RF Acquisition Corp II
For the period ended Dec 31, 2025. Filed Feb 11, 2026.
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FY2025 · Filed Feb 11, 2026
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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
You should consider carefully all of the risks described below, together with the other information contained in this Form 10-K, before making a decision to invest in our securities. This Form 10-K 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.
We are a Cayman Islands exempted company with no operating results, and we did not commence operations until obtaining funding through the Initial Public Offering. Because we lack an operating history, you have no basis upon which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective of completing our Business Combination with one or more target businesses. We have no plans, arrangements or understandings with any prospective target business concerning a Business Combination and may be unable to complete our Business Combination. If we fail to complete our Business Combination, we will never generate any operating revenues.
As of December 31, 2025, we had working capital deficit of $567,649. Further, we expect to incur significant costs in pursuit of our acquisition plans. Management’s plans to address this need for capital are discussed in the section of this Form 10-K titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” Our plans to raise capital and to consummate our Business Combination may not be successful. These factors, among others, raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements contained elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K do not include any adjustments that might result from our inability to continue as a going concern.
Our Public Shareholders may not be afforded an opportunity to vote on our proposed Business Combination, which means we may complete our Business Combination even though a majority of our Public Shareholders do not support such a combination.
We may not hold a shareholder vote at a general meeting to approve our Business Combination unless the Business Combination would require shareholder approval under applicable law or stock exchange listing requirements or if we decide to hold a shareholder vote at a general meeting for business or other legal reasons. Except as required by law, 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 (and thereby avoid the need for a shareholder vote), 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. Accordingly, we may complete our Business Combination even if holders of a majority of our Public Shares do not approve of the Business Combination we complete. Please see the section of this Form 10-K entitled*“Business - Shareholders May Not Have the Ability to Approve our Initial Business Combination”* for additional information.
If we seek shareholder approval of our Business Combination, our Initial Shareholders have agreed to vote in favor of such Business Combination, regardless of how our Public Shareholders vote.
Unlike some other blank check companies in which the Initial Shareholders agree to vote their Founder Shares in accordance with the majority of the votes cast by the Public Shareholders in connection with a Business Combination, our Initial Shareholders have agreed, subject to applicable securities laws, to vote their Founder Shares and Private Shares, as well as any Public Shares purchased in or after the Initial Public Offering, in favor of our Business Combination.
As a result, in addition to our Initial Shareholders’ Founder Shares and Private Shares, we would need 908,603 or 8%, of the 11,500,000 Public Shares sold in the Initial Public Offering to be voted in favor of a Business Combination in order to have our Business Combination approved (assuming all outstanding shares are voted, including the EBC Founder Shares and Private Shares) or (ii) none of the 11,500,000 Public Shares sold in the Initial Public Offering, to be voted in favor of a Business Combination in order to have our Business Combination approved (assuming that only the minimum number of shares representing a quorum are voted). Our Founder Shares and Private Shares represented 23.4% of our outstanding Ordinary Shares immediately following the completion of the Initial Public Offering (including the over-allotment). Accordingly, if we seek shareholder approval of our Business Combination, it is more likely that the necessary shareholder approval will be received than would be the case if our Initial Shareholders agreed to vote their Founder Shares and Private Shares in accordance with the majority of the votes cast by our Public Shareholders.
The ability of our Public Shareholders to exercise redemption rights with respect to a large number of our shares could increase the probability that our Business Combination would be unsuccessful and that you would have to wait for liquidation in order to redeem your shares.
If the agreement for our Business Combination requires us to use a portion of the cash in the Trust Account to pay the purchase price or requires us to have a minimum amount of cash at closing, the probability that our Business Combination would be unsuccessful is increased. If our Business Combination is unsuccessful, you would not receive your pro rata portion of the Trust Account until we liquidate the Trust Account. If you are in need of immediate liquidity, you could attempt to sell your share in the open market; however, at such time our shares may trade at a discount to the pro rata amount per share in the Trust Account. In either situation, you may suffer a material loss on your investment or lose the benefit of funds expected in connection with our redemption until we liquidate or you are able to sell your shares in the open market.
Our search for a Business Combination, and any target business with which we ultimately consummate a Business Combination, may be materially adversely affected by new outbreaks, or continuation of any existing outbreaks, of any infectious disease (such as COVID-19) and other events, and the status of debt and equity markets.
Any new outbreaks, or continuation of any existing outbreaks, of any infectious disease (such as COVID-19) or other events (such as terrorist attacks, armed conflicts or natural disasters) could adversely affect the economies and financial markets worldwide, and the business of any potential target business with which we consummate a Business Combination could be materially and adversely affected. Furthermore, we may be unable to complete a Business Combination if concerns relating to any outbreak of a disease restricts travel or limits the ability to have meetings with potential investors or the target company’s personnel, vendors and services providers. The extent to which any new outbreak or the continuation of any existing situation impacts our search for a Business Combination will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted. If any such event (such as terrorist attacks, natural disasters or a significant outbreak of other infectious diseases) continues for an extensive period of time, our ability to consummate a Business Combination, or the operations of a target business with which we ultimately consummate a Business Combination, may be materially adversely affected.
Our search for a Business Combination, and any target business with which we may ultimately consummate a Business Combination, may be materially adversely affected by current global geopolitical conditions resulting from the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and the recent escalation of the conflict in the Middle East and Southwest Asia.
Any of the abovementioned factors, or any other negative impact on the global economy, capital markets or other geopolitical conditions resulting from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East and Southwest Asia and subsequent sanctions or related actions, could have a lasting impact on regional and global economies and could adversely affect our search for a Business Combination and any target business with which we may ultimately consummate a Business Combination.
The extent and duration of the ongoing conflicts, resulting sanctions and any related market disruptions are impossible to predict, but could be substantial, particularly if current or new sanctions continue for an extended period of time or if geopolitical tensions result in expanded military operations on a global scale. Any such disruptions may also have the effect of heightening many of the other risks described in this section. If these disruptions or other matters of global concern continue for an extensive period of time, our ability to consummate a Business Combination, or the operations of a target business with which we may ultimately consummate a Business Combination, may be materially adversely affected.
Military or other conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East and Southwest Asia or elsewhere and other disruptions to the equity or debt capital markets, may lead to increased volume and price volatility for publicly traded securities, or affect the operations or financial condition of potential target companies, which could make it more difficult for us to consummate a Business Combination.
Military or other conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East, Southwest Asia or elsewhere and other disruptions to the equity or debt capital markets, may lead to increased volume and price volatility for publicly traded securities, or affect the operations or financial condition of potential target companies, and to other company or industry-specific, national, regional or international economic disruptions and economic uncertainty, any of which could make it more difficult for us to identify a Business Combination target and consummate a Business Combination on acceptable commercial terms, or at all.
As the number of special purpose acquisition companies evaluating targets increases, attractive targets may become scarcer and there may be more competition for attractive targets. This could increase the cost of our Business Combination and could even result in our inability to find a target or to consummate a Business Combination.
Since the fourth quarter of 2020, the number of special purpose acquisition companies that have completed initial public offerings has increased substantially. Many potential targets for special purpose acquisition companies have already entered into a Business Combination, and there are still many special purpose acquisition companies seeking targets for their initial business combination, as well as many such companies currently in registration. As a result, at times, fewer attractive targets may be available, and it may require more time, more effort and more resources to identify a suitable target and to consummate a Business Combination.
In addition, because there are more special purpose acquisition companies seeking to enter into a business combination with available targets, the competition for available targets with attractive fundamentals or business models may increase, which could cause targets companies to demand improved financial terms. Attractive deals could also become scarcer for other reasons, such as economic or industry sector downturns, geopolitical tensions, or increases in the cost of additional capital needed to close business combinations or operate targets post-business combination. This could increase the cost of, delay or otherwise complicate or frustrate our ability to find and consummate a Business Combination, and may result in our inability to consummate a Business Combination on terms favorable to our investors.
If our Business Combination involves a company organized under the laws of a state of the United States, it is possible a 1% U.S. federal excise tax will be imposed on us in connection with redemptions of our Ordinary Shares after or in connection with such Business Combination.
On August 16, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 became law in the United States, which, among other things, imposes a 1% excise tax on the fair market value of certain repurchases (including certain redemptions) of shares by publicly traded domestic (i.e., United States) corporations (and certain non-U.S. corporations treated as “surrogate foreign corporations”). The excise tax will apply to share repurchases occurring in 2023 and beyond. The amount of the excise tax is generally 1% of the fair market value of the shares repurchased at the time of the repurchase. The U.S. Department of the Treasury has been given authority to provide regulations and other guidance to carry out, and prevent the abuse or avoidance of, the excise tax. For instance, the U.S. Department of the Treasury recently issued guidance clarifying when certain repurchases would be exempt from the excise tax, such as where the repurchases occur in the same year that the repurchasing company undertakes a complete liquidation (as described in Section 331 of the Internal Revenue Code). However, only limited guidance has been issued to date.
As an entity incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company, the 1% excise tax is not expected to apply to redemptions of our Ordinary Shares, including redemptions related to extension votes, in a Business Combination in which we remain a Cayman Islands exempted company or otherwise (absent any regulations and other additional guidance that may be issued in the future with retroactive effect). However, in connection with a Business Combination involving a company organized under the laws of the United States, it is possible that we domesticate and continue as a U.S. corporation prior to certain redemptions and, because our securities are trading on Nasdaq, it is possible that we will be subject to the excise tax with respect to any subsequent redemptions, including redemptions related to extension votes or in connection with the Business Combination, that are treated as repurchases for this purpose (other than, pursuant to recently issued guidance from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, redemptions in complete liquidation of the Company). In all cases, the extent of the excise tax that may be incurred will depend on a number of factors, including the fair market value of our shares redeemed, the extent such redemptions could be treated as dividends and not repurchases, and the content of any regulations and other additional guidance from the U.S. Department of the Treasury that may be issued and applicable to the redemptions. Issuances of shares by a repurchasing company in a year in which such company repurchases shares may reduce the amount of excise tax imposed with respect to such repurchase. The excise tax is imposed on the repurchasing company itself, not the shareholders from which shares are repurchased. The imposition of the excise tax as a result of redemptions in connection with the Business Combination or in connection with any extension of time to consummate a Business Combination could, however, reduce the amount of cash available to pay redemptions or reduce the cash contribution to the target business in connection with our Business Combination, which could cause the other shareholders of the combined company to economically bear the impact of such excise tax.
If we are 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 Form 10-K captioned “Taxation - United States Federal Income Tax Considerations - U.S. Holders”) of our Ordinary Shares or Rights, the U.S. Holder may be subject to adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences and may be subject to additional reporting requirements. Our PFIC status for our current and subsequent taxable years may depend on whether we qualify for the PFIC start-up exception (see the section of this Annual Report on Form 10-K captioned “Taxation -United States Federal Income Tax Considerations - U.S. Holders - Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules”). Depending on the particular circumstances the application of the start-up exception may be subject to uncertainty, and there cannot be any assurance that we will qualify for the start-up exception. Accordingly, there can be no assurances with respect to our status as a PFIC for our current taxable year or any subsequent taxable year. Our actual PFIC status for any taxable year, however, will not be determinable until after the end of such taxable year. Moreover, if we determine we are a PFIC for any taxable year, upon written request, we will endeavor to provide to a U.S. Holder such information as the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) may require, including a PFIC annual information statement, in order to enable the U.S. Holder to make and maintain a “qualified electing fund” election, but there can be no assurance that we will timely provide such required information, and such election would likely be unavailable with respect to our rights in all cases. We urge U.S. investors to consult their own tax advisors regarding the possible application of the PFIC rules. For a more detailed explanation of the tax consequences of PFIC classification to U.S. Holders, see the section of this Form 10-K captioned “Taxation - United States Federal Income Tax Considerations - U.S. Holders - Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules.”
An investment in the Initial Public Offering may result in uncertain U.S. federal income tax consequences.
An investment in the Initial Public Offering may result in uncertain U.S. federal income tax consequences. For instance, because there are no authorities that directly address instruments similar to the Units we issued in the Initial Public Offering, the allocation an investor makes with respect to the purchase price of a Unit between the Ordinary Share and the Right included in each Unit could be challenged by the IRS or courts. In addition, it is unclear whether the redemption rights with respect to our Ordinary Shares suspend the running of a U.S. Holder’s (as defined in section titled “Taxation - United States Federal Income Tax Considerations - U.S. Holders”) holding period for purposes of determining whether any gain or loss realized by such holder on the sale or exchange of Ordinary Shares is long-term capital gain or loss and for determining whether any dividend we pay would be considered “qualified dividend income” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. See the section titled “Taxation - United States Federal Income Tax Considerations” for a summary of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations of an investment in our securities. Investors are urged to consult their tax advisors with respect to these and other tax consequences when acquiring, owning or disposing of our securities.
Changes in the market for directors and officers liability insurance could make it more difficult and more expensive for us to negotiate and complete a Business Combination.
The market for directors and officers liability insurance for special purpose acquisition companies is subject to continual change. For instance, the premiums charged for such policies in recent years have generally increased and the terms of such policies have generally become less favorable. There can be no assurance that these trends will not continue.
The increased cost of directors and officers liability insurance could make it more difficult and more expensive for us to negotiate a Business Combination. In order to obtain directors and officers liability insurance or modify coverage as a result of becoming a public company, the post-Business Combination entity may need to incur greater expense, accept less favorable terms or both. Any failure to obtain adequate directors and officers liability insurance could have an adverse impact on the post-Business Combination’s ability to attract and retain qualified officers and directors.
In addition, even after we were to complete a Business Combination, our directors and officers could still be subject to potential liability from claims arising from conduct alleged to have occurred prior to the Business Combination. As a result, in order to protect our directors and officers, the post-Business Combination entity may need to purchase additional insurance with respect to any such claims (“run-off insurance”). The cost of run-off insurance would be an added expense for the post-Business Combination entity, and could interfere with or frustrate our ability to consummate a Business Combination on terms favorable to our investors.
The requirement that we complete our Business Combination within the prescribed time frame may give potential target businesses leverage over us in negotiating a Business Combination and may decrease our ability to conduct due diligence on potential Business Combination targets as we approach our dissolution deadline, which could undermine our ability to complete our Business Combination on terms that would produce value for our shareholders.
Any potential target business with which we enter into negotiations concerning a Business Combination will be aware that we must complete our Business Combination within 27 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering. Consequently, such target business may obtain leverage over us in negotiating a Business Combination, knowing that if we do not complete our Business Combination with that particular target business, we may be unable to complete our Business Combination with any other target business. This risk will increase as we get closer to the timeframe described above. In addition, we may have limited time to conduct due diligence and may enter into our Business Combination on terms that we would have rejected upon a more comprehensive investigation.
We may not be able to complete our Business Combination within the prescribed time frame, in which case we would cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up and we would redeem our Public Shares and liquidate, in which case our Public Shareholders may only receive $10.05 per share, or less than such amount in certain circumstances, and our Rights will expire worthless.
Our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association (as amended) provides that we must complete our Business Combination within 27 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering. We may not be able to find a suitable target business and complete our Business Combination within such time period. Our ability to complete our Business Combination may be negatively impacted by general market conditions, volatility in the capital and debt markets and the other risks described herein. If we have not completed our Business Combination within such time period, we will: (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, 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 taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay liquidation and dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares, which redemption will completely extinguish Public Shareholders’ rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining shareholders and our board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to our obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. In such case, our Public Shareholders may only receive $10.05 per share or less in certain circumstances, and our Rights will expire worthless. In certain circumstances, our Public Shareholders may receive less than $10.05 per share on the redemption of their shares. See “- If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the Trust Account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by shareholders may be less than $10.05 per share” and other risk factors in this section.
If we seek shareholder approval of our Business Combination, our Initial Shareholders and their affiliates may elect to purchase shares or Rights from Public Shareholders, which may make it more likely that we are able to consummate such Business Combination or reduce the public “float” of our Ordinary Shares or Rights.
If we seek shareholder approval of our Business Combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our Business Combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our Sponsor, directors, executive officers, advisors or any of their affiliates may purchase Public Shares or Rights in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market prior to the completion of our Business Combination, although they are under no obligation or duty to do so. Any price paid for such securities may be less (but not more) than the amount a public shareholder would receive if it elected to redeem its shares in connection with our Business Combination. In the event that our Sponsor, directors, executive officers, advisors or any of their affiliates purchase shares in privately negotiated transactions from Public Shareholders who have already elected to exercise their redemption rights, such selling shareholders would be required to revoke their prior elections to redeem their shares.
Additionally, at any time at or prior to our Business Combination, subject to applicable securities laws (including with respect to material nonpublic information), our Sponsor, directors, executive officers, advisors or any of their affiliates may enter into transactions with investors and others to provide them with incentives to acquire Public Shares or Rights or not redeem their Public Shares. However, they have no current commitments, plans or intentions to engage in such transactions and have not formulated any terms or conditions for any such transactions. None of the funds in the Trust Account will be used to purchase securities in such transactions.
The purpose of any such transactions could be to (1) decrease the number of shares to be redeemed thereby leaving more cash available for the post-combination company or (2) satisfy a closing condition in an agreement with a target that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash at the closing of our Business Combination, where it appears that such requirement would otherwise not be met. Any such purchases of our securities may result in the completion of our Business Combination that may not otherwise have been possible.
See “Business - Permitted Purchases of Our Securities” for a description of how our Sponsor, directors, executive officers, advisors or their affiliates will select which shareholders to purchase securities from in any private transaction.
We will comply with the tender offer rules or proxy rules, as applicable, when conducting redemptions in connection with our Business Combination. Despite our compliance with these rules, if a shareholder fails to receive our tender offer or proxy materials, as applicable, such shareholder may not become aware of the opportunity to redeem its shares. In addition, the tender offer documents or proxy materials, as applicable, that we will furnish to holders of our Public Shares in connection with our Business Combination will describe the various procedures that must be complied with in order to validly tender or redeem Public Shares. For example, we may require our Public Shareholders seeking to exercise their redemption rights, whether they are record holders or hold their shares in “street name,” to either tender their certificates to our transfer agent prior to the date set forth in the tender offer documents mailed to such holders, or up to two business days prior to the vote on the proposal to approve the Business Combination in the event we distribute proxy materials, or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically. In the event that a shareholder fails to comply with these or any other procedures, its shares may not be redeemed. See the section of this Form 10-K entitled*“Business - Redemption Rights for Public Shareholders upon Completion of our Initial Business Combination - Tendering Share Certificates in Connection with a Tender Offer or Redemption Rights.”*
Our Public Shareholders will be entitled to receive funds from the Trust Account only upon the earliest to occur of: (i) our completion of a Business Combination, and then only in connection with those Public Shares that such shareholder properly elected to redeem, subject to the limitations described in this Form 10-K, (ii) the redemption of any Public Shares properly submitted in connection with a shareholder vote to further amend our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association (A) to modify the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our Business Combination or to redeem 100% of our Public Shares if we do not complete our Business Combination within 27 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-Business Combination activity and (iii) the redemption of our Public Shares if we are unable to complete a Business Combination within 27 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering, subject to applicable law and as further described herein. In addition, if we are unable to complete a Business Combination within 27 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering, for any reason, compliance with Cayman Islands law may require that we submit a plan of dissolution to our then-existing shareholders for approval prior to the distribution of the proceeds held in our Trust Account. In that case, Public Shareholders may be forced to wait beyond the 27 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering before they receive funds from our Trust Account. In no other circumstances will a public shareholder have any right or interest of any kind in the Trust Account. Accordingly, to liquidate your investment, you may be forced to sell your Public Shares or Rights, potentially at a loss.
Since the net proceeds of the Initial Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Units are intended to be used to complete a Business Combination with a target business that has not been selected, we may be deemed to be a “blank check” company under the United States securities laws. However, because we have net tangible assets in excess of $5,000,000, we are exempt from rules promulgated by the SEC to protect investors in blank check companies, such as Rule 419. Accordingly, investors will not be afforded the benefits or protections of those rules. Among other things, this means our Units will be immediately tradable as opposed to companies subject to Rule 419. Moreover, if the Initial Public Offering were subject to Rule 419, that rule would prohibit the release of any interest earned on funds held in the Trust Account to us unless and until the funds in the Trust Account were released to us in connection with our completion of a Business Combination. For a more detailed comparison of our offering to offerings that comply with Rule 419, please see the section of this Annual Report on Form 10-K entitled*“Business - Comparison of The Initial Public Offering to Those of Blank Check Companies Subject to Rule 419.”*
If we seek shareholder approval of our Business Combination and we do not conduct redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules, and if you or a “group” of shareholders are deemed to hold in excess of 15% of our Ordinary Shares, you will lose the ability to redeem all such shares in excess of 15% of our Ordinary Shares.
If we seek shareholder approval of our Business Combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our Business Combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association provides that a public shareholder, together with any affiliate of such shareholder or any other person with whom such shareholder is acting in concert or as a “group” (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act), will be restricted from seeking redemption rights with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% of the shares sold in the Initial Public Offering, which we refer to as the “excess shares.” However, our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association does not restrict our shareholders’ ability to vote all of their shares (including excess shares) for or against our Business Combination. Your inability to redeem the excess shares will reduce your influence over our ability to complete our Business Combination. Accordingly, you will continue to hold that number of shares exceeding 15% and, in order to dispose of such shares, would be required to sell your shares in open market transactions, potentially at a loss.
Because of our limited resources and the significant competition for business combination opportunities, it may be more difficult for us to complete our Business Combination. If we are unable to complete our Business Combination, our Public Shareholders may receive only approximately $10.05 per share on our redemption of our Public Shares, or less than such amount in certain circumstances, and our Rights will expire worthless.
If we are unable to complete our Business Combination, our Public Shareholders may receive only approximately $10.05 per share, or less in certain circumstances, on the liquidation of our Trust Account and our Rights will expire worthless. In certain circumstances, our Public Shareholders may receive less than $10.05 per share upon our liquidation. See “- If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the Trust Account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by shareholders may be less than $10.05 per share” and other risk factors in this section.
If the net proceeds of the Initial Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Units not being held in the Trust Account are insufficient to allow us to operate for at least 27 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering, we may be unable to complete our Business Combination, in which case our Public Shareholders may only receive $10.05 per share, or less than such amount in certain circumstances, and our Rights will expire worthless.
We believe that the funds available to us outside of the Trust Account will be sufficient to allow us to operate for at least 27 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering; however, we cannot assure you that our estimate is accurate. If the available funds are not sufficient, we might not have sufficient funds to continue searching for, or conduct due diligence with respect to, a target business and we may be forced to liquidate. If we are unable to complete our Business Combination, our Public Shareholders may receive only approximately $10.05 per share or less in certain circumstances on the liquidation of our Trust Account and our Rights will expire worthless. In certain circumstances, our Public Shareholders may receive less than $10.05 per share upon our liquidation. See “- If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the Trust Account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by shareholders may be less than $10.05 per share” and other risk factors in this section.
If the net proceeds of the Initial Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Units not being held in the Trust Account are insufficient, it could limit the amount available to fund our search for a target business or businesses and complete our Business Combination and we will depend on loans from our Initial Shareholders or Management Team to fund our search for a Business Combination and to complete our Business Combination. If we are unable to obtain these loans, we may be unable to complete our Business Combination.
Of the net proceeds of the Initial Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Units, only approximately $750,000 was initially available to us from outside the Trust Account to fund our working capital requirements. In the event that our offering expenses exceed $750,000 (excluding underwriting discount), we may fund such excess with funds not to be held in the Trust Account. In such case, the amount of funds we intend to be held outside the Trust Account would decrease by a corresponding amount. If we are required to seek additional capital, we would need to borrow funds from
our Initial Shareholders or their affiliates to operate, or we may be forced to liquidate. None of our Initial Shareholders nor any of their affiliates is under any obligation to advance funds to us in such circumstances. Any such advances would be repaid only from funds held outside the Trust Account or from funds released to us upon completion of our Business Combination. We do not expect to seek loans from parties other than our Initial Shareholders or their affiliates as we do not believe third parties will be willing to loan such funds and provide a waiver against any and all rights to seek access to funds in our Trust Account. If we are unable to obtain these loans, we may be unable to complete our Business Combination. If we are unable to complete our Business Combination because we do not have sufficient funds available to us, we will be forced to cease operations and liquidate the Trust Account. Consequently, our Public Shareholders may only receive approximately $10.05 per share on our redemption of our Public Shares, and our Rights will expire worthless. In certain circumstances, our Public Shareholders may receive less than $10.05 per share on the redemption of their shares. See “- If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the Trust Account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by shareholders may be less than $10.05 per share” and other risk factors in this section.
Our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association (as amended) does not provide a specified maximum redemption threshold. As a result, we may be able to complete our Business Combination even though a substantial majority of our Public Shareholders have redeemed their shares.
Upon redemption of our Public Shares, if we are unable to complete our Business Combination within the prescribed timeframe, or upon the exercise of a redemption right in connection with our Business Combination, we will be required to provide for payment of claims of creditors that were not waived that may be brought against us within the 10 years following redemption. Accordingly, the per-share redemption amount received by Public Shareholders could be less than the $10.05 per share initially held in the Trust Account, due to claims of such creditors. Our Sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by a vendor for services rendered or products sold to us, or a prospective target business with which we have discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the Trust Account to below (i) $10.05 per public share or (ii) such lesser amount per public share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation of the Trust Account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes. This liability will not apply with respect 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 our indemnity of the underwriters of the Initial Public Offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Moreover, in the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, then our Sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third-party claims. We have not 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. We have not asked our Sponsor to reserve for such
indemnification obligations. Therefore, we believe it is unlikely that our Sponsor would be able to satisfy those obligations. As a result, if any such claims were successfully made against the Trust Account, the funds available for our Business Combination and redemptions could be reduced to less than $10.05 per public share. In such event, we may not be able to complete our Business Combination, and you would receive such lesser amount per share in connection with any redemption of your Public Shares. None of our officers or directors are required to indemnify us for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target businesses.
Because we are not limited to a particular industry, sector, or geographic region in which to pursue our Business Combination, you will be unable to ascertain the merits or risks of any particular target business’ operations.
Past performance by our Management Team, our advisors and our Initial Shareholders may not be indicative of future performance of an investment in us.
Information regarding performance by, or businesses associated with our Management Team and our Initial Shareholders and their affiliates is presented for informational purposes only. Past performance by our Management Team and our Initial Shareholders is not a guarantee either (i) that we will be able to locate a suitable candidate for our Business Combination or (ii) of success with respect to any Business Combination we may consummate. The majority of our officers, directors and advisors have not had management experience with special purpose acquisition companies in the past. You should not rely on the historical record of our Management Team’s, our advisors’ or our Initial Shareholders’ respective performance as indicative of our future performance of an investment in us or the returns we will, or are likely to, generate going forward.
We will consider a Business Combination outside of our Management’s area of expertise if a Business Combination candidate is presented to us and we determine that such candidate offers an attractive acquisition opportunity for our Company. In the event we elect to pursue an acquisition outside of the areas of our Management’s expertise, our Management’s expertise may not be directly applicable to its evaluation or operation, and the information contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K regarding the areas of our Management’s expertise would not be relevant to an understanding of the business that we elect to acquire. As a result, our Management may not be able to adequately ascertain or assess all the significant risk factors. Accordingly, any shareholders who choose to remain shareholders following our Business Combination could suffer a reduction in the value of their shares.
Although we have identified general criteria and guidelines that we believe are important in evaluating prospective target businesses, we may enter into our Business Combination with a target that does not meet such criteria and guidelines, and as a result, the target business with which we enter into our Business Combination may not have attributes entirely consistent with our general criteria and guidelines.
Although we have identified general criteria and guidelines for evaluating prospective target businesses, it is possible that a target business with which we enter into our Business Combination will not have all of these positive attributes. If we complete our Business Combination with a target that does not meet some or all of these criteria and guidelines, such combination may not be as successful as a combination with a business that does meet all of our general criteria and guidelines. In addition, if we announce a prospective Business Combination with a target that does not meet our general criteria and guidelines, a greater number of shareholders may exercise their redemption rights, which may make it difficult for us to meet any closing condition with a target business that requires us to have a minimum net worth or a certain amount of cash. In addition, if shareholder approval of the transaction is required by law, or we decide to obtain shareholder approval for business or other legal reasons, it may be more difficult for us to attain shareholder approval of our Business Combination if the target business does not meet our general criteria and guidelines. If we are unable to complete our Business Combination, our Public Shareholders may receive only approximately $10.05 per share, or less in certain circumstances, on the liquidation of our Trust Account and our Rights will expire worthless. In certain circumstances, our Public Shareholders may receive less than $10.05 per share on the redemption of their shares. See “- If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the Trust Account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by shareholders may be less than $10.05 per share” and other risk factors in this section.
We are not required to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or from an independent accounting firm, and consequently, you may have no assurance from an independent source that the price we are paying for the business is fair to our Company from a financial point of view.
Unless we complete our Business Combination with an affiliated entity or our board cannot independently determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses, we are not required to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or from another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions that the price we are paying is fair to our Company from a financial point of view. If no opinion is obtained, our shareholders will be relying on the judgment of our board of directors, who will determine fair market value based on standards generally accepted by the financial community. Such standards used will be disclosed in our proxy solicitation or tender offer materials, as applicable, related to our Business Combination.
Resources could be wasted in researching acquisitions that are not completed, which could materially adversely affect subsequent attempts to locate and acquire or merge with another business. If we are unable to complete our Business Combination, our Public Shareholders may receive only approximately $10.05 per share, or less than such amount in certain circumstances, on the liquidation of our Trust Account and our Rights will expire worthless.
We anticipate that the investigation of each specific target business and the negotiation, drafting and execution of relevant agreements, disclosure documents and other instruments will require substantial management time and attention and substantial costs for accountants, attorneys, and others. If we decide not to complete a specific Business Combination, the costs incurred up to that point for the proposed transaction likely would not be recoverable. Furthermore, if we reach an agreement relating to a specific target business, we may fail to complete our Business Combination for any number of reasons including those beyond our control. Any such event will result in a loss to us of the related costs incurred which could materially adversely affect subsequent attempts to locate and acquire or merge with another business. If we are unable to complete our Business Combination, our Public Shareholders may receive only approximately $10.05 per share on the liquidation of our Trust Account and our Rights will expire worthless. In certain circumstances, our Public Shareholders may receive less than $10.05 per share on the redemption of their shares. See “- If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the Trust Account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by shareholders may be less than $10.05 per share” and other risk factors in this section.
If we determine to simultaneously acquire several businesses that are owned by different sellers, we will need for each of such sellers to agree that our purchase of its business is contingent on the simultaneous closings of the other business combinations, which may make it more difficult for us, and delay our ability, to complete our Business Combination. With multiple business combinations, we could also face additional risks, including additional burdens and costs with respect to possible multiple negotiations and due diligence investigations (if there are multiple sellers) and the additional risks associated with the subsequent assimilation of the operations and services or products of the acquired companies in a single operating business. If we are unable to adequately address these risks, it could negatively impact our profitability and results of operations.
We may have a limited ability to assess the management of a prospective target business and, as a result, may complete our Business Combination with a target business whose management may not have the skills, qualifications or abilities to manage a public company, which could, in turn, negatively impact the value of our shareholders’ investment in us.
The officers and directors of an acquisition candidate may resign upon completion of our Business Combination. The departure of a Business Combination target’s key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business. The role of an acquisition candidate’s key personnel upon the completion of our Business Combination cannot be ascertained at this time. Although we contemplate that certain members of an acquisition candidate’s management team will remain associated with the acquisition candidate following our Business Combination, it is possible that members of the management of an acquisition candidate will not wish to remain in place.
Of the net proceeds from the Initial Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Units, up to $115,575,000 will be available to complete our Business Combination and pay related fees and expenses. We intend to complete our Business Combination with a single target business or multiple target businesses simultaneously. However, we may not be able to complete our Business Combination with more than one target business because of various factors, including the existence of complex accounting issues and the requirement that we prepare and file pro forma financial statements with the SEC that present operating results and the financial condition of several target businesses as if they had been operated on a combined basis. By completing our Business Combination with only a single entity, our lack of diversification may subject us to numerous economic, competitive, and regulatory developments. Further, we would not be able to diversify our operations or benefit from the possible spreading of risks or offsetting of losses, unlike other entities which may have the resources to complete several business combinations in different industries or different areas of a single industry. Accordingly, the prospects for our success may be:
Risks Related to Our Securities
Our Units, Ordinary Shares, and Rights are listed on NASDAQ. Although after giving effect to the Initial Public Offering we met, on a pro forma basis, the minimum initial listing standards set forth in the NASDAQ listing standards, we cannot assure you that our securities will continue to be listed on NASDAQ in the future or prior to our Business Combination. In order to continue listing our securities on NASDAQ prior to our Business Combination, we must maintain certain financial, distribution and share price levels. Generally, we must maintain a minimum amount in shareholders’ equity (generally $10,000,000) and a minimum number of holders of our securities (generally 400 public holders). Additionally, in connection with our Business Combination, we will be required to demonstrate compliance with NASDAQ’s initial listing requirements, which are more rigorous than NASDAQ’s continued listing requirements, in order to continue to maintain the listing of our securities on NASDAQ. For instance, our share price would generally be required to be at least $4.00 per share and our shareholders’ equity would generally be required to be at least $15 million and we would be required to have a minimum of 400 round lot holders of our securities. We cannot assure you that we will be able to meet those continued listing requirements at that time.
| ● | reduced liquidity for our securities; |
The National Securities Markets Improvement Act of 1996, which is a federal statute, prevents or preempts the states from regulating the sale of certain securities, which are referred to as “covered securities.” Because our Units, Ordinary Shares, and Rights are listed on NASDAQ, our Units, Ordinary Shares and Rights are covered securities. Although the states are pre-empted from regulating the sale of our securities, the federal statute does allow the states to investigate companies if there is a suspicion of fraud, and, if there is a finding of fraudulent activity, then the states can regulate or bar the sale of covered securities in a particular case. Additionally, certain state securities regulators view blank check companies unfavorably and might use these powers, or threaten to use these powers, to hinder the sale of securities of blank check companies in their states. Further, if we were no longer listed on NASDAQ, our securities would not be covered securities and we would be subject to regulation in each state in which we offer our securities.
We may issue additional Ordinary Shares or preference shares to complete our Business Combination or under an employee incentive plan after completion of our Business Combination. Any such issuances would dilute the interest of our shareholders and likely present other risks.
Our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association authorizes the issuance of up to 200,000,000 Ordinary Shares, par value $0.0001 per share and 1,000,000 preference shares, par value $0.0001 per share. As of the date of this Form 10-K, there are 8,343,765 Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding. As a result, there are 191,656,235 unissued Ordinary Shares available for issuance, which amount does not take into account the Ordinary Shares reserved for issuance upon exercise of any outstanding Rights. There are currently no preference shares issued and outstanding.
We may issue a substantial number of additional Ordinary Shares or preference shares to complete our Business Combination or under an employee incentive plan after completion of our Business Combination. However, our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association provides, among other things, that prior to our Business Combination, we may not issue additional shares of capital share that would entitle the holders thereof to: (i) receive funds from the Trust Account; or (ii) vote as a class with our Public Shares. These provisions of our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, like all provisions of our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, may be amended by way of a special resolution, approval of a majority of two-thirds of the votes of our shareholders, who, being entitled to do so, attend and vote at a general meeting or by a unanimous written resolution of all of our shareholders. However, our executive officers and directors have agreed, pursuant to a written agreement with us, that they will not propose any amendment to our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association to (A) modify the substance or timing of our obligation to provide for the redemption of our Public Shares in connection with a Business Combination or to redeem 100% of our Public Shares if we do not complete our Business Combination within 27 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering, or (B) with respect to any other material provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-Business Combination activity, unless we provide our Public Shareholders 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 then on deposit in the Trust Account, including interest (which interest shall be net of taxes payable), divided by the number of then outstanding Public Shares.
Although we have no commitments as of the date of this Form 10-K to issue any notes or other debt securities, or to otherwise incur outstanding debt following the Initial Public Offering, we may choose to incur substantial debt to complete our Business Combination. We have agreed that we will not incur any indebtedness prior to the Business Combination unless we have obtained from the lender a waiver of any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to the monies held in the Trust Account. As such, no issuance of debt will affect the per-share amount available for redemption from the Trust Account. Nevertheless, the incurrence of debt could have a variety of negative effects, including:
The grant of registration rights to our Initial Shareholders and EBC may make it more difficult to complete our Business Combination, and the future exercise of such Rights may adversely affect the market price of our Ordinary Shares.
Pursuant to the registration rights agreement, holders of the Founder Shares, EBC Founder Shares, Private Placement Units and any Units that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans may demand that we register such Units and/or underlying securities. We will bear the cost of registering these securities. The registration and availability of such a significant number of securities for trading in the public market may have an adverse effect on the market price of our Ordinary Shares. In addition, the existence of the registration rights may make our Business Combination more costly or difficult to conclude. This is because the shareholders of the target business may increase the equity stake they seek in the combined entity or ask for more cash consideration to offset the negative impact on the market price of our Ordinary Shares that is expected when the Founder Shares, EBC Founder Shares, Private Placement Units and any Units that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans are registered.
Our Initial Shareholders paid an aggregate of $25,000 for the Founder Shares, or approximately $0.0087 per founder share. As a result of this low initial price, our Initial Shareholders stand to make a substantial profit even if a Business Combination subsequently declines in value or is unprofitable for our Public Shareholders.
As a result of the low acquisition cost of our Founder Shares, our Initial Shareholders could make a substantial profit even if we select and consummate a Business Combination with an acquisition target that subsequently declines in value or is unprofitable for our Public Shareholders. Thus, such parties may have more of an economic incentive for us to enter into a Business Combination with a riskier, weaker-performing or financially unstable business, or an entity lacking an established record of revenues or earnings, than would be the case if such parties had paid the full offering price for their Founder Shares.
Our Rights may have an adverse effect on the market price of our Ordinary Shares and make it more difficult to complete our Business Combination.
We issued Rights as part of the Units sold in the Initial Public Offering entitling the holders to receive an aggregate of 575,000 Ordinary Shares. Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, we issued as part of the Private Placement Units Rights entitling the holders to receive an aggregate of 21,875 Ordinary Shares. In addition, if our Initial Shareholders or their affiliates make any working capital loans, up to $1,500,000 of such loans may be converted into working capital units, at the price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. Such working capital units would be identical to the Private Placement Units sold in the private placement.
Because we must furnish our shareholders with target business financial statements, we may lose the ability to complete an otherwise advantageous Business Combination with some prospective target businesses.
The federal proxy rules require that a proxy statement with respect to a vote on a Business Combination meeting certain financial significance tests include target historical and/or pro forma financial statement disclosure. We will include the same financial statement disclosure in connection with our tender offer documents, whether or not they are required under the tender offer rules. 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 PCAOB. These financial statement requirements may limit the pool of potential target businesses we may acquire because some targets may be unable to provide such financial statements in time for us to disclose such financial statements in accordance with federal proxy rules and complete our Business Combination within the prescribed time frame.
Risks Related to Our Management
Our ability to successfully complete our Business Combination and to be successful thereafter will be totally dependent upon the efforts of members of our Management Team, some of whom may join us following our Business Combination. The loss of such people could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business.
Our ability to successfully complete our Business Combination is dependent upon the efforts of members of our Management Team. The role of members of our Management Team in the target business, however, cannot presently be ascertained. Although some members of our Management Team may remain with the target business in senior management or advisory positions following our Business Combination, it is likely that some or all of the management of the target business will remain in place. While we intend to closely scrutinize any individuals we engage after our Business Combination, we cannot assure you that our assessment of these individuals will prove to be correct. These individuals may be unfamiliar with the requirements of operating a company regulated by the SEC, which could cause us to have to expend time and resources helping them become familiar with such requirements.
In addition, the officers and directors of an acquisition candidate may resign upon completion of our Business Combination. The departure of a Business Combination target’s key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business. The role of an acquisition candidate’s key personnel upon the completion of our Business Combination cannot be ascertained at this time. Although we contemplate that certain members of an acquisition candidate’s management team will remain associated with the acquisition candidate following our Business Combination, it is possible that members of the management of an acquisition candidate will not wish to remain in place. The loss of key personnel could negatively impact the operations and profitability of our post-combination business.
Members of our Management Team 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 our 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.
Members of our Management Team may be able to remain with us after the completion of our Business Combination only 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 such individuals to receive compensation in the form of cash payments and/or our securities for services they would render to us after the completion of the Business Combination. The personal and financial interests of such individuals may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business. However, we believe the ability of such individuals to remain with us after the completion of our Business Combination will not be the determining factor in our decision as to whether or not we will proceed with any potential Business Combination. We cannot assure you that any members of our Management Team will remain in senior management or advisory positions with us. The determination as to whether any members of our Management Team will remain with us will be made at the time of our Business Combination.
Our officers and directors may allocate their time to other businesses and may become officers or directors of other special purpose acquisition companies, thereby causing conflicts of interest in their determination as to how much time to devote to our affairs and whether to present a target to us instead of our competitors. This conflict of interest could have a negative impact on our ability to complete our Business Combination.
Our officers and directors have fiduciary responsibilities to dedicate substantially all their business time to their respective affairs and their respective employers. Additionally, these responsibilities may result in a conflict of interest in allocating their time between our operations and our search for a Business Combination and their other businesses, including other business endeavors for which he or she may be entitled to substantial compensation. We do not intend to have any full-time employees prior to the completion of our Business Combination. If our officers’ and directors’ other business affairs require them to devote substantial amounts of time to such affairs in excess of their current commitment levels, it could limit their ability to devote time to our affairs; or if they have fiduciary duty to present a target company to our competitor instead of us, which may have a negative impact on our ability to complete our Business Combination. For a complete discussion of our officers’ and directors’ other business affairs, please see the section of this Form 10-K entitled*“Management - Conflicts of Interest.”*
Following the completion of the Initial Public Offering and until we consummate our Business Combination, we intend to engage in the business of identifying and combining with one or more businesses. Our other officers and directors may become affiliated with entities (such as operating companies or investment vehicles) that are engaged in a similar business. Our officers and directors also may become aware of business opportunities which may be appropriate for presentation to us and the other entities in the future to which they owe certain fiduciary or contractual duties. Accordingly, they may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented. These conflicts may not be resolved in our favor and a potential target business may be presented to another entity prior to its presentation to us. Our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association provide that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law: (i) no individual serving as a director or an officer shall have any duty, except and to the extent expressly assumed by contract, to refrain from engaging directly or indirectly in the same or similar business activities or lines of business as us; and (ii) we renounce any interest or expectancy in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any potential transaction or matter which may be a corporate opportunity for any director or officer, on the one hand, and us, on the other. For a complete discussion of our officers’ and directors’ business affiliations and the potential conflicts of interest that you should be aware of, please see the sections of this Annual Report entitled*“Management - Officers, Directors and Director Nominees,” “Management - Conflicts of Interest” and “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions.”*
In light of the involvement of our officers and directors with other entities, we may decide to acquire one or more businesses affiliated with our Initial Shareholders or their respective affiliates. Our Initial Shareholders are not currently aware of any specific opportunities for us to complete our Business Combination with any entities with which they are affiliated, and there have been no preliminary discussions concerning a Business Combination with any such entity or entities. Although we will not be specifically focusing on, or targeting, any transaction with any affiliated entities, we would pursue such a transaction if we determined that such affiliated entity met our criteria for a Business Combination as set forth in the section of this Annual Report entitled “Business - Sources of Target Businesses.” In the event the Company seeks to consummate a Business Combination with an affiliate entity, the Company, or a committee of independent directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another valuation or appraisal firm that regularly renders fairness opinions on the type of target business the Company is seeking to acquire that is a member of the United States Financial Industry Regulatory Authority or an independent accounting firm that such a Business Combination is fair to the Company from a financial point of view. Despite our agreement to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or from another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions, regarding the fairness to our Company from a financial point of view of a Business Combination with one or more domestic or international businesses affiliated with our Initial Shareholders or their respective affiliates, potential conflicts of interest still may exist and, as a result, the terms of the Business Combination may not be as advantageous to our Public Shareholders as they would be absent any conflicts of interest.
Since our Initial Shareholders will lose their entire investment in us if our Business Combination is not completed, a conflict of interest may arise in determining whether a particular Business Combination target is appropriate for our Business Combination.
Our Sponsor acquired an aggregate 2,875,000 Founder Shares for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000. Prior to this initial investment in our Company, we had no assets, tangible or intangible. The number of Founder Shares issued was determined based on the expectation that such Founder Shares would represent 20% of the outstanding shares after the Initial Public Offering (excluding the Private Shares and the EBC Founder Shares). The Founder Shares will be worthless if we do not complete a Business Combination. In addition, our Sponsor and EBC purchased an aggregate of 437,500 Private Placement Units at a price of $10.00 per unit (approximately $4,375,000) in a private placement that closed simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering. The Founder Shares and Private Placement Units will be worthless if we do not complete a Business Combination. Our Initial Shareholders have agreed (A) to vote any shares owned by them in favor of any proposed Business Combination and (B) not to redeem any Founder Shares or Private Shares in connection with a shareholder vote to approve a proposed Business Combination. In addition, we may obtain loans from our Initial Shareholders. The personal and financial interests of our Initial Shareholders may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target Business Combination, completing a Business Combination, and influencing the operation of the business following the Business Combination.
Our Initial Shareholders and other insiders may exert a substantial influence on actions requiring a shareholder vote, potentially in a manner that you do not support.
Our Initial Shareholders own Founder Shares representing 20% of our issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares (excluding the Private Shares and the EBC Founder Shares). We also issued 437,500 Private Placement Units to our Sponsor and EBC and their designees. Accordingly, our Initial Shareholders and their affiliates 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 and approval of major corporate transactions. If our Initial Shareholders purchased any Units in the Initial Public Offering or if they purchase any additional Ordinary Shares in the aftermarket or in privately negotiated transactions, this would increase their control. Factors that would be considered in making such additional purchases would include consideration of the current trading price of our Ordinary Shares. In addition, our board of directors, whose members were elected by certain of our Initial Shareholders, is divided into three classes, each of which will generally serve for a term of three years with only one class of directors being elected in each year. We may not hold an annual meeting of shareholders to elect new directors prior to the completion of our Business Combination, in which case all of the current directors will continue in office until at least the completion of the Business Combination. If there is an annual meeting, as a consequence of our “staggered” board of directors, only a minority of the board of directors will be considered for election and our Initial Shareholders, because of their ownership position, will have considerable influence regarding the outcome.
Post Business Combination Risks
Subsequent to the completion of our Business Combination, we may be required to take write-downs or write-offs, restructuring and impairment or other charges that could have a significant negative effect on our financial condition, results of operations and our share price, which could cause you to lose some or all of your investment.
Our success will ultimately depend upon market acceptance of our products and services, our ability to develop and commercialize existing and new products and services and generate revenues, and our ability to identify new markets for its technology.
Ultimately, our success will depend on the acceptance of our products and services in the target markets. We are faced with the risk that the marketplace will not be receptive to our products and services over competing products and that we will be unable to compete effectively. We will face challenges of developing (or acquiring externally-developed) technology solutions that are adequate and competitive in meeting the requirements of next-generation design challenges.
We cannot assure investors that the products and services of the company with which we conduct a Business Combination, or any future products and services will gain broad market acceptance. If the market for our products and services fails to develop or develops more slowly than expected, or if any of the services and standards supported by us do not achieve or sustain market acceptance, our business and operating results would be materially and adversely affected.
Technology platforms are expensive and complex, their continuous development, maintenance and operation may entail unforeseen difficulties including material performance problems or undetected defects or errors. We may encounter technical obstacles, and it is possible that we may discover additional problems that prevent our technology from operating properly. If our platform does not function reliably, we may not be able to provide any products or services. Errors could also cause customer dissatisfaction with us, which could cause customers to stop purchasing or working with us. Any of these eventualities could result in a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Business combinations with businesses in certain industries, such as technology, may involve special considerations and risks. If we complete our Business Combination with a technology business, we will be subject to the following risks, any of which could be detrimental to us and the business we acquire:
| ● | We and any business or company we acquire may not be able to adapt to the complex and evolving regulatory environment for financial technology services in China. |
Any of the foregoing could have an adverse impact on our operations following a Business Combination. However, our efforts in identifying prospective target businesses will not be limited to technology businesses. Accordingly, if we acquire a target business in another industry, these risks will likely not affect us and we will be subject to other risks attendant with the specific industry in which we operate or target business which we acquire, none of which can be presently ascertained.
| ● | tariffs and trade barriers; |
| ● | regulations related to customs and import/export matters; |
| ● | inflation; |
| ● | economic policies and market conditions; |
| ● | unexpected changes in regulatory requirements; |
| ● | challenges in managing and staffing international operations; |
| ● | currency fluctuations; |
| ● | challenges in collecting accounts receivable; |
| ● | cultural and language differences; |
| ● | protection of intellectual property; and |
| ● | employment regulations. |
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 Business Combination, it may result in a negative impact on our business.
The economic, political, and social conditions, as well as government policies, of the country in which our potential target’s operations are located could affect our business. The economy in such target’s country may differ greatly from the economies of most developed countries in many respects. Such country’s economic growth may be 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 target’s 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 the ability of that target business to become profitable after our Business Combination.
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 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 the Initial Public 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.
We may not be able to complete a Business Combination with a U.S. target company since such Business Combination may be subject to U.S. foreign investment regulations and review by a U.S. government entity such as the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS”) or ultimately prohibited.
Certain federally licensed businesses in the United States, such as broadcasters and airlines, may be subject to rules or regulations that limit foreign ownership. In addition, CFIUS is an interagency committee authorized to review certain transactions involving foreign investment in the United States by foreign persons in order to determine the effect of such transactions on the national security of the United States. Because we may be considered a “foreign person” under such rules and regulations, any proposed Business Combination between us and a U.S. business engaged in a regulated industry or which may affect national security could be subject to such foreign ownership restrictions and/or CFIUS review.
The scope of CFIUS was expanded by the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act of 2018 (“FIRRMA”) to include certain non-passive, non-controlling investments in sensitive U.S. businesses and certain acquisitions of real estate even with no underlying U.S. business. FIRRMA and subsequent implementing regulations that are now in force also subject certain categories of investments to mandatory filings. If our potential Business Combination with a U.S. business falls within the scope of foreign ownership restrictions, we may be unable to consummate a Business Combination with such business.
In addition, if our potential Business Combination falls within CFIUS’s jurisdiction, we may be required to make a mandatory filing, decide to submit a voluntary notice to CFIUS, or proceed with the Business Combination without notifying CFIUS and then bear the risk of CFIUS intervention, before or after closing the Business Combination. CFIUS may decide to block or delay our Business Combination, impose conditions to mitigate national security concerns with respect to such Business Combination or order us to divest all or a portion of a U.S. business of the combined company if we had proceeded without first obtaining CFIUS clearance. The foreign ownership limitations, and the potential impact of CFIUS, may limit the attractiveness of a transaction with us or prevent us from pursuing certain Business Combination opportunities that we believe would otherwise be beneficial to us and our shareholders. As a result, the pool of potential targets with which we could complete a Business Combination may be limited and we may be adversely affected in terms of competing with other special purpose acquisition companies which do not have similar foreign ownership issues.
If any dividend is declared in the future and paid in a foreign currency, you may be disproportionately taxed on what you actually receive.
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 the management team following our 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.
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 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 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.
Many of the economies in Asia are experiencing substantial inflationary pressures which may prompt the governments to take action to control the growth of the economy and inflation that could lead to a significant decrease in our profitability following our Business Combination.
There is no restriction in the geographic location of targets that we can pursue, although we intend to initially focus on target businesses in Asia. In the event that our target business is in Asia, while many of the economies in Asia have experienced rapid growth over the last two decades, they currently are experiencing inflationary pressures. As governments take steps to address the current inflationary pressures, there may be significant changes in the availability of bank credits, interest rates, limitations on loans, restrictions on currency conversions and foreign investment. There also may be imposition of price controls. If prices for the products of our ultimate target business rise at a rate that is insufficient to compensate for the rise in the costs of supplies, it may have an adverse effect on our profitability. If these or other similar restrictions are imposed by a government to influence the economy, it may lead to a slowing of economic growth. Because we are not limited to any specific industry, the ultimate industry that we operate in may be affected more severely by such a slowing of economic growth.
Many industries in Asia are subject to government regulations that limit or prohibit foreign investments in such industries, which may limit the potential number of acquisition candidates.
Governments in many Asian countries have imposed regulations that limit foreign investors’ equity ownership or prohibit foreign investments altogether in companies that operate in certain industries. As a result, the number of potential acquisition candidates available to us may be limited or our ability to grow and sustain the business, which we ultimately acquire will be limited.
If a country in Asia enacts regulations in industry segments that forbid or restrict foreign investment, our ability to consummate our Business Combination could be severely impaired.
Many of the rules and regulations that companies face concerning foreign ownership are not explicitly communicated. If new laws or regulations forbid or limit foreign investment in industries in which we want to complete our Business Combination, they could severely impair our candidate pool of potential target businesses. Additionally, if the relevant central and local authorities find us or the target business with which we ultimately complete our Business Combination to be in violation of any existing or future laws or regulations, they would have broad discretion in dealing with such a violation, including, without limitation:
| ● | levying fines; |
| ● | revoking our business and other licenses; |
| ● | requiring that we restructure our ownership or operations; and |
| ● | requiring that we discontinue any portion or all of our business. |
Any of the above could have an adverse effect on our Company post-Business Combination and could materially reduce the value of your investment.
Corporate governance standards in Asia may not be as strict or developed as in the United States and such weakness may hide issues and operational practices that are detrimental to a target business.
General corporate governance standards in some countries are weak in that they do not prevent certain business practices may be harmful to an operating business. Local laws often do not go far enough to prevent improper business practices. In our evaluation of a Business Combination we will have to evaluate the corporate governance of a target and the business environment, and in accordance with United States laws for reporting companies take steps to implement practices that will cause compliance with all applicable rules and accounting practices. Notwithstanding these intended efforts, there may be endemic practices and local laws that could add risk to an investment we ultimately make and that result in an adverse effect on our operations and financial results.
If we effect our Business Combination with a business located in the in the People’s Republic of China, the laws applicable to such business will likely govern all of our material agreements and we may not be able to enforce our legal rights.
If we effect our Business Combination with a business located in the PRC, the laws of the country in which such business operates will govern almost all of the material agreements relating to its operations. We cannot assure you that we or the target business will be able to enforce any of its material agreements or that remedies will be adequate in this jurisdiction. In addition, to the extent that our target business’s material agreements are with governmental agencies in the PRC, we may not be able to enforce or obtain a remedy from such agencies due to sovereign immunity, in which the government is deemed to be immune from civil lawsuit or criminal prosecution. 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.
If we effect our Business Combination with a business located in the PRC, we may be subject to certain risks associated with acquiring and operating businesses in the PRC.
We may be subject to certain risks associated with acquiring and operating a business in the PRC in our search for a Business Combination and operation of any target business with which we ultimately consummate a Business Combination.
First, certain rules and regulations concerning mergers and acquisitions by foreign investors in the PRC may make merger and acquisition activities by foreign investors more complex and time consuming, including, among others:
| ● | the requirement that the Ministry of Commerce of the PRC (the “MOFCOM”) be notified in certain circumstances in advance of any change-of-control transaction in which a foreign investor takes control of a PRC domestic enterprise or the requirement that the antitrust enforcement agency of the State Council (currently the “Antitrust Bureau of the State Administration for Market Regulation”) be notified in advance of any concentration of undertaking if certain thresholds are triggered; |
| ● | the authority of certain government agencies to have scrutiny over the economics of an acquisition transaction and requirement for consideration in a transaction to be paid within stated time limits; and |
| ● | the requirement for mergers and acquisitions by foreign investors that raise “national defense and security” concerns and mergers and acquisitions through which foreign investors may acquire de facto control over domestic enterprises that raise “national security” concerns to be subject to strict review by the MOFCOM. |
Complying with these and other requirements could be time-consuming, and any required approval processes, including obtaining approval from the MOFCOM or its local counterparts, may delay or inhibit our ability to complete such transactions, which could affect our ability to acquire PRC-based businesses. A Business Combination we propose may not be able to be completed if the terms of the transaction do not satisfy aspects of the approval process and may not be completed, even if approved, if they are not consummated within the time permitted by the approvals granted.
In addition, the PRC currently prohibits and/or restricts foreign ownership in certain “restricted industries,” including but not limited to, for example, certain value added telecommunications services. There is no assurance that the PRC government will not apply restrictions in other industries. If we decide to consummate our Business Combination with a target business based in and primarily operating in China, the combined company may face various legal and operational risks and uncertainties after the Business Combination. We will not consummate our Business Combination with an entity or business with China operations consolidated through a VIE structure. As a result, the prohibitions and/or restrictions of foreign ownership in certain “restricted industries” may limit the pool of acquisition candidates we may acquire in China.
Our potential future subsidiaries and affiliated entities or acquisitions of offshore entities that conduct operations through affiliates in the PRC may be subject to a high level of scrutiny by the relevant tax authorities.
Under the laws of the PRC, arrangements and transactions among related parties may be subject to audit or challenge by the relevant tax authorities. If any of the transactions we enter into with potential future subsidiaries and affiliated entities are found not to be on an arm’s-length basis, or to result in an unreasonable reduction in tax under local law, the relevant tax authorities may have the authority to disallow any tax savings, adjust the profits and losses of such potential future local entities and assess late payment interest and penalties. A finding by the relevant tax authorities that we are ineligible for any such tax savings, or that any of our possible future affiliated entities are not eligible for tax exemptions, would substantially increase our possible future taxes and thus reduce our net income and the value of a shareholder’s investment. In addition, in the event that in connection with an acquisition of an offshore entity that conducted its operations through affiliates in the PRC, the sellers of such entities failed to pay any taxes required under local law, the relevant tax authorities could require us to withhold and pay the tax, together with late-payment interest and penalties. The occurrence of any of the foregoing could have a negative impact on our operating results and financial condition.
PRC regulations relating to offshore investment activities by PRC residents may limit our ability to inject capital in our Chinese subsidiaries and Chinese subsidiaries’ ability to change their registered capital or distribute profits to us or otherwise expose us or our PRC resident beneficial owners to liability and penalties under PRC laws.
In July 2014, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange of the PRC, or “SAFE” promulgated the Circular on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Control on Domestic Residents’ Offshore Investment and Financing and Roundtrip Investment Through Special Purpose Vehicles, or “SAFE Circular 37”. SAFE Circular 37 requires PRC residents (including PRC individuals and PRC corporate entities as well as foreign individuals that are deemed as PRC residents for foreign exchange administration purpose) to register with SAFE or its local branches in connection with their direct or indirect offshore investment activities. SAFE Circular 37 is applicable to our shareholders who are PRC residents and may be applicable to any offshore acquisitions that we make in the future. Under SAFE Circular 37, PRC residents who make, or have prior to the implementation of SAFE Circular 37 made, direct or indirect investments in offshore special purpose vehicles, or SPVs, will be required to register such investments with SAFE or its local branches. In addition, any PRC resident who is a direct or indirect shareholder of an SPV, is required to update its filed registration with the local branch of SAFE with respect to that SPV, to reflect any material change, including, among other things, any major change of a PRC resident shareholder, name or term of operation of the SPVs, or any increase or reduction of the SPVs’ registered capital, share transfer or swap, merger or division. Moreover, any subsidiary of such SPV in China is required to urge the PRC resident shareholders to update their registration with the local branch of SAFE. If any PRC shareholder of such SPV fails to make the required registration or to update the previously filed registration, the subsidiary of such SPV in China may be prohibited from distributing its profits or the proceeds from any capital reduction, share transfer or liquidation to the SPV, and the SPV may also be prohibited from making additional capital contributions into its subsidiary in China. On February 13, 2015, SAFE promulgated a Notice on Further Simplifying and Improving Foreign Exchange Administration Policy on Direct Investment, or SAFE Notice 13, which became effective on June 1, 2015. Under SAFE Notice 13, applications for foreign exchange registration of inbound foreign direct investments and outbound overseas direct investments, including those required under SAFE Circular 37, will be filed with qualified banks instead of SAFE or its branches. The qualified banks will directly examine the applications and accept registrations under the supervision of SAFE.
We cannot provide assurance that our shareholders that are PRC residents comply with all of the requirements under SAFE Circular 37 or other related rules. Failure or inability of our PRC resident shareholders to comply with the registration procedures set forth in these regulations may subject us to fines and legal sanctions, restrict our cross-border investment activities, limit the ability of our wholly foreign-owned subsidiary in China to distribute dividends and the proceeds from any reduction in capital, share transfer or liquidation to us, and we may also be prohibited from injecting additional capital into the subsidiary. Moreover, failure to comply with the various foreign exchange registration requirements described above could result in liability under PRC law for circumventing applicable foreign exchange restrictions. As a result, our business operations and our ability to distribute profits to you could be materially and adversely affected.
Furthermore, as these foreign exchange regulations are still relatively new and their interpretation and implementation has been constantly evolving, it is unclear how these regulations, and any future regulation concerning offshore or cross-border transactions, will be interpreted, amended and implemented by the relevant government authorities. For example, we may be subject to a more stringent review and approval process with respect to our foreign exchange activities, such as remittance of dividends and foreign-currency-denominated borrowings, which may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, if we decide to acquire a PRC domestic company, we cannot assure you that we or the owners of such company, as the case may be, will be able to obtain the necessary approvals or complete the necessary filings and registrations required by the foreign exchange regulations. This may restrict our ability to implement our acquisition strategy and could adversely affect our business and prospects.
Compliance with the PRC Antitrust law may limit our ability to effect our Business Combination.
The PRC Antitrust Law became effective on August 1, 2008. The government authorities in charge of antitrust matters in China are the Antitrust Bureau of the State Administration for Market Regulation and other antitrust agencies. The PRC Antitrust Law regulates (1) monopoly agreements, including decisions or actions in concert that preclude or impede competition, entered into by business operators; (2) abuse of dominant market position by business operators; and (3) concentration of business operators that may have the effect of precluding or impeding competition. To implement the Antitrust Law, in 2008, the State Council formulated the Rules of the State Council on Declaration Threshold for Concentration of Business Undertakings (as amended on September 18, 2018), pursuant to which concentration of business operators refers to (1) merger with other business operators; (2) gaining control over other business operators through acquisition of equity interest or assets of other business operators; and (3) gaining control over other business operators through exerting influence on other business operators through contracts or other means.
On June 24, 2022, the Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress to Amend the Antitrust Law of the People’s Republic of China, or the “Decision to Amend the Antitrust Law,” was adopted and became effective on August 1, 2022. The Decision to Amend the Antitrust Law strengthens the regulation on the internet platforms, requiring that companies shall not use data and algorithms, technologies, capital advantages, platform rules and other means to engage in monopolistic conduct and also escalates the administrative penalties for monopolistic conduct and for the failure to notify the antitrust agencies on proposed transactions that will lead to concentration of businesses. The State Council Antitrust Enforcement Agency may order to reinstate the original status prior to the concentration and impose a fine on the operators. Since such provisions are relatively new, uncertain still remains as to the interpretation and implementation of such laws and regulations. The Business Combination we contemplate may be considered the concentration of business operators, and to the extent required by the Antitrust Law and the criteria established by the State Council, we must file with the antitrust authority under the PRC State Council prior to conducting the contemplated Business Combination. If the antitrust authority decides not to further investigate whether the contemplated Business Combination has the effect of precluding or impeding competition or fails to make a decision within 30 days from receipt of relevant materials, we may proceed to consummate the contemplated Business Combination. If the antitrust authority decides to prohibit the contemplated Business Combination after further investigation, we must terminate such Business Combination and would then be forced to either attempt to complete a new Business Combination or we would be required to return any amounts which were held in the Trust Account to our shareholders. When we evaluate a potential Business Combination, we will consider the need to comply with the Antitrust Law and other relevant regulations which may limit our ability to effect an acquisition or may result in our modifying or not pursuing a particular transaction. Since our Business Combination period is within 27 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering, and the approval process may take a period longer than we expect before we enter into a definitive agreement with a target company, we may be unable to complete a Business Combination within 27 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering. In that event, we may be required to liquidate.
Exchange controls that exist in the PRC may restrict or prevent us from using the proceeds of the Initial Public Offering to acquire a target company in PRC and limit our ability to utilize our cash flow effectively following our Business Combination.
SAFE promulgated the Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Reforming the Administration of Foreign Exchange Settlement of Capital of Foreign-invested Enterprises, or Circular 19, effective on June 1, 2015, in replacement of the Circular on the Relevant Operating Issues Concerning the Improvement of the Administration of the Payment and Settlement of Foreign Currency Capital of Foreign-Invested Enterprises, the Notice from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Relevant Issues Concerning Strengthening the Administration of Foreign Exchange Businesses, and the Circular on Further Clarification and Regulation of the Issues Concerning the Administration of Certain Capital Account Foreign Exchange Businesses. According to Circular 19, the flow and use of the RMB capital converted from foreign currency-denominated registered capital of a foreign-invested company is regulated such that RMB capital may not be used for the issuance of RMB entrusted loans, the repayment of inter-enterprise
loans or the repayment of banks loans that have been transferred to a third party. Although Circular 19 allows RMB capital converted from foreign currency-denominated registered capital of a foreign-invested enterprise to be used for equity investments within the PRC, it also reiterates the principle that RMB converted from the foreign currency-denominated capital of a foreign-invested company may not be directly or indirectly used for purposes beyond its business scope. Thus, it is unclear whether SAFE will permit such capital to be used for equity investments in the PRC in actual practice. SAFE promulgated the Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Reforming and Standardizing the Foreign Exchange Settlement Management Policy of Capital Account, or Circular 16, effective on June 9, 2016, which reiterates some of the rules set forth in Circular 19, but changes the prohibition against using RMB capital converted from foreign currency-denominated registered capital of a foreign-invested company to issue RMB entrusted loans to a prohibition against using such capital to issue loans to non-associated enterprises. Violations of Circular 19 and Circular 16 could result in administrative penalties.
As such, Circular 19 and Circular 16 may significantly limit our ability to transfer the proceeds of the Initial Public Offering to a PRC target company and the use of such proceeds by the PRC target company. In addition, following our Business Combination with a PRC target company, we will be subject to the PRC’s rules and regulations on currency conversion. In the PRC, the SAFE regulates the conversion of RMBs into foreign currencies. Currently, Foreign Invested Enterprises (“FIEs”) are required to apply to the SAFE for “Foreign Exchange Registration Certificates for FIEs.” Following our Business Combination, we will likely be an FIE as a result of our ownership structure. With such registration certificates, which need to be renewed annually, FIEs are allowed to open foreign currency accounts including a “basic account” and “capital account.” Currency conversion within the scope of the “basic account,” such as remittance of foreign currencies for payment of dividends, can be effected without requiring the approval of the SAFE. However, conversion of currency in the “capital account,” including capital items such as direct investment, loans and securities, still require approval of the SAFE.
We cannot assure you the PRC regulatory authorities will not impose further restrictions on the convertibility of RMBs. Any future restrictions on currency exchanges may limit our ability to use the proceeds of the Initial Public Offering in a Business Combination with a PRC target company and the use our cash flow for the distribution of dividends to our shareholders or to fund operations we may have outside of the PRC.
Our Business Combination may be subject to national security review by the PRC government, and we may have to spend additional resources and incur additional time delays to complete any such Business Combination or be prevented from pursuing certain investment opportunities.
On February 3, 2011, the PRC government issued a Notice Concerning the Establishment of Security Review Procedure on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors, or “Security Review Regulations”, which became effective on March 3, 2011. The Security Review Regulations cover acquisitions by foreign investors of a broad range of PRC enterprises if such acquisitions could result in de facto control by foreign investors. On December 19, 2020, the National Development and Reform Commission (the “NDRC”) and the MOFCOM jointly issued the Measures for the Security Review of Foreign Investments (the “New FISR Measures”), which was made pursuant to the National Security Law and the Foreign Investment Law, which became effective on January 18, 2021. The New FISR Measures further expand the scope of national security review on foreign investment, while leaving substantial room for interpretation and speculation. Foreign investors or the relevant parties in China (hereinafter referred to collectively as the “parties concerned”) are required to provide advance notice to the office of the working mechanism relating to a proposed foreign investment within the following categories so that it can consider whether to permit such an investment: (a) military industry, military industrial supporting and other fields relating to the security of national defense, and investments in areas surrounding military facilities and military industry facilities; and (b) important agricultural products, important energy and resources, important equipment manufacturing, important infrastructure, important transport services, important cultural products and services, important information technology and Internet products and services, important financial services, key technologies and other important fields relating to national security. Prior to a decision being made by the office of the working mechanism, the parties concerned shall not consummate the proposed investment.
The Security Review Regulations and the New FISR Measures will potentially subject a large number of mergers and acquisitions transactions by foreign investors in China to an additional layer of regulatory review. Currently, there is significant uncertainty as to the implication of the Security Review Regulations and the New FISR Measures. Complying with the requirements of the above-mentioned regulations and other relevant rules to complete such transactions could be time-consuming, and any required approval processes may delay or inhibit our ability to complete our potential Business Combination, and we may have to spend additional resources and incur additional time delays to complete any such acquisition. There is no guarantee that we can receive such approval in a timely manner, and we may also be prevented from pursuing certain investment opportunities if the PRC government considers that the potential investments will result in a significant national security issue. If obtained, since our Business Combination period is 27 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering, and the approval process may take a period longer than we expect before we enter into a definitive agreement with a target company, we may be unable to complete a Business Combination within 27 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering.
Our Business Combination may be subject to PRC laws relating to the collection, use, sharing, retention, security, and transfer of confidential and private information, such as personal information and other data. These laws continue to develop, and the PRC government may adopt other rules and restrictions in the future. Non-compliance could result in penalties or other significant legal liabilities.
Pursuant to the PRC Cybersecurity Law, which was promulgated by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on November 7, 2016 and took effect on June 1, 2017, personal information and important data collected and generated by a critical information infrastructure operator in the course of its operations in China must be stored in China, and if a critical information infrastructure operator purchases internet products and services that affects or may affect national security, it should be subject to cybersecurity review by the CAC. In April 2020, the CAC and certain other PRC regulatory authorities promulgated the Measures for Cybersecurity Review, which requires that operators of critical information infrastructure must pass a cybersecurity review when purchasing network products and services which do or may affect national security. On January 4, 2022, the CAC, in conjunction with 12 other government departments, issued the New Measures for Cybersecurity Review (the “New Measures”). The New Measures, which became effective on February 15, 2022, amend the Measures for Cybersecurity Review (Draft Revision for Comments) released on July 10, 2021. The New Measures require that certain operators of data processing activities that affect or may affect national security or that handle personal information of more than one million users must apply for cybersecurity review to the Cybersecurity Review Office when they go public abroad. The PRC Data Security Law, which took effect on September 1, 2021, imposes data security and privacy obligations on entities and individuals that carry out data activities, provides for a national security review procedure for data activities that may affect national security and imposes export restrictions on certain data and information.
Certain internet platforms in China have been reportedly subject to heightened regulatory scrutiny in relation to cybersecurity matters. As of the date of this Form 10-K, we have not been informed by any PRC governmental authority of any requirement that we file for a cybersecurity review. However, if, for example, our potential Business Combination is with a target business operating in the PRC and if the aforementioned laws and regulations mandate clearance of cybersecurity review and other specific actions to be completed by the target business, we may face uncertainties as to whether such clearance can be timely obtained, or at all, and incur additional time delays to complete any such acquisition. There is no guarantee that we can receive such approval in a timely manner, and we may also be prevented from pursuing certain investment opportunities if the PRC government considers that the potential investments will result in a significant national security issue. If obtained, since our Business Combination period is 27 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering, or if we decide to extend the period of time to consummate our Business Combination, 27 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering (as further described in this Form 10-K), and the approval process may take a period longer than we expect before we enter into a definitive agreement with a target company, we may be unable to complete a Business Combination within 27 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering.
Cybersecurity review could also result in negative publicity with respect to our Business Combination and diversion of our managerial and financial resources. In addition, we could become subject to enhanced cybersecurity review or investigations launched by PRC regulators in the future. Any failure or delay in the completion of the cybersecurity review procedures or any other non-compliance with the related laws and regulations may result in fines or other penalties, including suspension of business, website closure, and revocation of prerequisite licenses, as well as legal proceedings or actions, which may have material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
In light of recent events indicating greater oversight by the CAC over data security, particularly for companies seeking to list on a foreign exchange, some internet and technology companies, may not be willing to list on a U.S. exchange or enter into a definitive Business Combination agreement with us. Further, we may also have to avoid a Business Combination with a company with more than one million users’ personal information in China due to the limited timeline for us to complete a Business Combination.
Companies in China are subject to various risks and costs associated with the collection, use, sharing, retention, security, and transfer of confidential and private information, such as personal information and other data. This data is wide ranging and relates to our investors, employees, contractors and other counterparties and third parties. If we decide to initiate a Business Combination with a company in China, our compliance obligations include those relating to the Data Protection Act (As Revised) Cayman Islands and the relevant PRC laws in this regard. Non-compliance could result in penalties, delays affecting our ability to timely consummate a Business Combination, or other significant legal liabilities.
These PRC laws apply not only to third-party transactions, but also to transfers of information between a holding company and its subsidiaries. These laws continue to develop, and the PRC government may adopt other rules and restrictions in the future. These laws may have a material adverse affect on companies in the PRC being willing to complete a Business Combination with us, may make it more difficult for us to identify a PRC based company with which to consummate a Business Combination, and may materially narrow the selection of companies available in the PRC from which we could otherwise complete a Business Combination without material adverse affects in the absence of the CAC data security restrictions, rules, and regulations.
If we make equity compensation grants to persons who are PRC citizens, they may be required to register with the SAFE. We may also face regulatory uncertainties that could restrict our ability to adopt equity compensation plans for our directors and employees and other parties under PRC laws.
On February 15, 2012, SAFE issued the Notices on Issues concerning the Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Individuals Participating in Share Incentive Plans of Overseas Publicly-Listed Companies, or the Share Option Rules. Under the Share Option Rules, PRC residents who are granted shares or share options by companies listed on overseas stock exchanges under share incentive plans are required to (i) register with SAFE or its local branches, (ii) retain a qualified PRC agent, which may be a PRC subsidiary of the overseas listed company or another qualified institution selected by the PRC subsidiary, to conduct the SAFE registration and other procedures with respect to the share incentive plans on behalf of the participants, and (iii) retain an overseas institution to handle matters in connection with their exercise of share options, purchase and sale of shares or interests and funds transfers.
Upon consummation of a Business Combination with a PRC Target Company, we may adopt an equity incentive plan and make share option grants under the plan to our officers, directors and employees, whom may be PRC citizens and be required to register with SAFE. If it is determined that any of our equity compensation plans are subject to the Share Option Rules, failure to comply with such provisions may subject us and participants of our equity incentive plan who are PRC citizens to fines and legal sanctions and prevent us from being able to grant equity compensation to our PRC employees. In that case, our ability to compensate our employees and directors through equity compensation would be hindered and our business operations may be adversely affected.
On February 3, 2015, the State Administration of Taxation issued the Circular on Issues of Enterprise Income Tax on Indirect Transfers of Assets by Non-PRC Resident Enterprises, or SAT Circular 7. SAT Circular 7 extends its tax jurisdiction to transactions involving the transfer of taxable assets through offshore transfer of a foreign intermediate holding company. In addition, SAT Circular 7 has introduced safe harbors for internal group restructurings and the purchase and sale of equity through a public securities market. SAT Circular 7 also brings challenges to both foreign transferor and transferee (or other person who is obligated to pay for the transfer) of taxable assets. On October 17, 2017, the State Administration of Taxation issued the Circular on Issues of Withholding of Income Tax of Non-resident Enterprises at Source, or SAT Circular 37, which came into effect on December 1, 2017. SAT Circular 37 further clarifies the practice and procedure of the withholding of non-resident enterprise income tax.
We face uncertainties as to the reporting and other implications of future transactions where PRC taxable assets are involved, such as offshore restructuring, sale of the shares in our offshore subsidiaries and investments. Our Company may be subject to filing obligations or taxed if our Company is transferor in such transactions, and may be subject to withholding obligations if our Company is transferee in such transactions, under SAT Circular 7 or SAT Circular 37. As a result, we may be required to expend valuable resources to comply with SAT Circular 7 or SAT Circular 37 or to establish that our Company should not be taxed under these circulars, which may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
The Chinese government may intervene in and influence the manner in which our post-combination entity must conduct its business activities in ways that we cannot expect when we enter into a definitive agreement with a target company with major operation in China, which could result in a material change in our operations of the combined company and/or the value of our securities, and could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or become worthless. If the Chinese government establishes some new policies, regulations, rules, or laws affecting the industries that our post-combination entity is in, it may materially and adversely affect our operations and the value of our Ordinary Shares.
The Chinese government has exercised and continues to exercise substantial control over virtually every sector of the Chinese economy through regulation and state ownership. Our post-combination entity’s ability to operate in China may be harmed by changes in its laws and regulations, including those relating to taxation, environmental regulations, land use rights, property, and other matters. The central or local governments of these jurisdictions may impose new, stricter regulations or interpretations of existing regulations that would require additional expenditures and efforts on our part to ensure our compliance with such regulations or interpretations. Accordingly, government actions in the future, including any decision not to continue to support recent economic reforms and to return to a more centrally planned economy or regional or local variations in the implementation of economic policies, could have a significant effect on economic conditions in China or particular regions thereof, and could require us to divest ourselves of any interest we then hold in Chinese properties.
As such, the post-combination entity’s business segments may be subject to various government and regulatory interference in the provinces in which they operate. The post-combination entity could be subject to regulation by various political and regulatory entities, including various local and municipal agencies and government sub-divisions. We and our post-combination entity may incur increased costs necessary to comply with existing and newly adopted laws and regulations or penalties for any failure to comply.
Furthermore, it is uncertain when and whether we and our post-combination entity will be required to obtain permission from the PRC government to list on U.S. exchanges in the future, and even when such permission is obtained, whether it will be denied or rescinded. Although we are currently not required to obtain permission from any of the PRC federal or local government and have not received any denial to list on the U.S. exchange, our post-combination operations could be adversely affected, directly or indirectly, by existing or future laws and regulations relating to our business or industry.
PRC laws and regulations governing our post-combination entity’s business operations are sometimes vague and uncertain and any changes in such laws and regulations may impair our ability to operate profitably.
There are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of PRC laws and regulations including, but not limited to, the laws and regulations governing the post-combination entity’s business and the enforcement and performance of its arrangements with customers in certain circumstances. The laws and regulations are sometimes vague and may be subject to future changes, and their official interpretation and enforcement may involve substantial uncertainty. The effectiveness and interpretation of newly enacted laws or regulations, including amendments to existing laws and regulations, may be delayed, and the post-combination entity’s business may be affected if we rely on laws and regulations which are subsequently adopted or interpreted in a manner different from our understanding of these laws and regulations. New laws and regulations that affect existing and proposed future businesses may also be applied retroactively. We cannot predict what effect the interpretation of existing or new PRC laws or regulations may have on our post-combination entity’s business.
The PRC legal system is a civil law system based on written statutes. Unlike the common law system, prior court decisions under the civil law system may be cited for reference but have limited precedential value. Since these laws and regulations are relatively new and the PRC legal system continues to rapidly evolve, the interpretations of many laws, regulations and rules are not always uniform and the enforcement of these laws, regulations and rules involves uncertainties.
In 1979, the PRC government began to promulgate a comprehensive system of laws and regulations governing economic matters in general. The overall effect of legislation over the past three decades has significantly enhanced the protections afforded to various forms of foreign investments in China. However, China has not developed a fully integrated legal system, and recently enacted laws and regulations may not sufficiently cover all aspects of economic activities in China. In particular, the interpretation and enforcement of these laws and regulations involve uncertainties. Since PRC administrative and court authorities have significant discretion in interpreting and implementing statutory provisions and contractual terms, it may be difficult to evaluate the outcome of administrative and court proceedings and the level of legal protection we enjoy. These uncertainties may affect our judgment on the relevance of legal requirements and our ability to enforce our contractual rights or tort claims. In addition, the regulatory uncertainties may be exploited through unmerited or frivolous legal actions or threats in attempts to extract payments or benefits from us.
Furthermore, the PRC legal system is based in part on government policies and internal rules, some of which are not published on a timely basis or at all and may have retroactive effect. As a result, we may not be aware of our violation of any of these policies and rules until sometime after the violation. In addition, any administrative and court proceedings in China may be protracted, resulting in substantial costs and diversion of resources and management attention.
From time to time, our post-combination entity may have to resort to administrative and court proceedings to enforce our legal rights. However, since PRC administrative and court authorities have significant discretion in interpreting and implementing statutory and contractual terms, it may be more difficult to evaluate the outcome of administrative and court proceedings and the level of legal protection our post-combination entity enjoys than in more developed legal systems. Furthermore, the PRC legal system is based in part on government policies and internal rules (some of which are not published in a timely manner or at all) that may have retroactive effect. As a result, we and our post-combination entity may not be aware of our violation of these policies and rules until sometime after the violation. Such uncertainties, including uncertainty over the scope and effect of our contractual, property (including intellectual property) and procedural rights, and any failure to respond to changes in the regulatory environment in China could materially and adversely affect our business and impede our post-combination entity’s ability to continue its operations.
Changes in the policies, regulations, rules, and the enforcement of laws of the PRC government may occur quickly with little advance notice and could have a significant impact upon our ability to operate profitably in the PRC.
Our post-combination entity may conduct most of our operations and most of our revenue is generated in the PRC. Accordingly, economic, political, and legal developments in the PRC will significantly affect our post-combination entity’s business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Policies, regulations, rules, and the enforcement of laws of the PRC government can have significant effects on economic conditions in the PRC and the ability of businesses to operate profitably. Our post-combination entity’s ability to operate profitably in the PRC may be adversely affected by changes in policies by the PRC government, including changes in laws, regulations or their interpretation.
The cash-flow structure of a post-acquisition company based in China or Hong Kong poses additional risks including, but not limited to, restrictions on foreign exchange and restrictions on our ability to transfer cash between entities, across borders, and to U.S. investors.
The PRC government also has significant authority to exert restrictions on foreign exchange and our ability to transfer cash between entities, across borders, and to U.S. investors that may apply if we acquire a company that is based in China or Hong Kong in a Business Combination. We will be subject to restrictions on dividend payments as current regulations in China would permit our PRC subsidiary to pay dividends to us only out of its accumulated distributable profits, if any, determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. In addition, our PRC subsidiary will be required to set aside at least 10% (up to an aggregate amount equal to half of its registered capital) of its accumulated profits each year. See “If we successfully consummate a Business Combination with a target business with primary operations in the PRC, we will be subject to restrictions on dividend payments following consummation of our Business Combination.”
In addition, we may be subject to restrictions on currency exchange as the PRC government may limit or eliminate our ability to utilize cash generated in RMBs to fund our business activities outside of the PRC or pay dividends in foreign currencies to our shareholders, including holders of our securities, and may limit our ability to obtain foreign currency through debt or equity financing. Should we choose to acquire a company in China, exchange controls that exist in the PRC may restrict or prevent us from using the proceeds of the Initial Public Offering to acquire a target company in PRC and limit our ability to utilize our cash flow effectively following our Business Combination. If we were to acquire a PRC company, the PRC regulation on loans to, and direct investment in, our PRC subsidiary by offshore holding companies and governmental control in currency conversion may restrict our ability to make loans to or capital contributions to our PRC subsidiary, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.
These restrictions will restrict our ability to distribute earnings from our businesses, including subsidiaries, to the parent company and U.S. investors. In addition, fluctuations in exchange rates could result in foreign currency exchange losses to us and may reduce the value of, and amount in U.S. Dollar of dividends payable on, our shares in foreign currency terms. See “Fluctuations in exchange rates could materially adversely affect the results of operations of a PRC target company and the value of your investment.”
As of the date of this Form 10-K, we have not pursued a Business Combination and there have not been any capital contribution or shareholder loans by us to any PRC entities, we do not yet have any subsidiaries, and (except as described in this Form 10-K), we have not received, declared or made any dividends or distributions.
The Chinese government may intervene in or influence a PRC company’s business operations at any time or exert more oversight and control over offerings conducted overseas and foreign investment in China-based issuers. This could result in a material change in a PRC company’s business operations post Business Combination and/or the value of its securities. Additionally, governmental and regulatory interference could significantly limit or completely hinder a target company’s ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors post Business Combination and cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or be worthless.
The PRC regulatory authorities have in recent years strengthened the oversight on cybersecurity and data privacy. According to the institutional reform plan of the State Council approved by the National People’s Congress on March 10, 2023, the National Data Bureau was to be established under the administration of the NDRC. The National Data Bureau was to be responsible for, among other things, advancing the development of data-related fundamental institutions, coordinating the integration, sharing, development and application of data resources, and pushing forward the planning and building of a digital China, the digital economy and a digital society. The National Data Bureau was subsequently established in October 2023. On November 14, 2021, the CAC publicly solicited opinion on the Regulation on Network Data Security Management (Consultation Draft), which stipulated that data processors that undertake data processing activities using internet networks within China are required to apply for cybersecurity review if it conducts data processing activities that will or may have an impact on China’s national security. The review is mandatory if the data processor controls more than 1 million users’ personal information and intends to be listed in a foreign country, or if the data processor seeks to be listed in Hong Kong. As of the date of this Form 10-K, the Draft Regulation on Network Data Security Management has not been formally adopted. On December 28, 2021, the CAC, jointly with 12 departments under the State Council, implemented the Measures for Cybersecurity Review, which became effective on February 15, 2022. According to the Measures for Cybersecurity Review, operators of critical information infrastructure purchasing network products and services, and data processors carrying out data processing activities that affect or may affect China’s national security, are required to conduct a cybersecurity review. Operators, including operators of critical information infrastructure and data processors, who control more than 1 million users’ personal information must report to the Cyber Security Review Office for a cybersecurity review if it intends to be listed in a foreign country.
On June 10, 2021, the Standing Committee of the PRC National People’s Congress, or SCNPC, promulgated the PRC Data Security Law, which took effect in September 2021. The PRC Data Security Law imposes data security and privacy obligations on entities and individuals carrying out data activities and introduces a data classification and hierarchical protection system based on the importance of data in economic and social development, and the degree of harm it will cause to national security, public interests, or legitimate rights and interests of individuals or organizations when such data is tampered with, destroyed, leaked, illegally acquired or used. The PRC Data Security Law also provides for a national security review procedure for data activities that may affect national security and imposes export restrictions on certain data and information. On August 20, 2021, the SCNPC adopted the Personal Information Protection Law, which took effect as of November 1, 2021. The Personal Information Protection Law includes the basic rules for personal information processing, the rules for cross-border provision of personal information, the rights of individuals in personal information processing activities, the obligations of personal information processors, and the responsibilities for collection, processing, and use of personal information.
Because laws, regulations, or policies in the PRC could change rapidly in the future, any future action by the PRC government expanding the categories of industries, persons and companies whose foreign securities offerings are subject to review by the CSRC or the CAC could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and could cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or be worthless. Since none of our officers and directors has engaged in data activities or the processing of personal information in China, we believe our officers and directors are in full compliance with the regulations and policies that have been issued by the CAC to date.
Even if we do not undertake a Business Combination with any entity that is based or located in or that conducts its principal business operations in China (including Hong Kong and Macau), our potential target may, or its customers, vendors or business partners may, collect or generate data in China. Given that the PRC authorities have significant discretion in interpreting and applying the relevant cybersecurity and data laws and regulations, there is a risk that any potential target business of ours may be subject to cybersecurity review or other regulatory actions even though it is not based or located in and does not conduct its principal business operations in China; and in the event of such a review, our consummation of a Business Combination could be materially delayed. To avoid such risk, we may avoid completing a Business Combination with such a target business and instead pursue other opportunities, which may limit the pool of attractive targets. As a result, our search for a target company may be adversely affected.
The PRC governmental authorities may take the view now or in the future that an approval from them is required for an overseas offering by a company affiliated with Chinese businesses or persons or a Business Combination with a target business based in and primarily operating in China.
The M&A Rules include, among other things, provisions that purport to require that an offshore special purpose vehicle formed for the purpose of an overseas listing of securities in a PRC company obtain the approval of the CSRC prior to the listing and trading of such special purpose vehicle’s securities on an overseas stock exchange. On September 21, 2006, the CSRC published on its official website procedures specifying documents and materials required to be submitted to it by special purpose vehicles seeking CSRC’s approval of overseas listings. However, substantial uncertainty remains regarding the scope and applicability of the M&A Rules and the CSRC approval requirement to offshore special purpose vehicles.
On December 27, 2021, the NDRC and the MOFCOM jointly promulgated the Special Administrative Measure (Negative List) for the Access of Foreign Investment (2021 Version), or the Negative List, which became effective on January 1, 2022. According to Article 6 of the Negative List, domestic enterprises engaging in businesses in which foreign investment is prohibited shall obtain approval from the relevant authorities before offering and listing their shares on an overseas stock exchange. In addition, certain foreign investors shall not be involved in the operation or management of the relevant enterprise, and shareholding percentage restrictions under relevant domestic securities investment management regulations shall apply to such foreign investors.
On February 17, 2023, the CSRC promulgated the Trial Administrative Measures and five supporting guidelines, which became effective on March 31, 2023. According to the Trial Administrative Measures, among other requirements, (a) domestic companies that seek to offer or list securities overseas, both directly and indirectly, must comply with the filing procedures of the Trial Administrative Measures with the CSRC. If the issuer meets both of the following conditions, the overseas offering and listing shall be determined as an indirect overseas offering and listing by a domestic company and be required to comply with the filing procedures: (i) any of the total assets, net assets, revenues or profits of the domestic operating entities of the issuer in the most recent fiscal year accounts for more than 50% of the corresponding figure in the issuer’s audited consolidated financial statements for the same period; or (ii) its major operational activities are carried out in China or its main places of business are located in China, or the senior managers in charge of operation and management of the issuer are mostly Chinese citizens or are domiciled in China. If a domestic company fails to complete the filing procedure, such domestic company may be subject to administrative penalties.
Based on our understanding of the current PRC laws and regulations in effect at the time of this Form 10-K, no prior permission was required under the M&A Rules, the Negative List or the Trial Administrative Measures from any PRC governmental authorities (including the CSRC) for consummating the Initial Public Offering by our Company, given that: (a) the CSRC currently has not issued any definitive rule or interpretation concerning whether offerings like ours are subject to the M&A Rules; and (b) our Company is a blank check company incorporated in the Cayman Islands rather than China and currently the Company conducts no business in China. However, there remains some uncertainty as to how the M&A Rules, the Negative List or the Trial Administrative Measures will be interpreted or implemented in the context of an overseas offering or if we decide to consummate the Business Combination with a target business based In and primarily operating in China. If the CSRC or another PRC governmental authority subsequently determines that its approval is needed for a Business Combination with a target business based in and primarily operating in China, we may face approval delays, adverse actions or sanctions by the CSRC or other PRC governmental authorities. In any such event, these governmental authorities may delay the potential Business Combination, impose fines and penalties, limit our operations in China, or take other actions that could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, reputation and prospects, as well as the trading price of our securities.
Our Company is a blank check company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands. We currently do not hold any equity interest in any PRC company or operate any business in China. Therefore, we are not required to obtain any permission from any PRC governmental authorities to operate our business as currently conducted. If we decide to consummate our Business Combination with a target business based in and primarily operating in China, the combined company’s business operations in China through its subsidiaries are subject to relevant requirements to obtain applicable licenses from PRC governmental authorities under relevant PRC laws and regulations.
If we select a Business Combination target that operates in the PRC, the approval of the Cybersecurity Review Office (“CRO”), the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission and/or other PRC authority may be required for our Business Combination under PRC law.
In April 2020, the CAC and certain other PRC regulatory authorities promulgated the Measures for Cybersecurity Review, which requires that operators of critical information infrastructure must pass a cybersecurity review when purchasing network products and services which do or may affect national security. On January 4, 2022, the CAC, in conjunction with 12 other government departments issued the New Measures for Cybersecurity Review (the “New Measures”). The New Measures, which became effective on February 15, 2022, amends the Measures for Cybersecurity Review (Draft Revision for Comments) released on July 10, 2021. The New Measures require that certain operators of data processing activities that affect or may affect national security or that handle personal information of more than one million users must apply for cybersecurity review to the Cybersecurity Review Office when they go public abroad. The PRC Data Security Law, which took effect on September 1, 2021, imposes data security and privacy obligations on entities and individuals that carry out data activities, provides for a national security review procedure for data activities that may affect national security and imposes export restrictions on certain data and information. On August 20, 2021, the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress promulgated the PRC Personal Information Protection Law (the “PIPL”), which is took effect on November 1, 2021. The PIPL sets out the regulatory framework for the handling and protection of personal information and the transmission of personal information overseas. If our potential future target business in China involves collecting and retaining internal or customer data, such target might be subject to the relevant cybersecurity laws and regulations, including the PRC Cybersecurity Law and the PIPL, and the cybersecurity review before effecting a business combination. The cybersecurity review might impact the timetable of our Business Combination and the certainty of our Business Combination, if the target company we have identified is subject to the aforementioned cybersecurity related laws and regulations.
The M&A Rules and certain other People’s Republic of China regulations establish complex procedures for some acquisitions of Chinese companies by foreign investors, which could make it more difficult for us to pursue an acquisition in China.
The M&A Rules and some other regulations and rules concerning mergers and acquisitions established additional procedures and requirements that could make merger and acquisition activities by foreign investors more time-consuming and complex, including requirements in some instances that MOFCOM be notified in advance of any change-of-control transaction in which a foreign investor takes control of a PRC domestic enterprise. Moreover, the Antitrust Law requires that the Antitrust Bureau of the State Administration for Market Regulation and other antitrust agencies shall be notified in advance of any concentration of undertaking if certain thresholds are triggered. In addition, the Measures for the Security Review of Foreign Investments (the “New FISR Measures”) issued by the NDRC and MOFCOM that became effective in January 18, 2021specify that mergers and acquisitions by foreign investors that raise “national defense and security” concerns and mergers and acquisitions through which foreign investors may acquire de facto control over domestic enterprises that raise “national security” concerns are subject to strict review by the office of the working mechanism, and the rules prohibit any activities attempting to bypass a security review, including by structuring the transaction through a proxy or contractual control arrangement. In the future, we may acquire a complementary business. Complying with the requirements of the above-mentioned regulations and other relevant rules to complete such transactions could be time-consuming, and any required approval processes, including obtaining approval from the office of the working mechanism or its local counterparts may delay or inhibit our ability to complete such transactions, which could affect our ability to complete our Business Combination.
Substantial uncertainties exist with respect to the interpretation and implementation of the Foreign Investment Law and how it may impact our ability to pursue an acquisition in China.
On March 15, 2019, the PRC National People’s Congress approved the Foreign Investment Law, which came into effect on January 1, 2020 and replaces the trio of existing laws regulating foreign investment in the PRC, namely, the Sino-Foreign Equity Joint Venture Enterprise Law, the Sino-Foreign Cooperative Joint Venture Enterprise Law and the Wholly Foreign-Invested Enterprise Law, together with their implementation rules and ancillary regulations and become the legal foundation for foreign investment in the PRC. Meanwhile, the Implementation Regulation of the Foreign Investment Law and the Measures for Reporting of Information on Foreign Investment, which came into effect as of January 1, 2020, clarified and elaborated the relevant provisions of the Foreign Investment Law.
The Foreign Investment Law sets out the basic regulatory framework for foreign investments and proposes to implement a system of pre-entry national treatment with a negative list for foreign investments, pursuant to which (i) foreign entities and individuals are prohibited from investing in the areas that are not open to foreign investments, (ii) foreign investments in the restricted industries must satisfy certain requirements under the law, and (iii) foreign investments in business sectors outside of the negative list will be treated equally with domestic investments. The Foreign Investment Law also sets forth necessary mechanisms to facilitate, protect and manage foreign investments and proposes to establish a foreign investment information reporting system, through which foreign investors or foreign-invested enterprises are required to submit initial report, report of changes, report of deregistration and annual report relating to their investments to the Ministry of Commerce, or MOFCOM, or its local branches.
If, after our Business Combination, substantially all of our assets will be located in China and substantially all of our revenue will be derived from our operations there, our results of operations and prospects and trading prices of our securities will be subject, to a significant extent, to the economic, political and legal policies, developments and conditions in China as well as litigation and publicity surrounding China-based companies listed in the United States.
The economic, political and social conditions, as well as government policies, of China, after our Business Combination, could affect our business. The economies in Asia differ from the economies of most developed countries in many respects. For the most part, such economies have grown at a rate in excess of the United States; however, (1) such economic growth has been uneven, both geographically and among various sectors of the economy and (2) 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 Business Combination and if we effect our Business Combination, the ability of that target business to become profitable.
We believe that litigation and negative publicity surrounding companies with operations in China that are listed in the United States have negatively impacted stock prices for these companies. Various equity-based research organizations have published reports on China-based companies after examining their corporate governance practices, related party transactions, sales practices and financial statements, and these reports have led to special investigations and listing suspensions on U.S. national exchanges. Any similar scrutiny of our assets and operation, in China, if any, regardless of its lack of merit, could result in a diversion of management resources and energy, potential costs to defend ourselves against rumors, decreases and volatility in the trading price of our securities, and increased directors and officers insurance premiums and could have an adverse effect upon our business, including our results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and prospects.
China’s economic, political and social conditions, as well as changes in any government policies, laws, and regulations, could have a material adverse effect on our business.
If we effect our Business Combination with a business located in the PRC, a substantial portion of our operations may be conducted in China, and a significant portion of our net revenues may be derived from customers where the contracting entity is located in China. Accordingly, after our Business Combination, our business, financial condition, results of operations, prospects, and certain transactions we may undertake may be subject, to a significant extent, to economic, political, and legal developments in China.
China’s economy differs from the economies of most developed countries in many respects, including the amount of government involvement, level of development, growth rate, control of foreign exchange and allocation of resources. While the PRC economy has experienced significant growth in the past two to three decades, growth has been uneven, both geographically and among various sectors of the economy. Demand for target services and products depends, in large part, on economic conditions in China. Any slowdown in China’s economic growth may cause our potential customers to delay or cancel their plans to purchase our services and products, which in turn could reduce our net revenues.
Although China’s economy has been transitioning from a planned economy to a more market-oriented economy since the late 1970s, the PRC government continues to play a significant role in regulating industry development by imposing industrial policies. Changes in any of these policies, laws and regulations could adversely affect the economy in China and could have a material adverse effect on our business.
The PRC government has implemented various measures to encourage foreign investment and sustainable economic growth and to guide the allocation of financial and other resources. However, we cannot assure you that the PRC government will not repeal or alter these measures or introduce new measures that will have a negative effect on us. China’s social and political conditions may change and become unstable. Any sudden changes to China’s political system or the occurrence of widespread social unrest could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
If we merge with a China-based operating company, then PRC regulation on loans to, and direct investment in, PRC entities by offshore holding companies and governmental control in currency conversion may delay or prevent us from making loans to or making additional capital contributions to the PRC entity, if any, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.
We are an exempted company incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability structured as a blank check company and may conduct our operations in China through a PRC entity. As permitted under PRC laws and regulations, we may make loans to our PRC entity subject to the approval from governmental authorities and limitation of amount, or we may make additional capital contributions to our PRC entity. Furthermore, loans by us to our PRC entity to finance its activities cannot exceed the difference between their respective total project investment amount and registered capital or 2.5 times of their net worth and capital contributions to our PRC entity will be subject to the requirement of making necessary filings in the Foreign Investment Comprehensive Management Information System and registration with other governmental authorities in China.
The SAFE promulgated the Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Reforming the Administration of Foreign Exchange Settlement of Capital of Foreign-invested Enterprises, or Circular 19, effective on June 1, 2015, in replacement of the Circular on the Relevant Operating Issues Concerning the Improvement of the Administration of the Payment and Settlement of Foreign Currency Capital of Foreign-Invested Enterprises, the Notice from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Relevant Issues Concerning Strengthening the Administration of Foreign Exchange Businesses, and the Circular on Further Clarification and Regulation of the Issues Concerning the Administration of Certain Capital Account Foreign Exchange Businesses. According to Circular 19, the flow and use of the RMB capital converted from foreign currency-denominated registered capital of a foreign-invested company is regulated such that RMB capital may not be used for the issuance of RMB entrusted loans, the repayment of inter-enterprise loans or the repayment of bank loans that have been transferred to a third party. Although Circular 19 allows RMB capital converted from foreign currency-denominated registered capital of a foreign-invested enterprise to be used for equity investments within the PRC, it also reiterates the principle that RMB converted from the foreign currency-denominated capital of a foreign-invested company may not be directly or indirectly used for purposes beyond its business scope. Thus, it is unclear whether the SAFE will permit such capital to be used for equity investments in the PRC in actual practice. The SAFE promulgated the Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Reforming and Standardizing the Foreign Exchange Settlement Management Policy of Capital Account, or Circular 16, effective on June 9, 2016, which reiterates some of the rules set forth in Circular 19, but changes the prohibition against using RMB capital converted from foreign currency-denominated registered capital of a foreign-invested company to issue RMB entrusted loans to a prohibition against using such capital to grant loans to non-associated enterprises. Violations of Circular 19 and Circular 16 could result in administrative penalties. Circular 19 and Circular 16 may significantly limit our ability to transfer any foreign currency we hold, including the net proceeds from the Initial Public Offering, to our PRC entity, which may adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business in the PRC.
In light of the various requirements imposed by PRC regulations on loans to, and direct investment in, PRC entities by offshore holding companies, and the fact that the PRC government may at its discretion restrict access to foreign currencies for current account transactions in the future, we cannot assure you that we will be able to complete the necessary government registrations or obtain the necessary government approvals on a timely basis, if at all, with respect to future loans by us to our PRC entity or with respect to future capital contributions by us to our PRC entity. If we merge with a China-based operating company, and if we fail to complete such registrations or obtain such approvals, our ability to use the proceeds from the Initial Public Offering and to capitalize or otherwise fund our PRC operations may be negatively affected, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.
Fluctuations in exchange rates could materially adversely affect the results of operations of a PRC target company and the value of your investment.
The value of the RMB against the U.S. dollar and other currencies may fluctuate due to changes in political and economic conditions and the foreign exchange policy adopted by the PRC government. On July 21, 2005, the PRC government changed its decade-old policy of pegging the value of the RMB to the U.S. dollar, and the RMB appreciated more than 20% against the U.S. dollar over the following three years. Between July 2008 and June 2010, this appreciation halted and the exchange rate between the RMB and the U.S. dollar remained within a narrow band. Since June 2010, the RMB has fluctuated against the U.S. dollar, at times significantly and unpredictably.
On November 30, 2015, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed the regular five-year review of the basket of currencies that make up the Special Drawing Right, or the SDR, and decided that with effect from October 1, 2016, RMB is determined to be a freely usable currency and will be included in the SDR basket as a fifth currency, along with the U.S. dollar, the Euro, the Japanese yen and the British pound.
With the development of the foreign exchange market and progress towards interest rate liberalization and RMB internationalization, the PRC government may in the future announce further changes to the exchange rate system and the RMB may appreciate or depreciate significantly in value against the U.S. dollar in the future. It is difficult to predict how market forces, international relations especially the trade tensions between U.S. and China, or government policies of the PRC or the U.S. may impact the exchange rate between the RMB and the U.S. dollar.
To the extent that we need to convert U.S. dollars into RMB for our operations, appreciation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar would have an adverse effect on the RMB amount we would receive. Conversely, if we decide to convert our RMB into U.S. dollars to make payments for dividends on our Ordinary Shares or for other business purposes, appreciation of the U.S. dollar against the RMB would negatively affect the U.S. dollar amount.
If we successfully consummate a Business Combination with a target business with primary operations in the PRC, we will be subject to restrictions on dividend payments following consummation of our Business Combination.
After we consummate our Business Combination, we may rely on dividends and other distributions from our operating company to provide us with cash flow and to meet our other obligations. Current regulations in China would permit our operating company in China to pay dividends to us only out of its accumulated distributable profits, if any, determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations.
In addition, our operating company in China will be required to set aside at least 10% (up to an aggregate amount equal to half of its registered capital) of its accumulated profits each year. Each of our PRC subsidiaries as a foreign invested enterprise, is also required to further set aside a portion of its after-tax profits to fund the employee welfare fund, although the amount to be set aside, if any, is determined at its discretion. Such cash reserve may not be distributed as cash dividends. In addition, if our operating company in China incurs debt on its own behalf in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict its ability to pay dividends or make other payments to us.
In addition, the Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementation rules provide that a withholding tax rate of up to 10% will be applicable to dividends payable by Chinese companies to non-PRC-resident enterprises unless otherwise exempted or reduced according to treaties or arrangements between the PRC central government and governments of other countries or regions where the non-PRC resident enterprises are incorporated.
Governmental control of currency conversion may limit our ability to utilize our net revenue effectively and affect the value of your investment.
Following our Business Combination with a PRC target company, we will be subject to the PRC’s rules and regulations on currency conversion. In the PRC, the SAFE regulates the conversion of the Renminbi into foreign currencies. The PRC government imposes controls on the convertibility of the Renminbi into foreign currencies and, in certain cases, the remittance of currency out of China.
Under PRC foreign exchange regulations, payments of current account items, including profit distributions, interest payments and trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, can be made in foreign currencies without prior approval of SAFE by complying with certain procedural requirements. Under existing exchange restrictions, without prior approval of SAFE, cash generated from PRC subsidiaries in China may be used to pay dividends.
However, approval from or registration with appropriate government authorities is required where RMBs are to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital expenses such as the repayment of loans denominated in foreign currencies. The PRC government may at its discretion restrict access to foreign currencies for current account transactions in the future. If the foreign exchange control system prevents us from obtaining sufficient foreign currencies to satisfy our foreign currency demands, we may not pay dividends in foreign currencies to our shareholders.
PRC regulatory authorities could impose further restrictions on the convertibility of RMBs. Any future restrictions on currency exchanges may limit our ability to use the proceeds of the Initial Public Offering in a Business Combination with a PRC target company and the use our cash flow for the distribution of dividends to our shareholders or to fund operations we may have outside of the PRC.
If we merge with a China-based operating company, then there are significant uncertainties under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law relating to the withholding tax liabilities of the PRC entity, and dividends payable by the PRC entity to our offshore entity may not qualify for certain treaty benefits.
Under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law (“PRC EIT Law”) and its implementation rules, if following our Business Combination we are a non-resident enterprise, that is, an enterprise lawfully incorporated pursuant to the laws of a foreign country (region) that has an office or premises established in China with no actual management functions performed in China, or an enterprise that has income derived from or accruing in China although it does not have an office or premises in China, will be subject to a withholding tax rate of 10%. Under the Notice of the State Administration of Taxation on Issues regarding the Administration of the Dividend Provision in Tax Treaties promulgated on February 20, 2009, the taxpayer needs to satisfy certain conditions to utilize the benefits under a tax treaty, including but not limited to (1) the taxpayer must be the beneficial owner of the relevant dividends, and (2) the corporate shareholder to receive dividends from the PRC entity must have continuously met the direct ownership thresholds during the 12 consecutive months preceding the receipt of the dividends. Further, under Announcement of the State Administration of Taxation on Issues Relating to “Beneficial Owner” in Tax Treaties, which took effect on April 1, 2018, a “Beneficial Owner” shall mean a person who has ownership and control over the income and the rights and property from which the income is derived. To determine the “beneficial owner” status of a resident of the treaty counterparty who needs to take advantage of the tax treaty benefits, a comprehensive analysis shall be carried out, taking into account actual conditions of the specific case.
Entitlement to a lower tax rate on dividends according to tax treaties or arrangements between the PRC central government and governments of other countries or regions is subject to Announcement of State Taxation Administration on Promulgation of the Administrative Measures on Non-resident Taxpayers Enjoying Treaty Benefits, or Circular 35. Circular 35 provides that non-resident enterprises are not required to obtain pre-approval from the relevant tax authority in order to enjoy the reduced withholding tax. Instead, non-resident enterprises and their withholding agents may, by self-assessment and on confirmation that the prescribed criteria to enjoy the tax treaty benefits are met, directly apply the reduced withholding tax rate, and file necessary forms and supporting documents when performing tax filings, which will be subject to post-tax filing examinations by the relevant tax authorities.
In addition, in response to the persistent capital outflow in China and the RMB’s depreciation against the U.S. dollar in the fourth quarter of 2016, the People’s Bank of China and SAFE promulgated a series of capital control measures in the subsequent months, including stricter vetting procedures for domestic companies to remit foreign currency for overseas investments, dividends payments and shareholder loan repayments. The PRC government may continue to strengthen its capital controls, and more restrictions and substantial vetting process may be put forward by SAFE for cross-border transactions falling under both the current account and the capital account. Any limitation on the ability of us to pay dividends or make other kinds of payments to us following our Business Combination could materially and adversely limit our ability to grow, make investments or acquisitions that could be beneficial to our business, pay dividends, or otherwise fund and conduct our business.
U.S. laws and regulations, including the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act and Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, may restrict or eliminate our ability to complete a Business Combination with certain companies.
Future developments in U.S. laws may restrict our ability or willingness to complete certain Business Combinations with companies. For instance, the recently enacted HFCAA would restrict our ability to consummate a Business Combination with a target business unless that business met certain standards of the PCAOB and would require delisting of a company from U.S. national securities exchanges if the PCAOB is unable to inspect its public accounting firm for three consecutive years. The HFCAA also requires public companies to disclose, among other things, whether they are owned or controlled by a foreign government, specifically, those based in China. Furthermore, on December 29, 2022, the AHFCAA was signed into law, which amended the HFCAA by requiring the SEC to prohibit an issuer’s securities from trading on any U.S. stock exchanges if its auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspections for two consecutive years instead of three consecutive years.
The documentation we may be required to submit to the SEC proving certain beneficial ownership requirements and establishing that we are not owned or controlled by a foreign government in the event that we use a foreign public accounting firm not subject to inspection by the PCAOB or where the PCAOB is unable to completely inspect or investigate our accounting practices or financial statements because of a position taken by an authority in the foreign jurisdiction could be onerous and time-consuming to prepare. HFCAA mandates the SEC to identify issuers of SEC-registered securities whose audited financial reports are prepared by an accounting firm that the PCAOB is unable to inspect due to restrictions imposed by an authority in the foreign jurisdiction where the audits are performed. If such identified issuer’s auditor cannot be inspected by the PCAOB for three consecutive years, the trading of such issuer’s securities on any U.S. national securities exchanges, as well as any over-the-counter trading in the U.S., will be prohibited.
On March 24, 2021, the SEC adopted interim final rules relating to the implementation of certain disclosure and documentation requirements of the HFCAA. We will be required to comply with these rules if the SEC identifies us as having a “non-inspection” year under a process to be subsequently established by the SEC.
On November 5, 2021, the SEC approved the PCAOB’s Rule 6100, Board Determinations Under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act. Rule 6100 provides a framework for the PCAOB to use when determining, as contemplated under the HFCAA, whether it is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms located in a foreign jurisdiction because of a position taken by one or more authorities in that jurisdiction.
On December 2, 2021, the SEC issued amendments to finalize rules implementing the submission and disclosure requirements in the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act. The rules apply to registrants that the SEC identifies as having filed an annual report with an audit report issued by a registered public accounting firm that is located in a foreign jurisdiction and that PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely because of a position taken by an authority in foreign jurisdictions.
On December 16, 2021, the PCAOB issued a report on its determinations that it was unable to inspect or investigate completely PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and in Hong Kong, because of positions taken by Chinese authorities in those jurisdictions. The PCAOB made its determinations pursuant to PCAOB Rule 6100, which provides a framework for how the PCAOB fulfills its responsibilities under the HFCAA. The report further listed in its Appendix A and Appendix B, Registered Public Accounting Firms Subject to the Mainland China Determination and Registered Public Accounting Firms Subject to the Hong Kong Determination, respectively.
On August 26, 2022, the PCAOB signed a Statement of Protocol with the China Securities Regulatory Commission and the Ministry of Finance of the PRC, taking the first step toward opening access for the PCAOB to inspect and investigate registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong completely, consistent with U.S. law. The Statement of Protocol gives the PCAOB sole discretion to select the firms, audit engagements and potential violations it inspects and investigates and put in place procedures for PCAOB inspectors and investigators to view complete audit work papers with all information included and for the PCAOB to retain information as needed. In addition, the Statement of Protocol grants the PCAOB direct access to interview and take testimony from all personnel associated with the audits the PCAOB inspects or investigates. While significant, uncertainties still exist as to how the Statement of Protocol will be implemented and whether the applicable parties will comply with the framework.
Our auditor, MaloneBailey, was not identified in the PCAOB’s report as a firm subject to the PCAOB’s determination. However, if it is later determined that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely our auditor because of a position taken by an authority in a foreign jurisdiction (including, without limitation, PRC government), we will be required by the HCFAA and, if enacted, the AHFCAA, to delist from Nasdaq because the PCAOB is unable to conduct inspections on such auditor, and our securities are unable to be listed on another securities exchange by the time of such potential delisting, then such a delisting would substantially impair your ability to sell or purchase our securities when you wish to do so, and the risk and uncertainty associated with a potential delisting would have a negative impact on the price of our securities.
In the event that we complete a Business Combination with a company with substantial operations in a foreign jurisdiction and any of the legislative actions or regulatory changes discussed above were to proceed in ways that are detrimental to issuers based in that jurisdiction, it could cause us to fail to be in compliance with U.S. securities laws and regulations, we could cease to be listed on a U.S. securities exchange, and U.S. trading of our shares could be prohibited. Any of these actions, or uncertainties in the market about the possibility of such actions, could adversely affect our prospects to successfully complete a Business Combination, our access to the U.S. capital markets and the price of our shares.
General Risk Factors
Our corporate affairs are 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. We are also subject to the federal securities laws of the United States. 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 of 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 what they would be under 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 certain states, may have more fully developed and judicially interpreted bodies of corporate law. In addition, Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to initiate a shareholders derivative action in a federal court of the United States. As a result, you may face difficulties in protecting your interests, and your ability to protect your rights through the U.S. federal courts may be limited. You should consider these factors carefully before deciding whether to invest in our securities.
You may face difficulties in protecting your interests, and your ability to protect your rights through the U.S. Federal courts may be limited.
Neither the Sponsor, nor any of our directors or officers, is located in, based in, or has significant ties to China Hong Kong or Macau. However, we intend to focus our search on businesses in Asia (including China) within the deep technology sector, including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and biotechnology. China has no arrangement for the reciprocal enforcement of judgments with the United States. PRC courts may only recognize and enforce foreign judgments in accordance with the requirements of the PRC Civil Procedures Law based either on treaties between China and the country where the judgment is made or on principles of reciprocity between jurisdictions. This is reflected in a number of bilateral treaties signed by China, which provide that lack of jurisdiction of the judgment court can be a ground for refusal to enforce the foreign judgment. Further, a foreign judgment cannot be recognized and enforced in China if a Chinese court has rendered a judgment on the same subject matter or recognized and enforced another foreign judgment or arbitral award on the same subject matter. In addition, according to the PRC Civil Procedures Law, the PRC courts will not enforce a foreign judgment against us or our directors and officers if they decide that the judgment violates the basic principles of PRC laws or national sovereignty, security, or public interest. China has no treaties or other forms of written arrangement with the United States that provide for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments.
Additionally, the enforcement of judgments obtained in U.S. courts or foreign courts based on the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws would be extremely difficult given the PRC Civil Procedures Law and the lack of a treaty or principles of reciprocity providing for the recognition and enforcement of U.S. judgments. Furthermore, there would be added costs and issues with bringing an original action in foreign courts to enforce liabilities based on the U.S. federal securities laws against us or our officers and directors, and they still may be fruitless.
We have been advised by Appleby (Cayman) Ltd. (“Appleby”), our Cayman Islands legal counsel that it is uncertain whether the courts of the Cayman Islands will allow shareholders of our Company to originate actions in the Cayman Islands based upon securities laws of the U.S. In addition, 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 exempted 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. Although there is no statutory enforcement in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the United States, the courts of the Cayman Islands will recognize and enforce a foreign money judgment of a foreign court of competent jurisdiction without retrial on the merits of the underlying dispute based on the principle that a judgment of a competent foreign court imposes upon the judgment debtor an obligation to pay the sum for which judgment has been given provided certain conditions are met. For a foreign judgment to be enforced in the Cayman Islands, such judgment must be final and conclusive and for a liquidated sum, and must not be in respect of taxes or a fine or penalty, was not obtained by fraud or obtained in a manner, or be of a kind the enforcement of which is, contrary to natural justice or the public policy of the Cayman Islands (awards of punitive or multiple damages may well be held to be contrary to public policy). The courts of the Cayman Islands will apply the rules of Cayman Islands private international law to determine whether the foreign court is a court of competent jurisdiction.
We are subject to laws and regulations enacted by national, regional and local governments. In particular, we are required to comply with certain SEC and other legal requirements. Compliance with, and monitoring of, applicable laws and regulations may be difficult, time consuming and costly.
Those laws and regulations and their interpretation and application may also change from time to time and those changes could have a material adverse effect on our business, investments and results of operations and ability to consummate our Business Combination. In addition, a failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations, as interpreted and applied, could have a material adverse effect on our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete our Business Combination and results of operations.
Additionally, we are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Rule 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 exceeds $250 million as of the end of the prior June 30 th, or (2) our annual revenues exceeded $100 million during such completed fiscal year and the market value of our Ordinary Shares held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the prior June 30 th. 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.
| ● | restrictions on the issuance of securities, each of which may make it difficult for us to complete our Business Combination. |
| ● | registration as an investment company; |
We do not believe that our anticipated principal activities will subject us to the Investment Company Act. To this end, the proceeds held in the Trust Account may only be held in demand deposit or cash accounts or invested in United States “government securities” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act having a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations. The holding of these assets in this form is intended to be temporary and for the sole purpose of facilitating the intended Business Combination. To mitigate the risk that we might be deemed to be an investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act, which risk may increase the longer that we hold investments in the Trust Account, we may, at any time (and will no later than 27 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering) instruct the trustee to liquidate the investments held in the Trust Account and instead to hold the funds in the Trust Account in cash or in an interest bearing demand deposit account. The interest we earn on such funds may be less than if we kept them invested as indicated above.
Pursuant to the trust agreement, the trustee is not permitted to invest in other securities or assets. By restricting the investment of the proceeds to these instruments, and by having a business plan targeted at acquiring and growing businesses for the long term (rather than on buying and selling businesses in the manner of a merchant bank or private equity fund), we intend to avoid being deemed an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act. The Initial Public Offering was not intended for persons who are seeking a return on investments in government securities or investment securities. The Trust Account is intended as a holding place for funds pending the earliest to occur of: (i) the completion of our primary business objective, which is a Business Combination; (ii) the redemption of any Public Shares properly submitted in connection with a shareholder vote to further amend our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association to modify (A) the substance or timing of our obligation to allow redemption in connection with our Business Combination or to redeem 100% of our Public Shares if we do not complete our Business Combination within 27 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering, or (B) with respect to any other provision relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-Business Combination activity; or (iii) absent a Business Combination, our return of the funds held in the Trust Account to our Public Shareholders as part of our redemption of the Public Shares.
Additionally, if we were deemed to be subject to the Investment Company Act, compliance with these additional regulatory burdens would require additional expenses for which we have not allotted funds and may hinder our ability to complete a Business Combination. If we are unable to complete our Business Combination, our Public Shareholders may receive only approximately $10.05 per share on the liquidation of our Trust Account and our Rights will expire worthless. In certain circumstances, our Public Shareholders may receive less than $10.05 per share on the redemption of their shares. See “- If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in the Trust Account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by shareholders may be less than $10.05 per share” and other risk factors in this section. If our facts and circumstances change over time, we will update our disclosure to reflect how those changes impact the risk that the Company may be considered to be operating as an unregistered investment company.
As indicated above, we have 27 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering to consummate a Business Combination. It is possible that a claim in the future could be made that we have been operating as an unregistered investment company. It is also possible that the investment of funds from the Initial Public Offering and private placement of units during our life as a blank check company, and the earning and use of interest from such investment, both of which will likely continue until we consummate a Business Combination, could increase the likelihood of us being found to have been operating as an unregistered investment company more than if we sought to potentially mitigate this risk by holding such funds as cash. Furthermore, the longer the funds are invested in United States “government securities” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act having a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations, the greater the risk could be that we are considered an investment company. If we are deemed to be an investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act and found to have been operating as an unregistered investment company, it could cause us to liquidate. If we are forced to liquidate, investors in our Company would not be able to participate in any benefits of owning stock in an operating business, including the potential appreciation of our stock following a Business Combination and our Rights would expire worthless.
Our rights agreement designates the courts of the State of New York located in the County 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 Rights, as applicable, which could limit the ability of rights holders to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with our Company.
Our rights agreement provides that, subject to applicable law, (i) any action, proceeding or claim against us arising out of or relating in any way to the rights agreement, including under the Securities Act, will be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York located in the County of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, (ii) 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.
This choice-of-forum provision may limit a right holder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with our Company, which may discourage such lawsuits. Right holders who are unable to bring their claims in the judicial forum of their choosing may be required to incur additional costs in pursuit of actions which are subject to our choice-of-forum provisions. Alternatively, if a court were to find this provision of our rights 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.
Compliance obligations under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may make it more difficult for us to complete our Business Combination, require substantial financial and management resources, and increase the time and costs of completing an acquisition.
We may not hold an annual meeting of shareholders until after the consummation of our Business Combination, which could delay the opportunity for our shareholders to elect directors.
In accordance with NASDAQ corporate governance requirements, we are not required to hold an annual meeting of shareholders until no later than one year after our first fiscal year end following our listing on NASDAQ. There is no requirement under the Companies Act for us to hold annual or general meetings of shareholders to appoint directors. Accordingly, until we hold an annual general meeting, Public Shareholders may not be afforded the opportunity to discuss company affairs with Management. Our board of directors is divided into three classes with only one class of directors being appointed in each year and each class (except for those directors appointed prior to our first annual general meeting) serving a three-year term. In addition, as holders of our Ordinary Shares, our Public Shareholders will not have the right to vote on the appointment of directors until after the consummation of our Business Combination. In addition, prior to our Business Combination, only holders of the Founder Shares have the right to vote on the appointment of directors, including in connection with the completion of our Business Combination. Accordingly, you may not have any say in the Management of our Company prior to the consummation of a Business Combination.
The text of this filing, as the company filed it with the SEC, without its images or exhibits. This is not investment advice.