, if any, and the Underwriters, if any, covering such legal matters with respect to such registration in respect of which such opinion is being given as such holders, 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 holders of a majority-in-interest of the Registrable Securities included in such registration. In the case of any underwritten offering or if reasonably requested by any participant in any other offering pursuant to a Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Agreement, the Company shall obtain a “cold comfort” letters from the Company’s independent registered public accountants in the event of an underwritten public offering pursuant to this Agreement, in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by “cold comfort” letters as the managing Underwriter may reasonably request, and reasonably satisfactory to a holders of a majority-in-interest of the Registrable Securities included in such registration. The Company shall furnish to each holder of Registrable Securities included in any Registration Statement a signed counterpart, addressed to such holder, of (i) any opinion of counsel to the Company delivered to any Underwriter and (ii) any comfort letter from the Company’s independent public accountants delivered to any Underwriter.

 

3.1.10 Earnings Statement. The Company shall comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and the Securities Act, and make available to its shareholders, as soon as practicable, an earnings statement covering a period of twelve (12) months, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder.

 

3.1.11 Listing. The Company shall use its best efforts to cause all Registrable Securities included in any registration to be listed on such exchanges or otherwise designated for trading in the same manner as similar securities issued by the Company are then listed or designated or, if no such similar securities are then listed or designated, in a manner satisfactory to the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such registration.

 

3.1.12 Road Show. If the registration involves the registration of Registrable Securities involving gross proceeds in excess of $5,000,000, the Company shall 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.

 

3.2 Obligation to Suspend Distribution. Upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3.1.4(iv), or, in the case of a resale registration on Form S-3 pursuant to Section 2.3 hereof, upon any suspension by the Company, pursuant to a written insider trading compliance program adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors, of the ability of all “insiders” covered by such program to transact in the Company’s securities because of the existence of material non-public information, each holder of Registrable Securities included in any registration shall immediately discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement covering such Registrable Securities until such holder receives the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 3.1.4(iv) or the restriction on the ability of “insiders” to transact in the Company’s securities is removed, as applicable, and, if so directed by the Company, each such holder will deliver to the Company all copies, other than permanent file copies then in such holder’s possession, of the most recent prospectus covering such Registrable Securities at the time of receipt of such notice.

 

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3.3 Registration Expenses. The Company shall bear all costs and expenses incurred in connection with any Demand Registration pursuant to Section 2.1, any Piggy-Back Registration pursuant to Section 2.2, and any registration on Form S-3 effected pursuant to Section 2.3, and all expenses incurred in performing or complying with its other obligations under this Agreement, whether or not the Registration Statement becomes effective, including, without limitation: (i) all registration and filing fees; (ii) fees and expenses of compliance with securities or “blue sky” laws (including fees and disbursements of counsel in connection with blue sky qualifications of the Registrable Securities); (iii) printing expenses; (iv) the Company’s internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees); (v) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities as required by Section 3.1.11; (vi) Financial Industry Regulatory Authority fees; (vii) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and fees and expenses for independent certified public accountants retained by the Company (including the expenses or costs associated with the delivery of any opinions or comfort letters requested pursuant to Section 3.1.9); (viii) the reasonable fees and expenses of any special experts retained by the Company in connection with such registration and (ix) the reasonable fees and expenses of one legal counsel selected by the holders of a majority-in-interest of the Registrable Securities included in such registration. The Company shall have no obligation to pay any underwriting discounts or selling commissions attributable to the Registrable Securities being sold by the holders thereof, which underwriting discounts or selling commissions shall be borne by such holders. Additionally, in an underwritten offering, all selling shareholders and the Company shall bear the expenses of the Underwriter pro rata in proportion to the respective amount of shares each is selling in such offering.

 

3.4 Information. The holders of Registrable Securities shall provide such information as may reasonably be requested by the Company, or the managing Underwriter, if any, in connection with the preparation of any Registration Statement, including amendments and supplements thereto, in order to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities under the Securities Act pursuant to Section 2 and in connection with the Company’s obligation to comply with Federal and applicable state securities laws.

 

4. INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION.

 

4.1 Indemnification by the Company. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Investor and each other holder of Registrable Securities, and each of their respective officers, employees, affiliates, directors, partners, members, attorneys and agents, and each person, if any, who controls an Investor and each other holder of Registrable Securities (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) (each, an “Investor Indemnified Party”), from and against any expenses, losses, judgments, claims, damages or liabilities, whether joint or several, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement (or allegedly untrue statement) of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement under which the sale of such Registrable Securities was registered under the Securities Act, any preliminary prospectus, final prospectus or summary prospectus contained in the Registration Statement, or any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement, or arising out of or based upon any omission (or alleged omission) to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or any violation by the Company of the Securities Act or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder applicable to the Company and relating to action or inaction required of the Company in connection with any such registration; and the Company shall promptly reimburse the Investor Indemnified Party for any legal and any other expenses reasonably incurred by such Investor Indemnified Party in connection with investigating and defending any such expense, loss, judgment, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such expense, loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or allegedly untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in such Registration Statement, preliminary prospectus, final prospectus, or summary prospectus, or any such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company, in writing, by such selling holder expressly for use therein. The Company also shall indemnify any Underwriter of the Registrable Securities, their officers, affiliates, directors, partners, members and agents and each person who controls such Underwriter on substantially the same basis as that of the indemnification provided above in this Section 4.1.

 

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4.2 Indemnification by Holders of Registrable Securities. Each selling holder of Registrable Securities will, in the event that any registration is being effected under the Securities Act pursuant to this Agreement of any Registrable Securities held by such selling holder, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors and officers and each Underwriter (if any), and each other selling holder and each other person, if any, who controls another selling holder or such Underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act, against any losses, claims, judgments, damages or liabilities, whether joint or several, insofar as such losses, claims, judgments, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or allegedly untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement under which the sale of such Registrable Securities was registered under the Securities Act, any preliminary prospectus, final prospectus or summary prospectus contained in the Registration Statement, or any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, or arise out of or are based upon any omission or the alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statement therein not misleading, if the statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by such selling holder expressly for use therein, and shall reimburse the Company, its directors and officers, and each other selling holder or controlling person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by any of them in connection with investigation or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action. Each selling holder’s indemnification obligations hereunder shall be several and not joint and shall be limited to the amount of any net proceeds actually received by such selling holder.

 

4.3 Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. Promptly after receipt by any person of any notice of any loss, claim, damage or liability or any action in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 4.1 or 4.2, such person (the “Indemnified Party”) shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against any other person for indemnification hereunder, notify such other person (the “Indemnifying Party”) in writing of the loss, claim, judgment, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the failure by the Indemnified Party to notify the Indemnifying Party shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party from any liability which the Indemnifying Party may have to such Indemnified Party hereunder, except and solely to the extent the Indemnifying Party is actually prejudiced by such failure. If the Indemnified Party is seeking indemnification with respect to any claim or action brought against the Indemnified Party, then the Indemnifying Party shall be entitled to participate in such claim or action, and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with all other Indemnifying Parties, to assume control of the defense thereof with counsel satisfactory to the Indemnified Party. After notice from the Indemnifying Party to the Indemnified Party of its election to assume control of the defense of such claim or action, the Indemnifying Party shall not be liable to the Indemnified Party 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 in any action in which both the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party are named as defendants, the Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (but no more than one such separate counsel) to represent the Indemnified Party and its controlling persons who may be subject to liability arising out of any claim in respect of which indemnity may be sought by the Indemnified Party against the Indemnifying Party, with the fees and expenses of such counsel to be paid by such Indemnifying Party if, based upon the written opinion of counsel of such Indemnified Party, representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, consent to entry of judgment or effect any settlement of any claim or pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which the Indemnified Party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Party, unless such judgment or settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability arising out of such claim or proceeding.

 

4.4 Contribution.

 

4.4.1 If the indemnification provided for in the foregoing Sections 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3 is unavailable to any Indemnified Party in respect of any loss, claim, damage, liability or action referred to herein, then each such Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such loss, claim, damage, liability or action in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnified Parties and the Indemnifying Parties in connection with the actions or omissions which resulted in such loss, claim, damage, liability or action, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of any Indemnified Party and any Indemnifying Party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by such Indemnified Party or such Indemnifying Party and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

 

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4.4.2 The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 4.4 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 the immediately preceding Section 4.4.1.

 

4.4.3 The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Party as a result of any loss, claim, damage, liability or action referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 4.4, no holder of Registrable Securities shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the dollar amount of the net proceeds (after payment of any underwriting fees, discounts, commissions or taxes) actually received by such holder from the sale of Registrable Securities which gave rise to such contribution obligation. 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.

 

5. RULE 144.

 

5.1 Rule 144. The Company covenants that it shall file any reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and shall take such further action as the holders of Registrable Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such holders to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such Rules may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission. Upon the request of any holder of Registrable Securities, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written certification of a duly authorized officer as to (A) whether the Company has filed (i) all reports and other materials required to be filed pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, as applicable, during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Company was required to file such reports and materials), other than Current Reports on Form 8-K and (ii) current “Form 10 information” (within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act) with the Commission reflecting the Company’s status as an entity that is no longer an issuer described in paragraph (i)(1)(i) of Rule 144 under the Securities Act and (B) the first date that the Company filed “Form 10 information” (within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act) with the Commission.

 

6. MISCELLANEOUS.

 

6.1 Other Registration Rights. The Company represents and warrants that, except as disclosed in the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-257706), no person, other than the holders of the Registrable Securities, has any right to require the Company to register any of the Company’s share capital for sale or to include the Company’s share capital in any registration filed by the Company for the sale of share capital for its own account or for the account of any other person.

 

6.2 Assignment; No Third Party Beneficiaries. 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. This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of the holders of Registrable Securities hereunder may be freely assigned or delegated by such holder of Registrable Securities in conjunction with and to the extent of any transfer of Registrable Securities by any such holder. This Agreement and the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of each of the parties, to the permitted assigns of the Investors or holder of Registrable Securities or of any assignee of the Investors or holder of Registrable Securities. This Agreement is not intended to confer any rights or benefits on any persons that are not party hereto other than as expressly set forth in Article 4 and this Section 6.2. Any additional holder of Registrable Securities may become party to this Agreement by executing and delivering a joinder to the Company and the Sponsor in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company.

 

6.3 Notices. All notices, demands, requests, consents, approvals or other communications (collectively, “Notices”) required or permitted to be given hereunder or which are given with respect to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be personally served, delivered by reputable air courier service with charges prepaid, or transmitted by hand delivery, telegram, telex or facsimile, addressed as set forth below, or to such other address as such party shall have specified most recently by written notice. Notice shall be deemed given on the date of service or transmission if personally served or transmitted by telegram, telex or facsimile; provided, that if such service or transmission is not on a business day or is after normal business hours, then such notice shall be deemed given on the next business day. Notice otherwise sent as provided herein shall be deemed given on the next business day following timely delivery of such notice to a reputable air courier service with an order for next-day delivery.

 

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To the Company:

 

Aquarius I Acquisition Corp.

Unit A-C, 33/F, Tower A, Billion Centre

1 Wang Kwong Road

Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong

Attn: Sze Hau Lee, Chief Executive Officer

 

with a copy to:

 

Loeb & Loeb LLP

2206-19 Jardine House
1 Connaught Place
Central, Hong Kong SAR

Attn: Lawrence Venick, Esq.

 

To an Investor, to the address set forth below such Investor’s name on Exhibit A hereto.

 

6.4 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.

 

6.5 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

6.6 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.

 

6.7 Modifications and Amendments. No amendment, modification or termination of this Agreement shall be binding upon the Company unless executed in writing by the Company. No amendment, modification or termination of this Agreement shall be binding upon the holders of the Registrable Securities unless executed in writing by the holders of the majority Registrable Securities.

 

6.8 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.

 

6.9 Waivers and Extensions. Any party to this Agreement may waive any right, breach or default which such party has the right to waive, provided that such waiver will not be effective against the waiving party unless it is in writing, is signed by such party, and specifically refers to this Agreement. Waivers may be made in advance or after the right waived has arisen or the breach or default waived has occurred. Any waiver may be conditional. No waiver of any breach of any agreement or provision herein contained shall be deemed a waiver of any preceding or succeeding breach thereof nor of any other agreement or provision herein contained. No waiver or extension of time for performance of any obligations or acts shall be deemed a waiver or extension of the time for performance of any other obligations or acts.

 

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 Investor or any other holder of Registrable Securities 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.

 

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6.11 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, interpreted under, and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made and to be performed within the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice-of-law provisions thereof that would compel the application of the substantive laws of any other jurisdiction. The venue for any action taken with respect to the Agreement shall be any state or federal court in New York County in the State of New York.

 

6.12 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 Investor in the negotiation, administration, performance or enforcement hereof.

 

 

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Registration Rights Agreement to be executed and delivered by their duly authorized representatives as of the date first written above.

 

  COMPANY:
     
  AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.
     
  By:  
    Name: Sze Hau Lee
    Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

 

  INITIAL SHAREHOLDERS:
   
  Aquarius Sponsor Limited
   
  By:  
    Name: Sze Hau Lee
    Title: Director

 

     
    Sze Hau Lee
     
     
    Chunning Wang
     
     
    Ngai Wong
     
     
    Chi Fai Choi
     
     
    Walter R. Cook
     
     
    Boyu Xu
     
     
    Feng Wu
     
     
    Di Wu

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

Name and Address of Initial Shareholders

 

To all Initial Shareholders:

 

c/o Aquarius I Acquisition Corp.

Unit A-C, 33/F, Tower A, Billion Centre

1 Wang Kwong Road
Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong

 

A-1

EX-10.5 18 fs12021a1ex10-5_aquarius1.htm FORM OF SECURITIES SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT AMONG THE REGISTRANT AND THE INITIAL SHAREHOLDERS

Exhibit 10.5

 

Aquarius I Acquisition Corp.

Unit A-C, 33/F, Tower A, Billion Centre

1 Wang Kwong Road

 

Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Aquarius I Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”), a blank check company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands for the purpose of acquiring one or more businesses or entities (a “Business Combination”), intends to register its securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”), in connection with its initial public offering (“IPO”), pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1 (“Registration Statement”).

 

The undersigned hereby commits that it will purchase 310,000 units of the Company (“Private Units”), each Private Unit consisting of one ordinary share of the Company, $0.0001 par value each (the “Ordinary Shares”), one warrant (the “Warrants”) entitling its holder to purchase one-half (1/2) of one Ordinary Share, and one right to receive one-tenth (1/10) of an Ordinary Share (each a “Right”), at $10.00 per Private Unit, for a purchase price of $3,100,000 (the “Private Unit Purchase Price”).

 

At least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement, the undersigned will cause the Private Unit Purchase Price to be delivered to Loeb & Loeb LLP (“Loeb”), counsel for the Company, by wire transfer as set forth in the instructions attached as Exhibit A to hold in a non-interest bearing account until the Company consummates the IPO.

 

The consummation of the purchase and issuance of the Private Units shall occur simultaneously with the consummation of the IPO. Simultaneously with the consummation of the IPO, Loeb shall deposit the Private Unit Purchase Price, without interest or deduction, into the trust fund (“Trust Fund”) established by the Company for the benefit of the Company’s public shareholders as described in the Registration Statement. If the Company does not complete the IPO within ten (10) days from the date of this letter, the Private Unit Purchase Price (without interest or deduction) will be returned to the undersigned.

 

Each of the Company, and the undersigned acknowledges and agrees that Loeb is serving hereunder solely as a convenience to the parties to facilitate the purchase of the Private Units and Loeb’s sole obligation under this letter agreement is to act with respect to holding and disbursing the Private Unit Purchase Price as described above. Loeb shall not be liable to the Company, Maxim or the undersigned or any other person or entity in respect of any act or failure to act hereunder or otherwise in connection with performing its services hereunder unless Loeb has acted in a manner constituting gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Company and the undersigned shall indemnify Loeb against any claim made against it (including reasonable attorney’s fees) by reason of it acting or failing to act in connection with this letter agreement except as a result of its gross negligence or willful misconduct. Loeb may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any written notice, instruction or request furnished to it hereunder and believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.

 

The Private Units will be identical to the units to be sold by the Company in the IPO. Additionally, the undersigned agrees:

 

  to vote the Ordinary Shares included in the Private Units in favor of any proposed Business Combination;

 

  not to propose, or vote in favor of, an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association that would affect the substance or timing of the Company’s obligation to redeem 100% of the Company’s Ordinary Shares sold in the IPO if the Company does not complete an initial Business Combination within 12 months from the date that the registration statement is declared effective (or up to 21 months, as applicable), unless the Company provides the holders of Ordinary Shares sold in the IPO with the opportunity to redeem their Ordinary Shares upon approval of any such amendment at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount of the Trust Fund, including interest earned on Trust Fund and not previously released to the Company to pay the Company’s franchise and income taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding Ordinary Shares sold in the IPO;

 

 

 

 

  not to convert any Ordinary Shares included in the Private Units into the right to receive cash from the Trust Fund in connection with a shareholder vote to approve either a Business Combination or an amendment to the provisions of the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, and not to tender the Private Units in connection with a tender offer conducted prior to the closing of a Business Combination;

 

  the undersigned will not participate in any liquidation distribution with respect to the Private Units (but will participate in liquidation distributions with respect to any units or Ordinary Shares purchased by the undersigned in the IPO or in the open market) if the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination;

 

  that the Private Units and underlying securities will not be transferable until after the consummation of a Business Combination except (i) to the Company’s pre-IPO shareholders, or to the Company’s officers, directors, advisors and employees, (ii) transfers to the undersigned’s affiliates or its members upon its liquidation, (iii) to relatives and trusts for estate planning purposes, (iv) by virtue of the laws of descent and distribution upon death, (v) pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, (vi) by private sales made in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination at prices no greater than the price at which the Private Units were originally purchased or (vii) to the Company for cancellation in connection with the consummation of a Business Combination, in each case (except for clause vii) where the transferee agrees to the terms of the transfer restrictions; and

 

  the Private Units will include any additional terms or restrictions as is customary in other similarly structured blank check company offerings or as may be reasonably required by the underwriters in the IPO in order to consummate the IPO, each of which will be set forth in the Registration Statement.

 

The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that the purchaser of the Private Units will execute agreements in form and substance typical for transactions of this nature necessary to effectuate the foregoing agreements and obligations prior to the consummation of the IPO as are reasonably acceptable to the undersigned, including but not limited to an insider letter.

 

The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that:

 

  (a) it has been advised that the Private Units have not been registered under the Securities Act;

 

  (b) it will be acquiring the Private Units for its account for investment purposes only;

 

  (c) it has no present intention of selling or otherwise disposing of the Private Units in violation of the securities laws of the United States;

 

  (d) it is an “accredited investor” as defined by Rule 501 of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended;

 

  (e) it has had both the opportunity to ask questions and receive answers from the officers and directors of the Company and all persons acting on its behalf concerning the terms and conditions of the offer made hereunder;

 

  (f) it is familiar with the proposed business, management, financial condition and affairs of the Company;

 

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  (g) it has full power, authority and legal capacity to execute and deliver this letter and any documents contemplated herein or needed to consummate the transactions contemplated in this letter; and

 

  (h) this letter constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligation, and is enforceable against it.

 

This letter agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the undersigned and the Company with respect to the purchase of the Private Units, and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous understandings, agreements, representations and warranties, both written and oral, with respect to the same.

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  AQUARIUS SPONSOR LIMITED

 

  By:  
  Name: Sze Hau Lee
  Title: Director

 

Accepted and Agreed:

 

AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.

 

By:    
  Name: Sze Hau Lee  
  Title: Chief Executive Officer  

 

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Exhibit A

 

Wire Instructions

 

Bank Name: Citigroup Private Bank

 

Bank Address: 153 East 53rd Street

New York, NY 10022

 

Account Name: Loeb & Loeb LLP – Trust Account 

Account Number: 24576266 

Routing/ABA Number (Domestic Wires): 021000089 

Swift Code (Foreign Wire): CITIUS33 

Note: AQUARIUS 237293/10001

 

A-1

EX-10.6 19 fs12021a1ex10-6_aquarius1.htm FORM OF PROMISSORY NOTE ISSUED TO AQUARIUS SPONSOR LTD

Exhibit 10.6

 

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: $300,000 Dated as of ____________

 

Aquarius I Acquisition Corp., an exempted company in the Cayman Islands (the “Maker”), promises to pay to the order of Aquarius Sponsor Ltd. or its registered assigns or successors in interest (the “Payee”) the principal sum of Three-Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000) 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 the Maker to such account as the Payee may from time to time designate by written notice in accordance with the provisions of this Note.

 

1.Principal. The principal balance of this Promissory Note (this “Note”) shall be payable promptly on the earlier of (i) December 31, 2021 and (ii) the date on which the Maker consummates an initial public offering of its securities or the date on which the Company determines not to conduct an initial public offering of its securities. The principal balance may be prepaid at any time.

 

2.Interest. No interest shall accrue on the unpaid principal balance of this Note.

 

3.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.

 

4.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 of this Note within five (5) business days following the date when due.

 

(b)Voluntary Liquidation, Etc. The commencement by Maker of a proceeding relating to its bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, rehabilitation or other similar action, or the consent by it to the appointment of, or taking possession by, a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator (or other similar official) for 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 similar law, for the appointing of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) for Maker or for any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of the affairs of Maker, and the continuance of any such decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days.

 

5.Remedies.

 

(a)Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in Section 4(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 4(b) and 4(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.

 

6.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.

 

7.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.

 

8.Notices. Any notice called for hereunder shall be deemed properly given if (i) sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, (ii) personally delivered, (iii) dispatched by any form of private or governmental express mail or delivery service providing receipted delivery or (iv) sent by facsimile or (v) to the following addresses or to such other address as either party may designate by notice in accordance with this Section:

 

2

 

 

If to Maker:

Aquarius Sponsor Ltd.

Ritter House, Wickhams Cay II,

PO Box 3170,

Road Town, Tortola VG1110, British Virgin Islands

 

If to Payee:

Aquarius I Acquisition Corp.

89 Nexus Way, Camana Bay,

Grand Cayman, KY1-9009, Cayman Islands

 

Notice shall be deemed given on the earlier of (i) actual receipt by the receiving party, (ii) the date shown on a facsimile transmission confirmation, (iii) the date reflected on a signed delivery receipt, or (iv) two (2) Business Days following tender of delivery or dispatch by express mail or delivery service.

 

9.Construction. THIS NOTE SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS THEREOF.

 

10.Jurisdiction. The courts of New York have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute arising out of or in connection with this agreement (including a dispute relating to any non- contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with this agreement) and the parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of New York.

 

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, the Payee hereby waives any and all right, title, interest or claim of any kind (“Claim”) in or to any amounts contained in the trust account in which the proceeds of the initial public offering (the “IPO”) conducted by the Maker and the proceeds of the sale of securities in a private placement to occur prior to the effectiveness of the IPO, 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, will be placed, and hereby agrees not to seek recourse, reimbursement, payment or satisfaction for any Claim from the trust account or any distribution therefrom 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 the Maker and the Payee.

 

3

 

 

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.

 

15.Further Assurance. The Maker shall, at its own cost and expense, execute and do (or procure to be executed and done by any other necessary party) all such deeds, documents, acts and things as the Payee may from time to time require as may be necessary to give full effect to this Promissory Note.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Maker, intending to be legally bound hereby, has caused this Note to be duly executed on the day and year first above written.

 

AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.
   
 By:
 Name:Chunning Wang
 Title:Director

 

 

Agreed and acknowledged:
   
 AQUARIUS SPONSOR LTD.
   
 By:
 Name:Chunning Wang
 Title:Director

 

4

EX-10.7 20 fs12021a1ex10-7_aquarius1.htm FORM OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE REGISTRANT AND AQUARIUS SPONSOR LTD

Exhibit 10.7

 

Administrative Service Agreement

 

This Administrative Service Agreement (the “Agreement”) dated this            the day of            , 2021 is between Aquarius Sponsor Ltd, herein referred to as “Service Provider” and Aquarius I Acquisition Corp., herein referred to as “Customer”.

 

Service Provider has agreed to provide services to the Customer on the terms and conditions set out in this Agreement, while Customer is of the opinion that Service Provider has the proper and necessary qualifications, experience and abilities to provide services to Customer.

 

Therefore in consideration of the matters described above, the receipt and sufficiency of which consideration is hereby acknowledged, the Customer and the Service Provider agree as follows:

 

1.Scope of Work

 

The Service Provider is to provide the Customer with the following services (the “Services”): Company Administration.

 

The services will include any other tasks which the Customer and the Service Provider may agree on.

 

2.Term of Agreement

 

This Agreement will begin on [_______], 2021 and will remain in full force and effect until the completion of the Services. This Agreement may be extended by mutual written agreement of the parties.

 

3.Termination

 

If either party seeks termination of this Agreement, the terminating party must provide a 30 days written notice to the other party.

 

4.Compensation

 

The Customer will provide compensation to the Service Provider of $10,000 per month for the services rendered by the Service Provider as required by this Agreement. Compensation is payable at the completion of services.

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties have duly affixed their signatures under hand on this [_______] day of [_______], 2021.

 

  AQUARIUS SPONSOR LTD

 

  By:  
  Name: Sze Hau Lee
  Title: Director
     
     
  AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.

 

  By:  
  Name: Sze Hau Lee
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

 

EX-14 21 fs12021a1ex14_aquarius1.htm FORM OF CODE OF ETHICS

Exhibit 14

 

CODE OF CONDUCT AND ETHICS

OF

AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.

 

Adopted: [___], 2021

 

The Board of Directors of Aquarius I Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) has adopted this Code of Ethics (this “Code”) to provide value for our shareholders; and

 

  To encourage honest and ethical conduct, including fair dealing and the ethical handling of conflicts of interest;

 

  To prompt full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure;

 

  To comply with applicable laws and governmental rules and regulations;

 

  To prompt internal reporting of violations of this Code;

 

  To protect the Company’s legitimate business interests, including corporate opportunities, assets and confidential information; and

 

  To deter wrongdoing.

 

All directors, officers, employees and independent contractors of the Company are expected to be familiar with this Code and to adhere to the principles and procedures set forth in this Code. For purposes of this Code, all directors, officers, employees and independent contractors are referred to collectively as “employees” or “you” throughout this Code.

 

I. Honest and Ethical Conduct

 

All directors, officers, employees and independent contractors owe duties to the Company to act with integrity. Integrity requires, among other things, being honest and ethical. This includes the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships. Deceit and subordination of principle are inconsistent with integrity.

 

All directors, officers, employees and independent contractors have the following duties:

 

  To conduct business with professional courtesy and integrity, and act honestly and fairly without prejudice in all commercial dealings;

 

  To work in a safe, healthy and efficient manner, using skills, time and experience to the maximum of abilities;

 

  To comply with applicable awards, Company policies and job requirements, and adhere to a high standard of business ethics;

 

 

 

 

  To observe both the form and spirit of laws, governmental rules, regulations and accounting standards;

 

  Not to knowingly make any misleading statements to any person or to be a party to any improper practice in relation to dealings with or by the Company;

 

  To ensure that Company resources and properties are used properly;

 

  To maintain the confidentiality of information where required or consistent with Company policies; and

 

  Not to disclose information or documents relating to the Company or its business, other than as required by law, not to make any unauthorized public comment on Company affairs and not to misuse any information about the Company or its associates, and not to accept improper or undisclosed material personal benefits from third parties as a result of any transaction or transactions of the Company.

 

II. Conflicts of Interest

 

A “conflict of interest” arises when an individual’s personal interest interferes or appears to interfere with the interests of the Company. A conflict of interest can arise when a director, officer or employee takes actions or has personal interests that may make it difficult to perform his or her Company work objectively and effectively.

 

There are a variety of situations in which a conflict of interest may arise. While it would be impractical to attempt to list all possible situations, some common types of conflicts may be:

 

  To serve as a director, employee or contractor for a company that has a business relationship with, or is a competitor of the Company;

 

  To have a financial interest in a competitor, supplier or customer of the Company;

 

  To receive improper personal benefits from a competitor, supplier or customer, as a result of any transaction or transactions of the Company;

 

  To accept financial interest beyond entertainment or nominal gifts in the ordinary course of business, such as a meal or a coffee mug;

 

  To present at a conference where the conference sponsor has a real or potential business relationship with the Company (e.g. vendor, customer, or investor), and, the conference sponsor offers travel or accommodation arrangements or other benefits materially in excess of the Company’s standard; or

 

2

 

 

  To use for personal gain, rather than for the benefit of the Company, an opportunity that you discovered through your role with the Company.

 

Fidelity or service to the Company should never be subordinated to or dependent on personal gain or advantage. Conflicts of interest should be avoided.

 

In most cases, anything that would constitute a conflict for a director, officer or employee also would present a conflict if it is related to a member of his or her family.

 

Interests in other companies, including potential competitors and suppliers, that are purely for management of the other entity, or where an otherwise questionable relationship is disclosed to the Board and any necessary action is taken to ensure there will be no effect on the Company, are not considered conflicts unless otherwise determined by the Board.

 

Evaluating whether a conflict of interest exists can be difficult and may involve a number of considerations. Please refer to other policies, such as the employee handbook, for further information. We also encourage you to seek guidance from your manager, Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer, or their equivalents, when you have any questions or doubts.

 

III. Disclosure

 

Each director, officer or employee, to the extent involved in the Company’s disclosure process, including the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer, or their equivalents, the (the “Senior Financial Officers”), is required to be familiar with the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures applicable to him or her so that the Company’s public reports and documents comply in all material respects with the applicable securities laws and rules. In addition, each such person having direct or supervisory authority regarding these securities filings or the Company’s other public communications concerning its general business, results, financial condition and prospects should, to the extent appropriate within his or her area of responsibility, consult with other Company officers and employees and take other appropriate steps regarding these disclosures with the goal of making full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure.

 

Each director, officer or employee, to the extent involved in the Company’s disclosure process, including the Senior Financial Officers, must:

 

  Familiarize himself or herself with the disclosure requirements applicable to the Company as well as the business and financial operations of the Company.

 

  Not knowingly misrepresent, or cause others to misrepresent, facts about the Company to others, whether within or outside the Company, including to the Company’s independent auditors, governmental regulators and self-regulatory organizations.

 

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IV. Compliance

 

It is the Company’s policy to comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations. It is the personal responsibility of each employee, officer and director to adhere to the standards and restrictions imposed by those laws, rules and regulations in the performance of their duties for the Company, including those relating to accounting and auditing matters and insider trading.

 

The Board endeavors to ensure that the directors, officers and employees of the Company act with integrity and observe the highest standards of behavior and business ethics in relation to their corporate activities.

 

Specifically, directors, officers and employees must:

 

  Comply with the law;

 

  Act in the best interests of the Company;

 

  Be responsible and accountable for their actions; and

 

  Observe the ethical principles of fairness, honesty and truthfulness, including disclosure of potential conflicts.

 

Generally, it is against Company policies for any individual to profit from undisclosed information relating to the Company or any other company in violation of insider trading or other laws. Anyone who is aware of material nonpublic information relating to the Company, our customers, or other companies may not use the information to purchase or sell securities in violation of securities laws.

 

If you are uncertain about the legal rules involving your purchase or sale of any Company securities or any securities in companies that you are familiar with by virtue of your work for the Company, you should consult with the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer, or their equivalents, before making any such purchase or sale. Other policies issued by the Company also provide guidance as to certain of the laws, rules and regulations that apply to the Company’s activities.

 

V. Reporting and Accountability

 

The Board of Directors has the authority to interpret this Code in any particular situation. Any director, officer or employee who becomes aware of any violation of this Code is required to notify the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer, or their equivalents, promptly.

 

Any questions relating to how these policies should be interpreted or applied should be addressed to your manager, Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer, or their equivalents. Any material transaction or relationship that could reasonably be expected to give rise to a conflict of interest, as discussed in Section II of this Code, should be discussed with your manager, Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer, or their equivalents. A director, officer or employee who is unsure of whether a situation violates this Code should discuss the situation with the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer, or their equivalents, to prevent possible misunderstandings and embarrassment at a later date.

 

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Each director, officer or employee must:

 

  Notify the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer, or their equivalents, promptly of any existing or potential violation of this Code.

 

  Not retaliate against any other director, officer or employee for reports of potential violations.

 

The Company will follow the following procedures in investigating and enforcing this Code and in reporting on the Code:

 

  The Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer, or their equivalents, as the case may be, will take all appropriate action to investigate any violations reported. In addition, the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer, or their equivalents, as appropriate, shall report each violation and alleged violation involving a director or an executive officer to the Chairman of the Board of Directors. To the extent he or she deems appropriate, the Chairman of the Board of Directors shall participate in any investigation of a director or executive officer. After the conclusion of an investigation of a director or executive officer, the conclusions shall be reported to the Board of Directors.

 

  The Board of Directors will conduct such additional investigation as it deems necessary. The Board will determine that a director or executive officer has violated this Code. Upon being notified that a violation has occurred, the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer, or their equivalents, as the case may be, will take such disciplinary or preventive action as deemed appropriate, up to and including dismissal or, in the event of criminal or other serious violations of law, notification of appropriate law enforcement authorities.

 

VI. Corporate Opportunities

 

Employees, officers and directors are prohibited from taking (or directing to a third party) a business opportunity that is discovered through the use of corporate property, information or position, unless the Company has already been offered the opportunity and turned it down. More generally, employees, officers and directors are prohibited from using corporate property, information or position for personal gain and from competing with the Company.

 

Sometimes, the line between personal and Company benefits is difficult to draw, and sometimes there are both personal and Company benefits in certain activities. Employees, officers and directors who intend to make use of Company property or services in a manner not solely for the benefit of the Company should consult beforehand with your manager, the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer, or their equivalents.

 

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VII. Confidentiality

 

In carrying out the Company’s business, employees, officers and directors often learn confidential or proprietary information about the Company, its customers, suppliers, or joint venture parties. Employees, officers and directors must maintain the confidentiality of all information so entrusted to them, except when disclosure is authorized or legally mandated. Confidential or proprietary information of our Company, and of other companies, includes any non-public information that would be harmful to the relevant company or useful or helpful to competitors if disclosed.

 

VIII. Fair Dealing

 

Our core value of operating is based on responsiveness, openness, honesty and trust with our members, business partners, employees and shareholders. We do not seek competitive advantages through illegal or unethical business practices. Each employee, officer and director should endeavor to deal fairly with the Company’s customers, service providers, suppliers, competitors and employees. No employee, officer or director should take unfair advantage of anyone through manipulation, concealment, abuse of privileged information, misrepresentation of material facts, or any unfair dealing practice.

 

IX. Protection and Proper Use of Company Assets

 

All employees, officers and directors should protect the Company’s assets and ensure their efficient use. All Company assets should be used only for legitimate business purposes. Theft, carelessness and waste have a direct impact on our profit.

 

XI. Waivers and Amendments

 

From time to time, the Company may waive provisions of this Code. Any employee or director who believes that a waiver may be called for should discuss the matter with your manager, the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer, or their equivalents.

 

Any waiver of the Code for executive officers (including Senior Financial Officers) or directors of the Company may be made only by the Board of Directors and must be promptly disclosed to shareholders along with the reasons for such waiver in a manner as required by applicable law or the rules of the applicable stock exchange. Any amendment or waiver of any provision of this Code must be approved in writing by the Board or, if appropriate, its delegate(s) and promptly disclosed pursuant to applicable laws and regulations.

 

Any waiver or modification of the Code for a Senior Financial Officer will be promptly disclosed to shareholders if and as required by applicable law or the rules of the applicable stock exchange.

 

The Company is committed to continuously reviewing and updating its policies, and therefore reserves the right to amend this Policy at any time, for any reason, subject to applicable law.

 

6

EX-23.1 22 fs12021a1ex23-1_aquarius1.htm CONSENT OF UHY LLP

Exhibit 23.1

  

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

We hereby consent to the inclusion in this Registration Statement of Aquarius I Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”) on Form S-1 of our report dated May 26, 2021, except for Notes 2 and 6 as to which the date is July 6, 2021, and Notes 1, 4 and 8 as to which the date is July 27, 2021, with respect to our audit of the Company’s financial statements as of April 22, 2021 and for the period from April 15, 2021 (inception) through April 22, 2021, which appears in this Registration Statement on Form S-1. Our report contained an explanatory paragraph regarding substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

 

We also consent to the reference to our Firm under the caption “Experts” in such Prospectus. 

 

/s/ UHY LLP

 

New York, New York

July 27, 2021

EX-99.1 23 fs12021a1ex99-1_aquarius1.htm FORM OF AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER

Exhibit 99.1

 

AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER
OF
AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.

 

Adopted: [___], 2021

 

The responsibilities and powers of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Aquarius I Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”), as delegated by the Board, are set forth in this charter (this “Charter”). Whenever the Audit Committee takes an action, it shall exercise its independent judgment on an informed basis that the action is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.

 

I. PURPOSE

 

The purpose of the Audit Committee shall be to represent and assist the Board in the oversight and monitoring of:

 

The Company’s accounting and financial reporting processes and the audits of the Company’s financial statements;

 

The integrity of the Company’s financial statements;

 

The Company’s internal accounting and financial controls; and

 

The Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, and the independent auditors’ qualifications, independence and performance.

 

II. COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

 

The Audit Committee will initially consist of three members of the Board. The members of the Audit Committee shall be appointed by and serve at the discretion of the Board. Members of the Audit Committee must meet the following criteria:

 

Each member must meet the independence and experience requirements and standards established from time to time by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and any securities exchange on which the Company’s securities are listed or quoted for trading, in each case as amended from time to time.

 

Each member must be financially literate and able to read and understand fundamental financial statements, including the Company’s balance sheet, statement of operations and statement of cash flows, as determined by the Board.

 

At least one member must have accounting or related financial management expertise, as the Board interprets such qualification in its business judgment, by virtue of such member’s current or past employment experience in finance or accounting, requisite professional certification in finance or accounting, or any other comparable experience or background which results in such individual’s financial sophistication.

 

 

 

 

Each member shall also meet any other requirements and standards established from time to time to time by the SEC and any securities exchange on which the Company’s securities are listed or quoted for trading, in each case as amended from time to time, for audit committee members.

 

The Board shall designate one member of the Audit Committee as its chairperson.

 

An Audit Committee member may resign by delivering his or her written resignation to the chairman of the Board, or may be removed by majority vote of the Board by delivery to such member of written notice of removal, to take effect at a date specified therein, or upon delivery of such written notice to such member if no date is specified. The Board shall have the power at any time to fill vacancies in the Audit Committee, subject to such new member(s) satisfying the above requirements.

 

III. MEETINGS AND PROCEDURES

 

The Audit Committee will set its own schedule of meetings and will meet at least quarterly, with the option of holding additional meetings at such times as it deems necessary or appropriate. Meetings of the Audit Committee shall be called by a majority of the members of the Audit Committee upon such notice as is provided for in the Company’s charter documents with respect to meetings of the Board. A majority of the Audit Committee members shall constitute a quorum. Actions of the Audit Committee may be taken in person at a meeting or in writing without a meeting. Actions taken at a meeting, to be valid, shall require the approval of a majority of the members of the Audit Committee present and voting. Actions taken in writing, to be valid, shall be signed by all members of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee will maintain written minutes of its meetings, which minutes will be filed with the minutes of the meetings of the Board. Periodically, the Audit Committee shall meet separately with the Company’s management, with the internal auditors and/or internal control director, and with the independent auditors.

 

The Audit Committee may form subcommittees for any purpose that the Audit Committee deems appropriate and may delegate to such subcommittees such power and authority as the Audit Committee deems appropriate. The Audit Committee shall not delegate to a subcommittee any power or authority required by law, regulation or listing standard to be exercised by the Audit Committee as a whole.

 

The Audit Committee shall make regular reports to the Board, which reports shall include to the extent that the Audit Committee deems appropriate, any issues that arise with respect to the quality or integrity of the Company’s financial statements, the Company’s compliance with legal or regulatory requirements, the performance and independence of the Company’s independent auditors or the performance of the internal audit function.

 

2

 

 

IV. COMMITTEE AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITIES

 

The Audit Committee shall appoint and oversee the work of the independent auditors, approve the compensation of the independent auditors and review and, if appropriate, discharge the independent auditors. In this regard, the independent auditors shall report directly to the Audit Committee, and the Audit Committee shall have the sole authority to approve the hiring and discharging of the independent auditors, all audit engagement fees and terms and all permissible non-audit engagements with the independent auditors.

 

The Audit Committee shall pre-approve (or, where permitted under the rules of the SEC, subsequently approve) engagements of the independent auditors to render audit services and/or establish pre-approval policies and procedures for such engagements, provided that (i) such policies and procedures are detailed as to the particular services rendered, (ii) the Audit Committee is informed of each such service and (iii) such policies and procedures do not include delegation to management of the Audit Committee’s responsibilities under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or SEC rules. The Audit Committee shall also pre-approve any non-audit services proposed to be provided to the Company by the independent auditors.

 

The Audit Committee shall review and reassess the adequacy and scope of this Charter annually and recommend any proposed changes to the Board for approval.

 

The Audit Committee shall evaluate its performance annually.

 

To the extent deemed necessary or appropriate, the Audit Committee shall be responsible for:

 

Oversight of the Company’s Relationship with the Independent Auditor

 

Review the independence of the independent auditors, including (i) obtaining on a periodic basis a formal written statement from the independent auditors delineating all relationships between the independent auditors and the Company, (ii) maintaining an active dialogue with the independent auditors, covering any disclosed relationship or services that may impair their objectivity and independence, (iii) presenting this statement to the Board and (iv) to the extent there are any such relationships, monitoring and investigating them and, if necessary, taking, or recommending to the Board that the Board take, appropriate action to maintain the independence of the independent auditors.

 

Evaluate, at least annually, the independent auditors’ qualifications, performance and independence, which evaluation shall include a review and evaluation of the lead partner of the independent auditors, and take appropriate action to oversee the independence of the independent auditors.

 

Review, in consultation with the independent auditors, the annual audit plan and scope of audit activities and monitor such plan’s progress.

 

Establish policies regarding the hiring of employees or former employees of the independent auditors.

 

3

 

 

Financial Statements and Disclosure Matters

 

Discuss and, as appropriate, review with management and the independent auditors the Company’s financial statements and annual and quarterly reports, including the Company’s disclosures under Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, discuss with the independent auditors any other matters required to be discussed by accounting and auditing standards, and recommend to the Board whether the audited financial statements should be included in the Company’s annual report.

 

Discuss with management, the internal auditor and the independent auditors significant financial reporting issues raised and judgments made in connection with the preparation of the Company’s financial statements, including the review of (i) major issues regarding accounting principles and financial statement presentation, including any significant changes in the Company’s selection or application of accounting principles; (ii) analyses prepared by management and/or the independent auditors setting forth significant financial reporting issues raised and judgments made in connection with the preparation of the financial statements, including analyses of the effects of alternative GAAP or IFRS methods on the financial statements; (iii) the effect of regulatory and accounting initiatives, as well as off-balance sheet arrangements, on the Company’s financial statements; and (iv) the type and presentation of information be included in earnings press releases, as well as any financial information and earnings guidance to be provided to analysts and rating agencies.

 

At least annually, obtain and review a report by the independent auditor describing: (i) the audit 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 (iii) 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 audit firm, and any steps taken to deal with any such issues described in the report.

 

Receive, review and discuss quarterly reports from the independent auditors on (i) the Company’s major critical accounting policies and practices; (ii) significant alternative treatments of financial information within GAAP or IFRS that have been discussed with management; (iii) ramifications of the use of such alternative disclosures and treatments; (iv) any treatments preferred by the independent auditors; and (v) other material written communications between the independent auditors and management, such as any management letter or schedule of unadjusted differences.

 

Review on a regular basis with the Company’s independent auditors any problems or difficulties encountered by the independent auditors in the course of any audit work, including management’s response with respect thereto, any restrictions on the scope of the independent auditors’ activities or on access to requested information, and any significant disagreements with management; and ensure the resolution of any disagreements between management and the independent auditors regarding financial reporting.

 

4

 

 

Review disclosures regarding the Company’s internal controls that are required to be included in SEC reports.

 

Discuss with management and the independent auditors any correspondence with regulators or governmental agencies and any published reports that raise material issues regarding the Company’s financial statements or accounting policies.

 

Discuss with management earnings press releases and financial information and earnings guidance to be provided to analysts and rating agencies, including any proposed use of “pro forma” or “adjusted” non- GAAP and non-IFRS information.

 

Oversight of the Company’s Internal Control Function

 

Review the adequacy and effectiveness of the Company’s internal control policies and procedures on a regular basis, including the responsibilities, budget and staffing of the Company’s internal audit and control function, as well as the need for any special audit procedures in response to material control deficiencies, through inquiry and discussions with the Company’s independent auditors and management.

 

Review the reports prepared by management, assessing the adequacy and effectiveness of the Company’s internal controls and procedures, prior to the inclusion of such reports in the Company’s periodic filings as required under SEC rules.

 

Compliance Oversight Responsibilities

 

Discuss and review guidelines and policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management, including the Company’s insurance coverage from time to time.

 

Discuss with the Company’s chief legal officer legal matters that may have a material impact on the financial statements or the Company’s compliance procedures.

 

Establish procedures for receiving, retaining and treating complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters and procedures for the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.

 

Review, approve and monitor the Company’s code of ethics applicable to its senior financial officers.

 

Review any conflicts of interest and related party transactions to assess an impact on the Company’s internal controls or financial reporting and disclosure.

 

The Audit Committee shall have the authority to engage independent counsel and other advisers, as it determines necessary, to carry out its duties. The Company shall provide for appropriate funding, as determined by the Audit Committee, for payment of (i) compensation to the independent auditors engaged for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit review or attest services for the Company, (ii) compensation to any advisers employed by the Audit Committee and (iii) ordinary administrative expenses of the Audit Committee that are necessary or appropriate for carrying out its duties.

 

5

EX-99.2 24 fs12021a1ex99-2_aquarius1.htm FORM OF NOMINATING COMMITTEE CHARTER

Exhibit 99.2

 

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND NOMINATING COMMITTEE CHARTER
OF

AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.

 

Adopted: [____], 2021

 

The responsibilities and powers of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Aquarius I Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”), as delegated by the Board, are set forth in this charter (this “Charter”). Whenever the Committee takes action, it shall exercise its independent judgment on an informed basis that the action is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.

 

I. PURPOSE

 

The Committee is established to help ensure that the Board is properly constituted to meet its fiduciary obligations to shareholders and the Company and that the Company has and follows appropriate corporate governance practices and standards.

 

II. COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

 

The Committee will consist of at least three members of the Board. The members of the Committee shall be appointed by and serve at the discretion of the Board.

 

Each member shall meet the independence and experience requirements and standards established from time to time to time by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and any securities exchange on which the Company’s securities are listed or quoted for trading, in each case as amended from time to time.

 

The Board shall designate one member of the Committee as its chairperson.

 

III. MEETINGS AND PROCEDURES

 

The Committee shall meet at such times as it deems necessary to fulfill its responsibilities, but not less frequently than annually. Meetings of the Committee shall be called by a majority of the members of the Committee upon such notice as is provided for in the Company’s charter documents with respect to meetings of the Board. A majority of the Committee members shall constitute a quorum. Actions of the Committee may be taken in person at a meeting or in writing without a meeting. Actions taken at a meeting, to be valid, shall require the approval of a majority of the members of the Committee present and voting. Actions taken in writing, to be valid, shall be signed by all members of the Committee. The Committee will maintain written minutes of its meetings, which minutes will be filed with the minutes of the meetings of the Board.

 

The Committee may form subcommittees for any purpose that the Committee deems appropriate and may delegate to such subcommittees such power and authority as the Committee deems appropriate. The Committee shall not delegate to a subcommittee any power or authority required by law, regulation or listing standard to be exercised by the Committee as a whole.

 

 

 

 

IV. COMMITTEE AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITIES

 

To the extent it deems necessary or appropriate, the Committee shall perform the following:

 

Board Composition, Evaluation and Nominating Activities

 

Making recommendations to the Board regarding the size and composition of the Board, establishing procedures for the nomination process and screen and recommending candidates for election to the Board.

 

Recommending for approval by the Board on an annual basis desired qualifications and characteristics for Board membership and with corresponding attributes. Generally, persons to be nominated should (i) have demonstrated notable or significant achievements in business, education or public service; (ii) possess the requisite intelligence, education and experience to make a significant contribution to the Board and bring a range of skills, diverse perspectives and backgrounds to its deliberations; and (iii) have the highest ethical standards, a strong sense of professionalism and intense dedication to serving the interests of the shareholders.

 

Establishing and administering a periodic assessment procedure relating to the performance of the Board as a whole and its individual members.

 

Corporate Governance Generally

 

Developing and recommending to the Board a set of corporate governance principles and practices.

 

Reviewing periodically the Company’s corporate governance principles and practices, the Company’s compliance with these principles and practices, and recommend changes, as appropriate.

 

Overseeing the evaluation of the Company’s management.

 

Overseeing, reviewing and reporting to the Board regarding the Company’s succession planning for the Board, senior management and other key employees.

 

Periodically reviewing and reassessing the adequacy and scope of this Charter and the Committee’s established processes and procedures and recommending any proposed changes to the Board for approval.

 

In performing its responsibilities, the Committee shall have the authority to hire and obtain advice, reports or opinions from internal or external counsel and expert advisors, including search firms, and to set the terms and fees for any such counsel and advisors.

 

 

EX-99.3 25 fs12021a1ex99-3_aquarius1.htm FORM OF COMPENSATION COMMITTEE CHARTER

Exhibit 99.3

 

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE CHARTER
OF
AQUARIUS I ACQUISITION CORP.

 

Adopted: [___], 2021

 

The responsibilities and powers of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Aquarius I Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”), as delegated by the Board, are set forth in this charter (this “Charter”). Whenever the Compensation Committee takes an action, it shall exercise its independent judgment on an informed basis that the action is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.

 

I. PURPOSE

 

The purpose of the Compensation Committee shall be to assist the Board in determining the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer, the chairman of the Board, the Chief Financial Officer and other executive officers of the Company (collectively, the “Executives”) and make recommendations to the Board with respect to the compensation of the non-Executive officers of the Company and the independent directors.

 

II. COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

 

The Compensation Committee shall consist of at least three members of the Board. Each member shall meet the independence and experience requirements and standards established from time to time to time by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and any securities exchange on which the Company’s securities are listed or quoted for trading, in each case as amended from time to time. In addition, each member must qualify as a “Non-Employee Director” under Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and satisfy the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code for “outside directors,” and any other regulatory requirements.

 

The Board shall elect the members of the Compensation Committee at the first Board meeting practicable and may make changes from time to time pursuant to the provisions below. The members of the Compensation Committee shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualify. Unless a chairman of the Compensation Committee (the “Chairman”) is elected by the Board or by a majority of the members of the Compensation Committee, no chairman of the Compensation Committee shall be designated. If appointed by the Board or the members of the Compensation Committee, the Chairman shall be a member of the Compensation Committee and, if present, shall preside at each meeting of the Compensation Committee. The Chairman shall perform such duties as may from time to time be assigned to the Chairman by the Compensation Committee or the Board.

 

A Compensation Committee member may resign by delivering his or her written resignation to the chairman of the Board, or may be removed by majority vote of the Board by delivery to such member of written notice of removal, to take effect at a date specified therein, or upon delivery of such written notice to such member if no date is specified. The Board shall have the power at any time to fill vacancies in the Compensation Committee, subject to such new member(s) satisfying the above requirements.

 

 

 

 

III. MEETINGS AND COMMITTEE ACTION

 

The Compensation Committee shall meet at such times as it deems necessary to fulfill its responsibilities, but not less frequently than annually. Meetings of the Compensation Committee shall be called by a majority of the members of the Compensation Committee upon such notice as is provided for in the Company’s charter documents with respect to meetings of the Board. A majority of the Compensation Committee members shall constitute a quorum. Actions of the Compensation Committee may be taken in person at a meeting or in writing without a meeting. Actions taken at a meeting, to be valid, shall require the approval of a majority of the members of the Compensation Committee present and voting. Actions taken in writing, to be valid, shall be signed by all members of the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee shall report its minutes from each meeting to the Board.

 

A majority of the members of the Compensation Committee may establish, consistent with the requirements of this Charter, such rules as may from time to time be necessary or appropriate for the conduct of the business of the Compensation Committee. At each meeting, a majority of the members of the Compensation Committee shall appoint as secretary a person who may, but need not, be a member of the Compensation Committee. A certificate of the secretary of the Compensation Committee or minutes of a meeting of the Compensation Committee executed by the secretary setting forth the names of the members of the Compensation Committee present at the meeting or actions taken by the Compensation Committee at the meeting shall be sufficient evidence at all times as to the members of the Compensation Committee who were present, or such actions taken.

 

The Compensation Committee shall have the authority to delegate any of its responsibilities to subcommittees as it may deem appropriate in its sole discretion. The Chief Executive Officer of the Company may not be present during voting or deliberations of the Compensation Committee with respect to his compensation.

 

IV. COMMITTEE AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITIES

 

The Compensation Committee shall have the following authority and responsibilities:

 

  At least annually review the Company’s corporate goals and objectives relevant to the Executives’ compensation; evaluate the Executives’ performance in light of such goals and objectives; and, either as a Compensation Committee or, together with the other independent directors (as directed by the Board), determine and approve the Executives’ compensation level based on this evaluation (and Chief Executive Officer may not be present during voting or deliberations on his or her compensation). In determining the long-term incentive component of the Executives’ compensation, the Compensation Committee will consider the Company’s performance, the value of similar incentive awards to the Executives at comparable companies, the awards given to the Executives in past years and any relevant legal requirements and associated guidance of the applicable law.

 

2

 

 

  At least annually review and make recommendations to the Board with respect to director compensation to assist the Board in making the final determination as to director compensation.

 

  Attempt to ensure that the Company’s compensation program is effective in attracting and retaining key employees, reinforce business strategies and objectives for enhanced shareholder value, and administer the compensation program in a fair and equitable manner consistent with established policies and guidelines.

 

  Administer the Company’s incentive-compensation plans and equity-based plans, insofar as provided therein.

 

  Make recommendations to the Board regarding approval, disapproval, modification, or termination of existing or proposed employee benefit plans.

 

  Approve any share option award or any other type of award as may be required for complying with any tax, securities, or other regulatory requirement, or otherwise determined to be appropriate or desirable by the Compensation Committee or Board.

 

  Approve the policy for authorizing claims for expenses from the Executives.

 

  

Retain or obtain the advice of a compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser, in the sole discretion of the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee shall be directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the work of any compensation consultant, legal counsel and other adviser retained by the Compensation Committee. The Company shall provide for appropriate funding, as determined by the compensation committee, for payment of reasonable compensation to a compensation consultant, legal counsel or any other adviser retained by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee shall have sole authority to approve related fees and retention terms.

 

  Review and approve the compensation disclosure and analysis prepared by the Company’s management, as required to be included in the Company’s proxy statement or annual report, or equivalent, filed with the SEC.

 

  

Review and assess the adequacy of this charter annually.

 

3

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