As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 3, 2025
Registration No. 333-284331
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
____________________
Amendment No. 3
Form S-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
____________________
IRON HORSE ACQUISITIONS CORP. II
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
____________________
Delaware |
6770 |
33-2152065 |
||
(State or other jurisdiction of |
(Primary Standard Industrial |
(I.R.S. Employer |
Iron Horse Acquisitions Corp. II
851 Broken Sound Parkway Nw Boca Raton, FL 33487
Telephone: (310) 290-5383
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
____________________
Jose Antonio Bengochea, Chief Executive Officer
851 Broken Sound Parkway Nw Boca Raton, FL 33487
Telephone: (310) 290-5383
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
____________________
Copies to:
Mitchell S. Nussbaum, Esq. |
Douglas S. Ellenoff, Esq. New York, New York 10105 Tel: (212) 370-1300 |
____________________
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after the effective date of this registration statement.
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 check the following box. ☐
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer |
☐ |
Accelerated filer |
☐ |
|||
Non-accelerated filer |
☒ |
Smaller reporting company |
☒ |
|||
Emerging growth company |
☒ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JULY 3, 2025
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS
$200,000,000
Iron Horse Acquisitions Corp. II
20,000,000 Units
Iron Horse Acquisitions Corp. II (the “Company”) is a blank check company formed for the purpose of entering into a merger, stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities, which we refer to as a “target business.” Our efforts to identify a prospective target business will not be limited to a particular industry or geographic region although we intend to initially focus on target companies within the media and entertainment industry with a primary focus on the United States, and in particular on identifying attractive targets among content studios and film production, family entertainment, animation, music, gaming, e-sports, talent management, and talent-facing brands and businesses. We do not have any specific business combination under consideration and we have not (nor has anyone on our behalf), directly or indirectly, contacted any prospective target business or had any substantive discussions, formal or otherwise, with respect to such a transaction. If we are unable to consummate an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, unless such time is extended as described herein, we will redeem 100% of the public shares for a pro rata portion of the trust account, 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 for our franchise and income tax obligations (less up to $100,000 for our liquidation expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to applicable law and as further described herein. Except for franchise taxes and income taxes, the proceeds placed in the trust account and the interest earned thereon shall not be used to pay for possible excise tax or any other fees or taxes that may be levied on the Company pursuant to any current, pending or future rules or laws, including without limitation any excise tax due under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (“IRA”) on any redemptions or stock buybacks by the Company.
This is an initial public offering of our securities. We are offering 20,000,000 units. Each unit that we are offering has a price of $10.00 and consists of one share of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “common stock”), and one right (each, a “right”). Each right entitles the holder thereof to receive one-tenth (1/10) of a share of common stock upon the consummation of an initial business combination, as described in more detail in this prospectus. No fractional shares will be issued upon conversion of the rights. As a result, you must hold at least ten rights to receive one share of common stock at the closing of the initial business combination. We have granted the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 3,000,000 units to cover over-allotments, if any.
The Company will deposit $200,000,000 (or $230,000,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) or $10.00 per unit sold to the public in this offering, in a U.S.-based trust account with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee pursuant to an agreement to be signed on the date of this prospectus. This amount will come from the net proceeds of this offering and the proceeds we will receive from the sale of the private units.
We will provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem, regardless of whether they abstain, vote for, or vote against, our initial business combination, all or a portion of their common stock that were sold as part of the units in this offering, upon the completion of our initial business combination at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account, less taxes payable (other than any excise or similar tax that may be due or payable), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares of common stock. There is no limitation on any such redemption.
Our sponsor, Bengochea SPAC Sponsors II LLC (“sponsor”) and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., the representative of the underwriters, have committed to purchase an aggregate of 570,000 private units (whether or not the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), at a price of $10.00 per unit, or $5,700,000 in the aggregate (whether or not the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. Each private unit consists of one share of common stock and one right. We refer to these units throughout this prospectus as the private units, the shares included in the private units as the private shares and the rights included in the private units as private rights. Of those 570,000 private units, our sponsor has agreed to purchase 370,000 units and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. has agreed to purchase 200,000 units. The private units are identical to the units sold in this offering, subject to certain limited exceptions as described in this prospectus.
Nine institutional investors (none of which are affiliated with any member of our management, our sponsor or any other investor), which we refer to as the “non-managing sponsor investors” throughout this prospectus, have expressed an interest to indirectly purchase, through the purchase of non-managing sponsor membership interests, an aggregate of 315,000 private units at a price of $10.00 per unit ($3,150,000 in the aggregate) in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering, which would result in them owning 85% of the private units, with our officers and directors owning the remainder. Subject to each non-managing sponsor investor purchasing, through the sponsor, the private units allocated to it in connection with the closing of this offering, the sponsor will issue membership interests at a nominal purchase price of $0.004 per share to the non-managing sponsor investors reflecting indirect interests in an aggregate of 2,520,000 founder shares held by the sponsor.
None of the non-managing sponsor investors have expressed to us an interest in purchasing any of the units in this offering and neither us nor the representative has had discussions with any non-managing sponsor investors regarding any purchases of units in this offering. Any potential purchase of the non-managing sponsor membership interests would not be contingent upon the participation in this offering or vice-versa. If the non-managing sponsor investors purchase units in the offering, and depending on how many units are purchased by the non-managing sponsor investors, the post-offering trading volume, volatility and liquidity of our securities may be reduced relative to what they would have been had the units been more widely sold to other public investors. We do not expect any potential purchases of units by non-managing sponsor investors to negatively impact our ability to meet Nasdaq listing eligibility requirements. In addition, the underwriter has full discretion to allocate the units to investors and may determine not to sell any units to the non-managing sponsor investors, and in no case would any of the non-managing sponsor investors be sold more than 9.9% of the units to be sold in this offering. The underwriter would receive the same upfront discounts and commissions and deferred underwriting commissions on units purchased by the non-managing sponsor investors, if any, as it will on the other units sold to the public in this offering. In addition, if the non-managing sponsor investors purchase units in the offering, the non-managing sponsor investors would not have any obligation to vote any of their public shares in favor of our initial business combination. Nevertheless, the non-managing sponsor investors would be incentivized to vote any of their public shares, if any, in favor of a business combination due to their indirect ownership through the sponsor of founder shares, and shares of common stock and private rights issued as part of the private units.
The interests of the members of the sponsor are denominated in two classes of membership interest units: (i) class A membership units representing interests in the founder shares and (ii) class B membership units that will represent an interest in the private units. All members of the sponsor, including the managing member of the sponsor, and any sponsor non-managing member that may join the sponsor will hold both classes of membership units representing their proportional interest in the founder shares and private units, respectively. Pursuant to an agreement of all members of the sponsor, the management and control of the sponsor is vested exclusively with the managing member, without any voting, veto, consent or other participation rights by any non-managing members regardless of their unit ownership. All matters submitted to a vote by the managing member will require the affirmative vote of the class A membership units held only by the managing member, without regard to any membership interests held by any non-managing members. As a result, sponsor non-managing members will have no right to control the sponsor, or participate in any decision regarding the disposal of any security held by the sponsor, or otherwise.
Members of our management team, the sponsor and any of its affiliates will directly or indirectly own founder shares, or other instruments, such as units, following this offering. Because our sponsor and any non-managing sponsor investors acquired the founder shares at a nominal price, our public stockholders will incur immediate and substantial dilution upon the closing of this offering, which will allow them to realize enhanced economic returns from their investment as compared to other investors purchasing units in this offering. As a result, there may be actual or potential material conflicts of interest between members of our management team, our sponsor, any promotor or financial advisor and their respective affiliates on one hand, and purchasers in this offering on the other. Accordingly, our management team, the sponsor and any of its affiliates or promoters may have a conflict of interest with the purchasers of units in this offering in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination. Further, each of our officers and directors may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination if the retention or resignation of any such officers and directors was included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination. Additionally, each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties to one or more other entities pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity to such entities, which also may impact their decisions in otherwise exercising their rights as public stockholders because of their indirect ownership of founder shares and private units. See “Summary — The Offering — Conflicts of interest”, “Management — Conflicts of Interest”, “Proposed Business — Sourcing of Potential Business Combination Targets” and “Management — Conflicts of Interest”.
Our sponsor currently owns an aggregate of 5,750,000 shares of common stock (which were purchased for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000 (or approximately $0.004 per share), up to 750,000 of which will be surrendered to us for no consideration after the closing of this offering depending on the extent to which the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised, of which ___________ will be allocated to non-managing sponsor investors. The nominal purchase price paid by our sponsor for the founder shares may significantly dilute the implied value of your public shares in the event we consummate an initial business combination, and our sponsor is likely to make a substantial profit on its investment in us in the event we consummate an initial business combination, even if the business combination causes the trading price of our shares of common stock to decline materially. See the section titled “Dilution” for more information. See Risk Factor — “Our initial stockholders paid an aggregate of $25,000, or approximately $0.004 per founder share and, accordingly, you will experience immediate and substantial dilution from the purchase of our shares of common stock” and “The nominal purchase price paid by our sponsor for the founder shares may result in significant dilution to the implied value of your public shares upon the consummation of our initial business combination, and our sponsor is likely to make a substantial profit on its investment in us in the event we consummate an initial business combination, even if the business combination causes the trading price of our shares of common stock to materially decline”.
The following table illustrates our net tangible book value per share at the specified redemption levels:
As of February 28, 2025 |
||||||||||||||||||
Offering |
25% of |
50% of |
75% of |
Maximum |
||||||||||||||
NTBV |
NTBV |
Difference |
NTBV |
Difference |
NTBV |
Difference |
NTBV |
Difference |
||||||||||
|
Assuming Full Exercise of Over-Allotment Option |
|||||||||||||||||
$ |
7.50 |
6.89 |
3.11 |
5.89 |
4.11 |
3.94 |
6.06 |
(1.58 |
) |
11.58 |
||||||||
|
Assuming No Exercise of Over-Allotment Option |
|||||||||||||||||
$ |
7.50 |
6.89 |
3.11 |
5.90 |
4.10 |
3.95 |
6.05 |
(1.47 |
) |
11.47 |
See the Section entitled “Dilution” of this prospectus for additional information.
Upon consummation of this offering, we will repay up to $300,000 in loans made to us by our sponsor to cover offering-related and organizational expenses. In the event that following this offering we obtain working capital loans from our sponsor to finance transaction costs related to our initial business combination, up to $300,000 of such loans may be convertible into private units of the post-business combination entity at a price of $10.00 per private unit at the option of our sponsor which may have a dilutive effect on, and could reduce the value of the shares of common stock. Because our sponsor and any non-managing sponsor investors acquired the founder shares at a nominal price, our public stockholders will incur immediate and substantial dilution upon the closing of this offering. We will also reimburse our sponsor, directors or officers, or our or any of their respective affiliates for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination. See “Prospectus Summary — Our Sponsor” for more information.
We have until the date that is 24 months from the closing of this offering (the “Deadline”). If we anticipate that we may be unable to consummate our initial business combination within such 24-month period, we may seek stockholder approval to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to extend the date by which we must consummate our initial business combination. If we seek stockholder approval for an extension, holders of public shares of common stock will be offered an opportunity to redeem their shares at a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned thereon (less franchise and income taxes payable), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares of common stock, subject to applicable law. Our initial stockholders will lose their entire investment in us if our initial business combination is not completed within 24 months from the closing of this offering, unless we further extend the amount of time we have to consummate an initial business combination by obtaining stockholder approval to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. While we do not currently intend to seek such stockholder approval, we may elect to do so in the future. There is no limit on the number of extensions that we may seek. If we do not or are unable to extend the time period to consummate our initial business combination, our sponsor’s investment in our founder shares and our private units will be worthless.
There is presently no public market for our units, shares of common stock, or rights.
We have applied to have our units listed on the Nasdaq Global Market, or NASDAQ, under the symbol “IRHOU” on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. The common stock and rights comprising the units will begin separate trading on the 52nd day following the date of this prospectus unless Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., the representative of the underwriters, informs us of its decision to allow earlier separate trading, subject to our filing a Current Report on Form 8-K with the SEC containing an audited balance sheet reflecting our receipt of the gross proceeds of this offering and issuing a press release announcing when such separate trading will begin. We cannot guarantee that our securities will be approved for listing. Once the securities comprising the units begin separate trading, the common stock and rights will be traded on NASDAQ under the symbols “IRHO” and “IRHOR,” respectively.
We are an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act and will therefore be subject to reduced public company reporting requirements.
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 26 of this prospectus for a discussion of information that should be considered in connection with an investment in our securities.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Per Unit |
Total |
|||||
Public offering price |
$ |
10.00 |
$ |
200,000,000 |
||
Underwriting discounts and commissions(1) |
$ |
0.65 |
$ |
13,000,000 |
||
Proceeds, before expenses, to us |
$ |
9.35 |
$ |
187,000,000 |
____________
(1) Includes $0.20 per unit (excluding any units sold pursuant to the underwriters’ option to purchase additional units), or $4,000,000 in the aggregate (whether or not the underwriters’ option to purchase additional units is exercised), payable to Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. upon the closing of this offering. Also includes $0.45 per unit on units other than those sold pursuant to the underwriters’ option to purchase additional units and $0.65 per unit on units sold pursuant to the underwriters’ option to purchase additional units, or $9,000,000 in the aggregate or up to $10,950,000 in the aggregate if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full, payable to Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. for deferred underwriting commissions to be deposited into a trust account located in the United States and released to Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. for its own account only upon the completion of an initial business combination. See also “Underwriting” for a description of compensation and other items of value payable to the underwriters.
Upon consummation of the offering, $10.00 per unit sold to the public in this offering (whether or not the underwriters’ over-allotment option has been exercised in full or in part) will be deposited into a U.S.-based trust account maintained by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, acting as trustee. Except as described in this prospectus, these funds will not be released to us until the earlier of the completion of a business combination and our redemption of our public shares.
The underwriters are offering the units on a firm commitment basis. The underwriters expect to deliver the units to purchasers on or about , 2025, subject to customary closing conditions.
Book-Running Manager
Cantor
________________, 2025
You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not, and the underwriters are not, making an offer of these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted.
IRON HORSE ACQUISITIONS CORP. II
Page |
||
1 |
||
25 |
||
26 |
||
49 |
||
50 |
||
53 |
||
54 |
||
57 |
||
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
58 |
|
61 |
||
80 |
||
90 |
||
94 |
||
97 |
||
101 |
||
103 |
||
111 |
||
121 |
||
121 |
||
121 |
||
F-1 |
i
This summary only highlights the more detailed information appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. As this is a summary, it does not contain all of the information that you should consider in making an investment decision. You should read this entire prospectus carefully, including the information under “Risk Factors” and our financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus, before investing. References in this prospectus to “we,” “us” or “our company” refer to Iron Horse Acquisitions Corp. II References in this prospectus to our “public shares” are to shares of our common stock sold as part of the units in this offering (whether they are purchased in this offering or thereafter in the open market) and references to “public stockholders” refer to the holders of our public shares, including our officers and directors to the extent they purchase public shares, provided that their status as “public stockholders” shall only exist with respect to such public shares. References in this prospectus to our “management” or our “management team” refer to our officers and directors and references to our “initial stockholders” are to our sole stockholder prior to this offering (excluding Cantor), Bengochea SPAC Sponsors II LLC. The term “equity-linked securities” refers to any debt or equity securities issued in a transaction, including but not limited to a private placement of equity or debt, that are convertible, exercisable or exchangeable for shares of common stock. Unless we tell you otherwise, the information in this prospectus assumes that the underwriters will not exercise their over-allotment option.
General
We are a blank check company incorporated as a Delaware corporation whose business purpose is to effect a merger, stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. We have not selected any specific business combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, engaged in any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target with respect to an initial business combination with us.
Our efforts to identify a prospective initial business combination target will not be limited to a particular industry, sector or geographic region. While we may pursue an initial business combination opportunity in any industry or sector, we intend to capitalize on the ability of our management team’s established global relationships and operating experience particularly in media and entertainment. As such, we intend to search globally for target companies with a focus on the media & entertainment (“M&E”) industry, with a focus on music, animation, artificial intelligence (“AI”), and more. To date, our efforts have been limited to organizational activities as well as activities related to this offering. None of our officers, directors, promoters or other affiliates has engaged in any substantive discussions on our behalf with representatives of other companies regarding the possibility of a potential business combination with us.
Overview
The members of our management team, including Jose A. Bengochea, our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chairman, and William Caragol, our Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), as well as our directors and strategic advisors have extensive experience with special purpose acquisition companies (“SPACs”) and consummating business combinations, including in the M&E industry.
Prior SPAC Experience
Iron Horse Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: “IROH” and referred to herein as “Iron Horse I”) Mr. Bengochea, our CEO, founded Iron Horse Acquisitions Corp., a SPAC formed for substantially similar purposes as our Company. Several members of our management team and advisors served as an officer or director of Iron Horse I, a special purpose acquisition company. Mr. Bengochea, our CEO served as the CEO of and a director of Iron Horse I, and Mr. Caragol, our CFO, and, alongside Mr. Bengochea, the co-Founder of Iron Horse II, served as both CFO and COO of Iron Horse I. Mr. Hertz, Mr. Turner and Mr. Morris, our financial advisors, all serve as the independent directors on the board of directors of Iron Horse I. Iron Horse I closed its IPO on December 29, 2023 after its registration statement was declared effective on December 27, 2023. In September 2024, Iron Horse I entered into a business combination agreement (the “Business Combination Agreement”), dated as of September 27, 2024, with Rosey Sea Holdings Limited, a company incorporated and existing under the laws of the British Virgin Islands (“Seller”) and the owner of 100% of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Zhong Guo Liang Tou Group Limited, a company incorporated
1
and existing under the laws of the British Virgin Islands (the “Target”). The share price of IROH as listed on May [*], 2025 was $___. Iron Horse I has until June 29, 2025 to complete its business combination unless such time is extended by a vote of its stockholders at a special meeting convened to extend the time to complete a business combination.
Iron Horse I was founded on the premise that there were growing global opportunities in the M&E industry, as well as in the tangential consumer products industry with close ties to M&E that could unlock additional value. The attractiveness of the M&E space has only grown since the Iron Horse I IPO. For instance, global M&E industry revenues beat several projections by growing to $2.8 trillion in 2023 and are expected to reach $3.4 trillion by 2028 according to a 2024 report by PricewaterhouseCoopers. A clear driver of change in this space has been the advent of AI and proliferation of AI-based technologies as the industries’ pandemic-related woes have largely been erased, allowing for increase in entertainment bundling on entertainment streaming, gaming and virtual experiences, as well as a growing revival of real-life, event-driven, and in-person M&E experiences.
As a result, our management team believes a number of strong and growing M&E businesses are now in a position to benefit from capital and industry expertise to achieve their full growth potential and harness the opportunities unlocked by these recent changes.
Our Sponsor
Our sponsor is a Delaware limited liability company, which was formed to invest in us. Although our sponsor is permitted to undertake any activities permitted under the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act and other applicable law, our sponsor’s business is focused on investing in our company. The managing member of the sponsor is Mr. Bengochea, our Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Bengochea controls the management of our sponsor, including the exercise of voting and investment discretion over the securities of our company held by our sponsor. Of the 570,000 private units, 370,000 private units will be purchased by the sponsor in the private placement, and the non-managing sponsor investors have been allocated through their membership interests in the sponsor 315,000 private units, or 85% of the private units, with our officers and directors owning the remainder.
See “Summary — The Offering — Private Units.”
The following table sets forth the payments to be received by our sponsor and its affiliates from us prior to or in connection with the completion of our initial business combination and the securities issued and to be issued by us to our sponsor or its affiliates:
Entity/Individual |
Amount of Compensation to be Received |
Consideration Paid or to be Paid |
||
Bengochea SPAC Sponsors II LLC |
5,000,000(1) shares of common stock |
$25,000 |
||
370,000(2) private units to be purchased simultaneously with the closing of this offering(1)(2) |
$3,700,000 |
|||
Up to $300,000 |
Repayment of loans made to us to cover offering related and organizational expenses |
|||
Reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination |
Expenses incurred in connection with identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination |
|||
Up to $1,500,000 in working capital loans, which loans may be converted into private units of the post-business combination entity at the price of $10.00 per private unit |
Working capital loans to finance transaction costs in connection with an initial business combination |
____________
(1) Assumes the full forfeiture of 750,000 founder shares and no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option.
2
(2) The non-managing members have expressed an interest to purchase sponsor non-managing membership interests reflecting interests in an aggregate of 315,000 of the 370,000 private units to be purchased by our sponsor (whether or not the over-allotment option is exercised), at a price of $10.00 per interest ($3,150,000 in the aggregate) in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering.
The low price that our sponsor, executive officers and directors (directly or indirectly) paid for the founder shares creates an incentive whereby our officers and directors could potentially make a substantial profit even if we select an acquisition target that subsequently declines in value and is unprofitable for public stockholders. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination by the Deadline, or by such earlier liquidation date as our board of directors may approve, the founder shares, private shares and private units will be worthless, except to the extent they receive liquidating distributions from assets outside the trust account.
Because our sponsor acquired the founder shares at a nominal price, our public stockholders will incur immediate and substantial dilution upon the closing of this offering. Further, the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the private units that would be issued in connection with the conversion of the working capital loans may result in material dilution to our public stockholders. See the sections titled “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to our Securities — The nominal purchase price paid by our sponsor for the founder shares may result in significant dilution to the implied value of your public shares upon the consummation of our initial business combination, and our sponsor is likely to make a substantial profit on its investment in us in the event we consummate an initial business combination, even if the business combination causes the trading price of our shares of common stock to materially decline.” and “Dilution.”
The nominal purchase price paid by our sponsor for the founder shares may significantly dilute the implied value of your public shares in the event we consummate an initial business combination, and our sponsor and other initial stockholders are likely to make a substantial profit on their investment in us in the event we consummate an initial business combination, even if the business combination causes the trading price of our shares of common stock to decline materially. The following table sets forth information with respect to our initial stockholders and the public stockholders:
Shares Purchased |
Total Consideration |
Average Price |
||||||||||||
Number |
Percentage |
Amount |
Percentage |
|||||||||||
Initial Stockholders(1) |
5,000,000 |
18.10 |
% |
$ |
25,000 |
0.01 |
% |
$ |
0.005 |
|||||
Private Placement(3) |
627,000 |
2.27 |
% |
$ |
5,700,000 |
2.77 |
% |
$ |
9.09 |
|||||
Public Stockholders(2) |
22,000,000 |
79.63 |
% |
$ |
200,000,000 |
97.22 |
% |
$ |
9.09 |
|||||
27,627,000 |
100.00 |
% |
$ |
205,725,000 |
100.00 |
% |
|
____________
(1) Assumes the full forfeiture of 750,000 founder shares and no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option.
(2) Includes the issuance of an additional 2,000,000 shares underlying the rights contained in the public stockholders.
(3) Includes the issuance of an additional 57,000 shares underlying the rights contained in the private placement.
Business Strategy
Our team has demonstrated an extensive global track record of successful acquisitions, value creation, and value enhancement, both in and outside the M&E industry, most recently demonstrated by members of our management team’s previous SPAC Iron Horse I.
We believe our team’s track record encompasses successful experiences through negotiating deals across numerous industries, working directly with operators and navigating companies through acquisition transactions (as both acquiror and acquiree), expanding product ranges for existing businesses, and providing strategic guidance to develop revenue and commercial opportunities.
Management Team
Our management team has a long history of value creation in the private and public markets, with a strong track record of creating value for stockholders including through acquiring and operating successful businesses within our target sectors. Several members of our team have unique networks and relationships and extensive experience sourcing and executing transactions that will enhance our ability to identify, negotiate and complete a successful business combination and accelerate the growth trajectory and profitability of the acquired business post-business combination.
3
We believe that we are well positioned to identify attractive acquisition opportunities, in particular because our team expects to utilize their access to industry contacts and proprietary deal flow to generate business combination opportunities. We believe that our team’s networks in particular will broaden our access to potential transaction opportunities outside typical competitive deal sourcing intermediaries. Our team is well-connected in our target sectors and, as such, we have the opportunity to be potential targets’ preferred partner for opportunities that they might think are appropriate for a SPAC acquisition, beginning with members of the Iron Horse I team returning with their experience in SPAC deals and in public markets.
Jose Antonio Bengochea is our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. Mr. Bengochea has served as the Chief Executive Officer of and a director of Iron Horse I since November 2021, and has served as the managing member of Bengochea SPAC Sponsor I LLC, the sponsor of Iron Horse I since November 2021. Mr. Bengochea is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Bengochea Capital LLC (“Bengochea Capital”), an investment firm founded in 2020 to pursue frontier asset classes and, through Mr. Bengochea’s network of connections to various M&E industry executives and celebrities, to examine global opportunities in media and entertainment. Bengochea Capital has been a registered media entity with the Recording Academy for the 2023 Grammy Awards; is currently a registered media entity with the Recording Academy for the upcoming 2024 Grammy Awards; has been present at the Cannes Film Festival, among other prestigious events; and has access to several animation, family, and IP potential deal-flow, with a growing number of business touchpoints across Asia. Prior to founding Bengochea Capital, Mr. Bengochea was a part of Sony’s Global Business Development team in Los Angeles and, prior to that, served as a corporate attorney at the law firm of Jenner & Block in New York City. Mr. Bengochea holds an A.B. summa cum laude from Harvard University, where he designed his own degree, entitled Comparative Imperial History, and graduated with a secondary specialization in Archaeology. Mr. Bengochea also holds a J.D. degree from Harvard Law School and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
William Caragol is our Chief Financial Officer and a director of the Company. He is also the co-Founder of Iron Horse II alongside Mr. Bengochea. Mr. Caragol has served as the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Iron Horse I since December 2023. Mr. Caragol has over thirty years of experience working with growth stage companies. In 2018, he founded and is the Managing Director of Quidem LLC, a corporate strategic and financial advisory firm. Since July 2021 he has been the Chief Financial Officer of Mainz Biomed N.V. (NASDAQ: MYNZ), a molecular genetics diagnostic company specializing in the early detection of cancer. Since July 2021, Mr. Caragol has served on the Board of Directors of Worksport Ltd. (NASDAQ: WKSP), a growth stage technology company, and sits on the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and the Corporate Governance Committee. Since July 2023, Mr. Caragol has served on the Board of Directors of DeFi Development Corp. (NASDAQ: DFDV), a real-estate software firm and Solana-focused treasury company, and sits on the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and the Corporate Governance Committee. From 2021 to 2023, Mr. Caragol served on the Board of Directors and was Chairman of the Audit Committee of Greenbox POS (NASDAQ: GBOX) a financial technology company leveraging proprietary blockchain security to build customized payment solutions. Mr. Caragol earned a B.S. in business administration and accounting from Washington & Lee University and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Management is joined by three new members to serve on the board of directors, including Tarron Hecox, Melissa Escobar, and Dr. Constantino Mendieta.
Tarron Hecox will serve as our lead independent director of the Company from the date of this prospectus. Mr. Hecox has ample public markets and operational experience. Since 2019, he has held various commercial roles at AGCO Corporation (NYSE: AGCO), a Fortune 500 company. Previously, Mr. Hecox worked with the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, William Blair & Company, and Parnassus Investments, and he also formerly co-founded Spartan Capital L.L.C. in 2017, a private fund formed to pursue technology opportunities. Mr. Hecox is also well versed in SPACs and entertainment through the private fund he co-founded in 2014, Limitless Strategies, LLC, which focuses on creating value through public and private investments in media, entertainment, and AI. Mr. Hecox received his MBA from Harvard Business School in 2016; an undergraduate degree with highest distinction from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he studied economics, finance, and accounting; a master’s degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln; and has held a CPA designation.
Ms. Melissa de Assis Escobar will serve as an independent director of the Company from the date of this prospectus. Ms. Escobar is an especially prominent global figure in entertainment, having been recognized as a pioneer in the development of Hispanic content and global talent. She co-founded Latin World Entertainment alongside actress
4
Sofia Vergara and Luis Balaguer in 1994, and together leads Latin World Entertainment’s growth into a multicultural entertainment leader specializing in series, documentaries, films, and brand marketing, with an audience of over 900 million global followers through its network. Under Ms. Escobar’s leadership, Latin World Entertainment has won critical acclaim, having produced works such as Griselda for Netflix and Maradona: Sueño Bendito for Amazon Prime. In all, she has over 30 years of entertainment experience, having worked with top-tier companies such as Telemundo, Univision, Amazon, Netflix, YouTube/Google, Disney Buenavista, ABC and HBO Latino. Her team has marketed over 1,000 major Hollywood studio films to Hispanics, and promoted premier Spanish-language music tours for the largest live entertainment companies in the USA.
Dr. Constantino Mendieta will serve as an independent director of the Company from the date of this prospectus. Dr. Mendieta is an avid global technology and entertainment investor as well as a leading, Board Certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon. Dr. Mendieta founded the 4Beauty Aesthetic Institute in 2002 and serves as founder and lead surgeon where he has appeared on NBC, CNN, as well as on several programs for his advancements in the surgical community, and the Consumer Research Council in America has named Dr. Mendieta one of America’s Top Surgeons five years in a row. In 2018, Dr. Mendieta also founded his family office, Mendieta Family Holdings LLC, which, in part, focuses on investments in media & entertainment assets, SPACs, and emerging technologies. He is also the doctor to several high-profile musicians, models, and celebrities. Dr. Mendieta holds a B.S. in Psychology from Creighton University, MD from Creighton University, has a Fellowship of Plastic Surgery from the Royal College Of Surgeon, Edinburgh, Scotland, performed plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital, Fellowship in Aesthetic Surgery, and a Clinical Fellow from Harvard Medical School.
In addition, all three independent directors from Iron Horse I are returning as Strategic Advisors for Iron Horse II.
Ken Hertz will serve as a strategic advisor to the Company from the date of this prospectus, and has been serving since December 2023 as an Iron Horse I independent director and Chairman of Iron Horse I’s Executive Committee. Mr. Hertz is currently a director for JUST GOODS and has served as a Senior Partner in the Los Angeles law firm of Hertz Lichtenstein Young & Polk LLP since 2007. Mr. Hertz and his partners specialize in representing talent, senior executives, entrepreneurs, agencies, and brands in entertainment, fashion, sports, media, and technology industries. Prior to forming the firm, Mr. Hertz had been a partner in Hansen Jacobson & Teller, since 1989. Before that, he was global head of music — business and legal affairs — for The Walt Disney Company. He is also a principal in memBrain — an entertainment marketing and strategy consulting firm that advises a number of C-Suite executives on their company’s entertainment related marketing strategies. memBrain has worked with Intel, McDonald’s, Hasbro, MillerCoors, Li & Fung and Logitech. Mr. Hertz has also been an active early-stage venture investor and advisor since 1997 and is a frequent speaker and commentator on the subjects of entertainment, marketing and convergence. He is often quoted in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and Wall Street Journal, has appeared on CNBC’s monthly newsmagazine “Business Nation,” has been an instructor at UCLA’s Anderson Graduate School of Management, Marshall School of Business, Stanford Business School, and an adjunct professor of law at USC. He graduated UCLA with a J.D. in 1984 and U.C. Berkeley in 1981 with a B.S.
Brian Turner will serve as a strategic advisor to the Company from the date of this prospectus. Mr. Turner has been serving since December 2023 as the Chairman of the board of directors of Iron Horse I and was formerly Chair of the Board of Microvision, Inc. (NASDAQ: MVIS), a public company in the lidar space. He has served on numerous public and private companies boards of directors as well. Mr. Turner was the Chief Financial Officer of Coinstar Inc. from 2003 until June 2009. Prior to Coinstar, from 2001 to 2003, he served as Senior Vice President of Operations, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer of Real Networks, Inc., a digital media and technology company. Prior to Real Networks, from 1999 to 2001, Mr. Turner was employed by Bsquare Corp., a software company, where he initially served as Senior Vice President of Operations, Chief Financial Officer, and Secretary, before being promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer. From 1995 to 1999, Mr. Turner was Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Administration of Radisys Corp., an embedded software company. Mr. Turner’s experience also includes 13 years at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP where he held several positions including Director of Corporate Finance. Mr. Turner was formerly Chairman of the Board of Microvision, Inc. (NASDAQ: MVIS), a public company in the lidar space, and is now Chair of the Audit Committee for MVIS. Mr. Turner has also been a director for several private companies. Mr. Turner holds a Bachelors of Business Administration in Accounting and a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science from the University of Washington.
5
Scott Morris, will serve as a strategic advisor to the Company from the date of this prospectus. Mr. Morris was an Iron Horse I independent director and has been Chairman of Avista (NYSE: AVA) since 2008. Mr. Morris started his career at AVA in 1981. From 2008 to 2019, he served as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and served as Avista’s President from 2008 to 2018. Prior to that, Mr. Morris was also the company’s Chief Operating Officer. His experiences include management positions in multiple industries, including construction, customer service, and utilities. He is a graduate of Gonzaga University and received his master’s degree from Gonzaga University in organizational leadership. He also attended the Stanford Business School Financial Management Program and the Kidder Peabody School of Financial Management. Mr. Morris serves on the boards of McKinstry Inc. and California Water Service. He is also on the Board of Trustees of Gonzaga University. He has served on a number of Spokane nonprofit and economic development Boards.
The past performance of our management team is not a guarantee that we will be able to identify a suitable candidate for our initial business combination or of success with respect to any business combination we may consummate. Our management team may have had acquisitions or investments that were not successful. You should not rely on the historical record of our management’s performance as indicative of our future performance.
Commitment to Diversity
As a first generation American and native Spanish speaker, Mr. Bengochea is a passionate advocate of greater diversity in entertainment, media, and in the public markets, and is honored to serve once again as one of the only Hispanic executives on the public markets. Ms. Escobar is also proud to serve as one of the only Hispanic directors on the public markets, herself being originally from Colombia and having dedicated much of her career to promoting Hispanic talent, such as Sofia Vergara, and empowering Hispanic voices through entertainment. Dr. Mendieta, one of our Independent Directors, is also a first-generation Hispanic immigrant.
Acquisition Strategy
Our team intends to leverage its skills, expertise and networks within the team’s international hubs, particularly within the media, entertainment, and AI industries, to identify attractive target companies and provide guidance on the benefits of being a publicly-traded entity, including broader access to capital, increased liquidity for potential acquisitions, expanded branding opportunities in the marketplace, reputational and consumer confidence gains, and on the process of transitioning from a private company to a public registrant. We also expect to be able to source potential targets from our team’s contacts within private equity, with celebrities, with M&E investors, and with various industry leaders. Upon completion of this offering, each of our team members will communicate our acquisition criteria to their respective networks and immediately begin screening opportunities.
Consistent with this strategy, we have identified parameters and criteria that we think are important and relevant in evaluating prospective target businesses. We intend to apply these parameters in evaluating prospects, although we may ultimately decide to execute our initial business combination with a company that may not match all of our initial parameters:
• Growth Prospects: We intend to seek companies with high growth trajectories that are driven by competitive advantages that can be accelerated or magnified through a partnership with us and access to the public markets.
• Earnings Potential: We intend to acquire one or more businesses that have multiple and diverse potential drivers of revenue and earnings growth and that have the potential to generate strong and stable free cash flow.
• M&E Focus: We intend to prioritize entities within our team’s core spheres of expertise and from among our team’s networks, such as family entertainment, animation, gaming, music, and businesses which we believe have benefited from the global pandemic and subsequent evolution of media and AI.
• Public Advantages: We intend to seek target companies that are public market ready and whose leadership teams have the vision to take advantage of and appreciate the benefits of becoming a publicly-traded entity.
• Evolving Circumstance: We intend to seek companies which are capitalizing on industry shifts and trends created by various factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the migration toward new global consumption patterns, and the proliferation of AI-based technologies.
6
• Valuations: We consider ourselves to be rigorous, disciplined and valuation-centric investors, with a keen understanding of market value and successful track record. We intend to seek companies with a respectable market share and growth potential in the segments in which they operate.
These criteria are not intended to be exhaustive. Any evaluation relating to the merits of a particular initial business combination may be based, to the extent relevant, on these general guidelines, as well as other considerations, factors and criteria deemed relevant by our management in effecting our initial business combination consistent with our business objectives. In evaluating a prospective target business, we expect to conduct a due diligence review which may encompass, among other things, meetings with incumbent management and employees, document reviews, interviews of customers and suppliers, inspections of facilities, as well as reviewing financial and other information which will be made available to us.
We are not prohibited from pursuing a business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers or directors. In the event that we seek to complete a business combination with a business that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers or directors, we, or a committee of independent directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions that our business combination is fair to our stockholders from a financial point of view. In the event that we seek such a business combination, the independent members of our Board of Directors would be required to approve the transaction.
Initial Business Combination
We are not presently engaged in, and we will not engage in, any operations for an indefinite period of time following this offering. We intend to effectuate our initial business combination using cash from the proceeds of this offering and the private placement of the private units, the proceeds of the sale of our shares in connection with our initial business combination (including pursuant to forward purchase agreements or backstop agreements we may enter into following the consummation of this offering or otherwise), shares issued to the owners of the target, debt issued to bank or other lenders or the owners of the target, other securities issuances, or a combination of the foregoing. We may seek to complete our initial business combination with a company or business that may be financially unstable or in its early stages of development or growth, which would subject us to the numerous risks inherent in such companies and businesses.
We will either (1) seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination at a meeting called for such purpose at which stockholders may seek to redeem their shares, regardless of whether they vote for or against the proposed business combination or don’t vote at all, into their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable), or (2) provide our stockholders with the opportunity to sell their shares to us by means of a tender offer (and thereby avoid the need for a stockholder vote) for an amount equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable), in each case subject to the limitations described herein and in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. The decision as to whether we will seek stockholder approval of our proposed business combination or allow stockholders to sell their shares to us in a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would otherwise require us to seek stockholder approval. If we decide to allow stockholders to sell their shares to us in a tender offer, we will file tender offer documents with the SEC which will contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination as is required under the SEC’s proxy rules. If we seek stockholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock voted are voted in favor of the initial business combination. We have no specified maximum percentage threshold for redemptions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and even those public stockholders who vote in favor of our initial business combination have the right to redeem their public shares. As a result, this may make it easier for us to consummate our initial business combination.
The Company will deposit $200,000,000 (or $230,000,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) or $10.00 per unit sold to the public in this offering, in a U.S.-based trust account with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee pursuant to an agreement to be signed on the date of this prospectus. This amount will come from the net proceeds of this offering.
We will have up to 24 months from the closing of this offering to consummate an initial business combination (the “Deadline”).
7
If we anticipate that we may be unable to consummate our initial business combination by the Deadline, we may seek stockholder approval to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to extend the date by which we must consummate our initial business combination. If we seek stockholder approval for an extension, holders of public shares of common stock will be offered an opportunity to redeem their shares at a per share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned thereon (less franchise and income taxes payable), divided by the number of then issued and outstanding public shares of common stock, subject to applicable law. Our initial stockholders will lose their entire investment in us if our initial business combination is not completed by the Deadline, unless we extend the amount of time we have to consummate an initial business combination by obtaining stockholder approval to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. While we do not currently intend to seek such stockholder approval, we may elect to do so in the future. There is no limit on the number of extensions that we may seek. If we do not or are unable to extend the time period to consummate our initial business combination, our sponsor’s investment in our founder shares and our private units will be worthless.
If we are unable to consummate an initial business combination within such time period, we will redeem 100% of our outstanding public shares for a pro rata portion of the funds held in the trust account, 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 for the payment of franchise and income taxes, as described herein (and less up to $100,000 of interest which can be used for liquidation expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to applicable law and as further described herein, and then seek to dissolve and liquidate. We expect the pro rata redemption price to be approximately $10.00 per share of common stock (regardless of whether or not the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option), without taking into account any interest earned on such funds or any increase as a result of our extending the time to consummate a business combination as described herein. However, we cannot assure you that we will in fact be able to distribute such amounts as a result of claims of creditors which may take priority over the claims of our public stockholders.
NASDAQ listing rules require that our initial business combination must occur with one or more target businesses that together have a fair market value of at least 80% of the assets held in the trust account at the time of the agreement to enter into the initial business combination (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable). The fair market value of the target or targets will be determined by our Board of Directors based upon one or more standards generally accepted by the financial community (such as actual and potential sales, earnings, cash flow and/or book value). Although our Board of Directors will rely on generally accepted standards, our Board of Directors will have discretion to select the standards employed. In addition, the application of the standards generally involves a substantial degree of judgment. Accordingly, investors will be relying on the business judgment of the Board of Directors in evaluating the fair market value of the target or targets. The proxy solicitation materials or tender offer documents used by us in connection with any proposed transaction will provide public stockholders with our analysis of the fair market value of the target business, as well as the basis for our determinations. If our board is not able independently to determine the fair market value of the target business or businesses, we will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm, or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions, with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if we are not then listed on NASDAQ for whatever reason, we would no longer be required to meet the foregoing 80% fair market value test.
We currently anticipate structuring a business combination to acquire 100% of the equity interests or assets of the target business or businesses. We may, however, structure our initial business combination where we merge directly with the target business or a newly formed subsidiary or where we acquire less than 100% of such interests or assets of the target business in order to meet certain objectives of the target management team or stockholders or for other reasons, but we intend to only complete such business combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. Even if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our stockholders prior to the business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post-transaction company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the business combination transaction. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock of a target. In this case, we could acquire a 100% controlling interest in the target; however, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares, our stockholders immediately prior to our initial business combination could own less than a majority of our outstanding shares subsequent to our initial business combination. If less than 100% of
8
the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-transaction company, the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired is what will be valued for purposes of the 80% fair market value test.
Potential Conflicts
Members of our management team will directly or indirectly own shares of our common stock, or other instruments, such as units and rights, linked to our common stock, following this offering and, accordingly, may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination. Further, each of our officers and directors may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination if the retention or resignation of any such officers and directors was included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination.
Our officers and directors have agreed to present to us all target business opportunities that have a fair market value of at least 80% of the assets held in the trust account, subject to any fiduciary or contractual obligations they may have. As more fully discussed in “Management — Conflicts of Interest,” if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of an initial business combination opportunity that might be attractive to any entity to which he has fiduciary or contractual obligations, he may be required to present such initial business combination opportunity to such entity prior to presenting such initial business combination opportunity to us. For more information on the relevant pre-existing fiduciary duties or contractual obligations of our management team, see the section titled “Management — Conflicts of Interest.”
Sourcing of Potential Business Combination Targets
We believe our management team’s significant operating and transaction experience and relationships will provide us with a substantial number of potential initial business combination targets. Over the course of their careers, the members of our management team have developed a broad network of contacts and corporate relationships around the world in the M&E industry. We believe that the network of contacts and relationships of our management team will provide us important sources of investment opportunities.
Members of our management team and our independent directors will directly or indirectly own founder shares and/or private units following this offering and, accordingly, may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination. The low price that our sponsor, executive officers and directors (directly or indirectly) paid for the founder shares creates an incentive whereby our officers and directors could potentially make a substantial profit even if we select an acquisition target that subsequently declines in value and is unprofitable for public stockholders. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, or by such earlier liquidation date as our board of directors may approve, the founder shares and private units may be worthless, except to the extent they receive liquidating distributions from assets outside the trust account, which could create an incentive for our sponsor, executive officers and directors to complete a transaction even if we select an acquisition target that subsequently declines in value and is unprofitable for public stockholders. Further, each of our officers and directors may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination if the retention or resignation of any such officers and directors was included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination. Therefore, the fiduciary duties or contractual obligations of our officers or directors will materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.
In addition, our sponsor and our officers and directors may sponsor or form other special purpose acquisition companies similar to ours or may pursue other business or investment ventures during the period in which we are seeking an initial business combination. As a result, our sponsor, officers and directors could have conflicts of interest in determining whether to present business combination opportunities to us or to any other special purpose acquisition company with which they may become involved. Any such companies, businesses or investments may present additional conflicts of interest in pursuing an initial business combination target. However, based on the fact that there may be substantial overlap between any such companies, businesses or investments that would be a suitable business combination for us, and because we may consummate a business combination with a target in a broad array of industries, we do not believe that any such potential conflicts would materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.
9
Private Placements
In November 2024, we issued an aggregate of 12,321,429 shares of our common stock, which we refer to throughout this prospectus as the “Founders Shares,” for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000 to our initial stockholders (i.e., Bengochea SPAC Sponsors II LLC, our Sponsor). On May 8, 2025, the Sponsor forfeited 6,571,429 Founder Shares for no consideration, leaving 5,750,000 Founder Shares, at approximately $0.004 per share. Up to 750,000 Founder Shares are subject to forfeiture to the extent that the over-allotment option is not exercised by the underwriters in full or in part, so that our initial stockholders will continue to own approximately 20% of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock after this offering (assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering).
In addition, our sponsor, Bengochea SPAC Sponsors II LLC has agreed to purchase from us 370,000 private units at a price of $10.00 per private unit, for an aggregate purchase price of $3,700,000 in a private placement that will occur simultaneously with the closing of this offering, whether or not the underwriters exercise the over-allotment option. The private units are identical to the units sold in this offering. If we do not complete an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, the proceeds from the sale of the public units will be included in the liquidating distribution to our public stockholders and the private units will be worthless.
Additional Financing
We have not selected any specific business combination target but intend to target businesses with enterprise values that are greater than what we could acquire with the net proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units. As a result, if the cash portion of the purchase price exceeds the amount available from the trust account, net of amounts needed to satisfy any redemption by public stockholders, we may be required to seek additional financing to complete such proposed initial business combination. Such additional financing may be in the form of PIPE transactions or convertible debt transactions. These financing transactions would be designed to ensure a return on investment to the investor in exchange for assisting the company in completing the business combination or providing sufficient liquidity to the post-combination company. The price of the shares of common stock we issue may therefore be less, and potentially significantly less, than the market price for our shares at such time. Any such issuances of equity securities could dilute the interests of our existing stockholders. These financing transactions may be significantly dilutive to the post-combination company, and represent the type of financing risk that is not associated with traditional initial public offerings. We cannot assure you that financing will be available to us on acceptable terms, if at all. None of our initial stockholders, directors or officers or their affiliates are obligated to provide any such financing to us. To the extent that additional financing proves to be unavailable when needed to complete our initial business combination, we would be compelled to either restructure the transaction or abandon that particular business combination and seek an alternative target business candidate. If we raise additional funds through equity or convertible debt issuances, our public stockholders may suffer significant dilution and these securities could have rights that rank senior to our public shares of common stock. If we raise additional funds through the incurrence of indebtedness, such indebtedness would have rights that are senior to our equity securities and could contain covenants that restrict our operations. Further, as described above, due to the anti-dilution rights of our founder shares, our public stockholders may incur material additional dilution.
We may obtain financing prior to the closing of our initial business combination to fund our working capital needs and transaction costs in connection with our search for and completion of our initial business combination. There is no limitation on our ability to raise funds through the issuance of equity or equity-linked securities or through loans, advances or other indebtedness in connection with our initial business combination, including pursuant to any forward purchase agreements, backstop or similar agreements we may enter into following the consummation of this offering or otherwise. Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, we would only complete such financing simultaneously with the completion of our business combination. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination because we do not have sufficient funds available to us, we will be forced to cease operations and liquidate the trust account. In addition, following our initial business combination, if cash on hand is insufficient, we may need to obtain additional financing in order to meet our obligations.
10
In addition, even if we do not need additional financing to complete our initial business combination, we may require such financing to fund the operations or growth of the target business. The failure to secure additional financing could have a material adverse effect on the continued development or growth of the target business. None of our directors, officers or stockholders is required to provide any financing to us in connection with or after our initial business combination.
Corporate Information
Our executive offices are located at 851 Broken Sound Parkway Nw Boca Raton, FL 33487 and our telephone number is (310) 290-5383.
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act. As such, we are eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies” including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the prices of our securities may be more volatile.
In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an “emerging growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We intend to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period.
We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the completion of this offering, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.235 billion, or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter; and (2) the date on which we have issued more than $1.00 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period. References herein to “emerging growth company” shall have the meaning associated with it in the JOBS Act.
Additionally, we are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K. Smaller reporting companies may take advantage of certain reduced disclosure obligations, including, among other things, providing only two years of audited financial statements. We will remain a smaller reporting company until the last day of the fiscal year in which (1) the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $250 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter, or (2) our annual revenues exceeded $100 million during such completed fiscal year and the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter.
11
THE OFFERING
Securities offered |
20,000,000 units (or 23,000,000 units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), at $10.00 per unit, each unit consisting of one share of common stock and one right to receive one-tenth (1/10) of one share of common stock upon the consummation of an initial business combination. |
|
Listing of our securities and proposed |
|
|
Trading commencement and separation of common stock and rights |
|
|
Once the shares of common stock and rights commence separate trading, holders will have the option to continue to hold units or separate their units into the component pieces. Holders will need to have their brokers contact our transfer agent in order to separate the units into shares of common stock and rights. |
||
In no event will the common stock and rights be traded separately until we have filed a Current Report on Form 8-K with the SEC containing an audited balance sheet reflecting our receipt of the gross proceeds at the closing of this offering. We will file the Current Report on Form 8-K promptly after the closing of this offering, which is anticipated to take place three business days from the date of this prospectus. If the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised following the initial filing of such Current Report on Form 8-K, a second or amended Current Report on Form 8-K will be filed to provide updated financial information to reflect the exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option. We will also include the Form 8-K, or amendment thereto, or in a subsequent Form 8-K, information indicating if Cantor has allowed separate trading of the common stock and rights prior to the 52nd day after the date of this prospectus. |
||
Units: |
20,000,000 units (or 23,000,000 units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) at $10.00 per unit, each unit consisting of one (1) share of common stock, and one (1) right which entitles the holder to one-tenth (1/10) of a share of common stock upon the closing of the business combination. |
12
Number of units outstanding before this offering |
|
|
Number of units outstanding after this |
|
|
Shares of common stock: |
||
Number of shares outstanding before this offering |
|
|
Number of shares to be outstanding after this offering and private placement |
|
|
Rights: |
||
Number of rights outstanding before this offering |
|
|
Number of rights to be outstanding after this offering and private placement |
|
|
Private units to be sold in private placement: |
570,000 private units, each private unit consisting of one share of common stock and one right to one-tenth (1/10) of one share of common stock (whether or not the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) |
Terms of rights |
Each holder of a right will receive one-tenth (1/10) of one share of common stock upon consummation of our initial business combination. Except in cases where we are not the surviving company in a business combination, each holder of a public right will automatically receive one-tenth (1/10) of one share of common stock upon consummation of our initial business combination. In the event we will not be the surviving company upon completion of our initial business combination, each holder of a right will be required to affirmatively convert his, her or its rights in order to receive the one-tenth (1/10) of one share underlying each right upon consummation of the business combination. We will not issue fractional shares in connection with an exchange of rights. Fractional shares will either be rounded down to the nearest whole share or otherwise addressed in accordance with applicable law. As a result, you must hold rights in multiples of ten in order to receive shares for all of your rights upon closing of a business combination. If we are unable to complete an initial business combination within the required time period, and we redeem the public shares for the funds held in the trust account, holders of rights will not receive any of such funds for their rights and the rights will expire worthless. |
|||
Securities purchased, or being purchased, by insiders in connection with this offering |
|
____________
(1) Represents 5,750,000 Founder Shares, which includes an aggregate of up to 750,000 Founder Shares that are subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised by the underwriters in full.
(2) Assumes the over-allotment option has not been exercised, including the private placement shares of common stock included in the private units, and an aggregate of 750,000 Founder Shares have been forfeited.
13
or in part. Our initial stockholders will be required to forfeit only a number of Founders Shares necessary to continue to maintain the approximately 20% ownership interest in our shares of common stock after giving effect to the offering and exercise, if any, of the underwriters’ over-allotment option (assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering and not including any shares included in the underlying any rights). The founders shares are identical to the shares of common stock included in the units being sold in this offering. However, our Sponsor, initial stockholders and officers and directors have agreed (A) to vote any shares owned by them in favor of any proposed business combination, (B) not to redeem any shares in connection with a stockholder vote to approve a proposed initial business combination or sell any shares to us in a tender offer in connection with a proposed initial business combination, and (C) that the Founders Shares will not participate in any liquidating distributions from our trust account upon winding up if a business combination is not consummated. |
||||
Our sponsor, Bengochea SPAC Sponsors II LLC and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. (“Cantor”) will purchase simultaneously with the consummation of this offering an aggregate of 570,000 private units at $10.00 per private unit for a total purchase price of $5,700,000 pursuant to subscription agreements with us, whether or not the underwriter exercises the over-allotment option. In connection with any vote for a proposed business combination, our initial stockholders, as well as all of our officers and directors, have agreed to vote the shares of common stock owned by them immediately before this offering in favor of such proposed business combination. As a result, if we sought stockholder approval of a proposed transaction we could need as little as 7,215,001 of our 20,000,000 public shares (or approximately 36.1% of our public shares) to be voted in favor of the transaction in order to have such transaction approved (assuming all shares are voted, the over-allotment option is not exercised, that the initial stockholders do not purchase any units in this offering or units or shares in the after-market). If only a minimum number of shares are voted to reach a quorum for the meeting, we do not need any public shares to be voted in favor of the transaction in order to have such transaction approved (assuming the over-allotment option is not exercised, that the initial stockholders do not purchase any units in this offering or units or shares in the after-market). |
||||
Private units: |
Our sponsor and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., the representative of the underwriters (“Cantor”), have committed to purchase an aggregate of 570,000 private units (whether or not the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), at a price of $10.00 per unit, or $5,700,000 in the aggregate (whether or not the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. Each private unit consists of one share of common stock and one right. We refer to these units throughout this prospectus as the private units and the rights included in the private units as private rights. Of those 570,000 private units, our sponsor has agreed to purchase 370,000 units and Cantor has agreed to purchase 200,000 units. The private units are identical to the units sold in this offering except that private units (including the securities comprising such units) (i) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by the holders until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination, and (ii) will be entitled to registration rights. If we do not complete our initial business combination by the Deadline, the private units will expire worthless. |
14
The private units to be purchased by Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. or its affiliates are deemed underwriters’ compensation by FINRA pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110. |
||||
Except in certain limited circumstances, pursuant to the letter agreement, no member of the sponsor (including the non-managing sponsor investors) may transfer all or any portion of its membership interests in the sponsor. For more information, see “Principal Stockholders — Restrictions on Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Units”. |
||||
Restrictions on transfer of Founders Shares and private units |
Our initial stockholders have agreed that the founder shares will not be transferred, assigned, or sold (subject to certain limited exceptions set forth below) for a period ending on the 180-day anniversary of the date of the consummation of our initial business combination, or earlier if, subsequent to our initial business combination, we consummate a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of our stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property. The limited exceptions include transfers, assignments or sales (i) to our, our initial stockholders’ or Cantor or its officers, directors, consultants or their affiliates, (ii) to an entity’s members upon its liquidation, (iii) to relatives and trusts for estate planning purposes, (iv) by virtue of the laws of descent and distribution upon death, (v) pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, (vi) to us for no value for cancellation in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination, or (vii) in connection with the consummation of a business combination at prices no greater than the price at which the shares were originally purchased, in each case (except for clause (vi) or with our prior consent) where the transferee agrees to be bound by these transfer restrictions. The purchasers of the private units also agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the private units, including the underlying shares of common stock (except in connection with the same limited exceptions that the founder shares may be transferred as described above), until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination. Assuming no liquidation, merger, stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction takes place, lock-ups on securities owned by our initial stockholders would expire as follows: |
|||
Founder Shares |
Private Units |
|||
6 months after the completion of our initial business combination |
30 days after the completion of our business combination |
|||
Any permitted transferees will be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements of our initial stockholders with respect to any founder shares, which we refer to as the lock-up. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (1) the closing price of our common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock sub-divisions, stock capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing after our initial business combination or (2) if we consummate a transaction after our initial business combination which results in our stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property, the founder shares and the securities included in the private units will be released from the lock-up. |
15
Except in certain limited circumstances, no member of the sponsor (including the non-managing sponsor investors) may sell, transfer, assign, pledge, mortgage, charge, hypothecate, exchange or otherwise dispose, of directly or indirectly (a “Transfer”) all or any portion of its . For more information, see “Principal Stockholders — Restrictions on Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Units”. |
||||
The non-managing sponsor investors are not granted any stockholder or other rights in addition to those afforded to our other public stockholders, and will only be issued membership interests in the sponsor, with no right to control the sponsor or vote or dispose of any securities held by the sponsor, including the founder shares and the private units held by the sponsor. Further, the non-managing sponsor investors are not required to (i) hold any units, shares of common stock or public rights they may purchase in this offering or thereafter for any amount of time, (ii) vote any shares of common stock they may own at the applicable time in favor of our initial business combination or (iii) refrain from exercising their right to redeem their public shares at the time of our initial business combination. The non-managing sponsor investors will have the same rights to the funds held in the trust account with respect to the shares of common stock underlying the units they may purchase in this offering as the rights afforded to our other public stockholders. |
||||
Offering proceeds to be held in trust |
We will deposit $200,000,000 (or $230,000,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) or $10.00 per unit sold to the public in this offering, in a U.S.-based trust account with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee pursuant to an agreement to be signed on the date of this prospectus. This amount will come from the net proceeds of this offering. The proceeds to be placed in the trust account include $9,000,000 (or up to $10,950,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) in deferred underwriting commissions. Except as set forth below, the proceeds held in the trust account will not be released until the earlier of the completion of an initial business combination and our redemption of 100% of the outstanding public shares if we have not completed a business combination in the required time period. Therefore, except as set forth below, unless and until an initial business combination is consummated, the proceeds held in the trust account will not be available for our use for any expenses related to this offering or expenses which we may incur related to the investigation and selection of a target business and the negotiation of an agreement to acquire a target business. |
|||
Notwithstanding the foregoing, there can be released to us from the trust account any interest earned on the funds in the trust account the Company with withdraw from the interest earned on the funds in the trust account such sums that we need to pay our franchise and income tax obligations. With this exception, expenses incurred by us may be paid prior to a business combination only from the net proceeds of this offering not held in the trust account (initially estimated to be $1,000,000). Additionally, in order to meet our working capital needs following the consummation of this offering if the funds available to us are insufficient, our officers, directors, initial stockholders or their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds, from time to time or at any time, on a non-interest bearing basis, in whatever amount they deem reasonable in their sole discretion. Each loan would be evidenced by a promissory note. |
16
The notes would either be paid upon consummation of our initial business combination, without interest, or, at the holder’s discretion, if there are excess proceeds, upon closing of this offering. In the event that the initial business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts, but no other proceeds from our trust account would be used for such repayment. Prior to the closing of this offering, our sponsor has agreed to loan us up to $300,000 to be used for a portion of the expenses of this offering. As of February 28, 2025, we had borrowed $157,101 (of up to $300,000 available to us) under the promissory note with our sponsor. This loan is non-interest bearing, unsecured and will be repaid with proceeds not held in the trust account. |
||||
Limited payments to insiders |
There will be no fees, reimbursements or other cash payments paid to our officers, directors, initial stockholders or their affiliates for any services they render prior to, or in order to effectuate the consummation of, an initial business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is) other than the following payments, none of which will be made from the proceeds of this offering held in the trust account prior to the completion of our initial business combination: • repayment of up to an aggregate of up to $300,000 in loans made to us by our sponsor to cover offering-related and organizational expenses; • reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with certain activities on our behalf, such as identifying and investigating possible business targets and business combinations; • repayment of non-interest-bearing loans which may be made by our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of our officers and directors to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination. Except as set forth above, the terms of such working capital loans by our sponsor or its affiliates, or our officers and directors, if any, have not been determined and no written agreements exist with respect to such loans. |
|||
Our audit committee will review and approve all reimbursements and payments made to our officers, directors, initial stockholders or our or their respective affiliates, with any interested director abstaining from such review and approval. |
||||
Stockholder approval of, or tender offer in connection with, initial business combination |
|
17
in a tender offer, such tender offer will be structured so that each stockholder may tender all of his, her or its shares rather than some pro rata portion of his, her or its shares. The decision as to whether we will seek stockholder approval of a proposed business combination or will allow stockholders to sell their shares to us in a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would otherwise require us to seek stockholder approval. If we determine to allow stockholders to sell their shares to us in a tender offer, we will file tender offer documents with the SEC which will contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination as is required under the SEC’s proxy rules. If we seek stockholder approval, we will complete our initial business combination only if a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock voted are voted in favor of the initial business combination. We have no specified maximum percentage threshold for redemptions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and even those public stockholders who vote in favor of our initial business combination have the right to redeem their public shares. As a result, this may make it easier for us to consummate our initial business combination. |
||||
If we seek to consummate an initial business combination with a target business that imposes any type of working capital closing condition or requires us to have a minimum amount of funds available from the trust account upon consummation of such initial business combination, this may force us to seek third party financing which may not be available on terms acceptable to us or at all. As a result, we may not be able to consummate such initial business combination and we may not be able to locate another suitable target within the applicable time period, if at all. |
||||
Our initial stockholders and officers and directors and their affiliates have agreed (i) to vote any shares owned by them in favor of any proposed business combination, (ii) not to redeem any shares in connection with a stockholder vote to approve a proposed initial business combination and (iii) not to sell any shares to us in a tender offer in connection with any proposed business combination. |
||||
None of our initial stockholders, officers, directors or their affiliates has indicated any intention to purchase units in this offering or any units or shares of common stock from persons in the open market or in private transactions. However, if we hold a meeting to approve a proposed business combination and a significant number of stockholders vote, or indicate an intention to vote, against a proposed business combination, our initial stockholders, officers, directors or their affiliates could make such purchases in the open market or in private transactions in order to reduce the number of shares being submitted for redemption in connection with such vote. Notwithstanding the foregoing, our officers, directors, initial stockholders and their affiliates will not make purchases of shares of common stock if the purchases would violate Section 9(a)(2) or Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act, which are rules designed to prevent potential manipulation of a company’s stock. |
||||
Redemption rights |
In connection with any stockholder meeting called to approve a proposed initial business combination, each public stockholder will have the right, regardless of whether he is voting for or against such proposed business combination or does not vote at all, to demand that we redeem his shares into a pro rata share of the trust account. |
18
Liquidation if no business combination |
We will have up to 24 months from the closing of this offering, the Deadline, to consummate an initial business combination. |
|||
If we are unable to complete an initial business combination by the Deadline, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the outstanding public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including any interest not previously released to us (net of taxes payable and up to $100,000 of interest that may be released to us to pay liquidation expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our Board of Directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject (in the case of (ii) and (iii) above) to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. We cannot assure you that we will have funds sufficient to pay or provide for all creditors’ claims. Although we are required to have all third parties (including any vendors or other entities we engage after this offering) and any prospective target businesses enter into agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the trust account, there is no guarantee that they will execute such agreements. There is also no guarantee that the third parties would not challenge the enforceability of these waivers and bring claims against the trust account for monies owed them. Bengochea SPAC Sponsors II LLC, an entity affiliated with Jose A. Bengochea, our Chief Executive Officer, has agreed that it will be liable to ensure that the proceeds in the trust account are not reduced below $10.00 per share (or any increased amount as a result of our extending the time to consummate a business combination as described herein) by the claims of target businesses or claims of vendors or other entities that are owed money by us for services rendered or contracted for or products sold to us. The agreement entered into by Bengochea SPAC Sponsors II LLC specifically provides for two exceptions to the indemnity given: Bengochea SPAC Sponsors II LLC will have no liability (1) as to any claimed amounts owed to a target business or vendor or other entity who has executed an agreement with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind they may have in or to any monies held in the trust account, or (2) as to any claims for indemnification by the underwriters of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. MaloneBailey, LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm, and the underwriters of the offering, will not execute agreements with us waiving such claims to the monies held in the trust account. We have not independently verified whether Bengochea SPAC Sponsors II LLC has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations, we have not asked it to reserve for such obligations and we do not believe it has any significant liquid assets. Accordingly, we believe it is unlikely that it will be able to satisfy its indemnification obligations if it is required to do so. |
||||
The holders of the founder shares will not participate in any redemption distribution from our trust account with respect to such shares. |
19
If we are unable to consummate an initial business combination and we expend all of the net proceeds of this offering not deposited in the trust account, we expect that the initial per-share redemption price will be approximately $10.00 (which is equal to the anticipated aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account excluding interest earned on the funds held in the trust account without taking into account any interest earned on such funds or any increase as a result of our extending the time to consummate a business combination as described herein). The proceeds deposited in the trust account could, however, become subject to claims of our creditors that are in preference to the claims of our stockholders. In addition, if we are forced to file a bankruptcy case or an involuntary bankruptcy case is filed against us that is not dismissed, the proceeds held in the trust account could be subject to applicable bankruptcy law, and may be included in our bankruptcy estate and subject to the claims of third parties with priority over the claims of our stockholders. Therefore, the actual per-share redemption price may be less than $10.00 without taking into account any interest earned on such funds or any increase as a result of our extending the time to consummate a business combination as described herein. |
||||
We will pay the costs of any liquidation from the net proceeds from this offering and the private placement held out of trust and the up to $100,000 of interest income available to us from the trust account to pay for our liquidation expenses. |
||||
Conflicts of Interest: |
As described in “Proposed Business — Sourcing of Potential Business Combination Targets” and “Management — Conflicts of Interest,” each of our officers and directors presently has, and any of them in the future may have additional, fiduciary, contractual or other obligations or duties to one or more other entities pursuant to which such officer or director is or will be required to present a business combination opportunity to such entities. Accordingly, if any of our officers or directors becomes aware of a business combination opportunity which is suitable for an entity to which he or she has then current fiduciary or contractual obligations, he or she will honor his or her fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such business combination opportunity to such other entity. Therefore, the fiduciary duties or contractual obligations of our officers or directors will materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination. Our sponsor paid a nominal aggregate purchase price of $25,000 for the founder shares, or approximately $0.004 per share. Accordingly, our management team, which owns interests in our sponsor, may be more willing to pursue a business combination with a riskier or less-established target business than would be the case if our sponsor had paid the same per share price for the founder shares as our public stockholders paid for their public shares. |
|||
As described above, certain members of our management team will receive compensation upon consummation of our initial business combination, and accordingly, they may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination as such compensation will not be received unless we consummate such business combination. |
20
In the event our sponsor or members of our management team provide loans to us to finance transaction costs and/or incur expenses on our behalf in connection with an initial business combination, such persons may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination as such loans may not be repaid and/or such expenses may not be reimbursed unless we consummate such business combination. Similarly, if we agree to pay our sponsor or a member of our management team a finder’s fee, advisory fee, consulting fee or success fee in order to effectuate the completion of our initial business combination, such persons may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination as any such fee may not be paid unless we consummate such business combination. |
||||
Our sponsor, officers or directors may sponsor or form other special purpose acquisition companies similar to ours or may pursue other business or investment ventures during the period in which we are seeking an initial business combination. As a result, our sponsor, officers and directors could have conflicts of interest in determining whether to present business combination opportunities to us or to any other special purpose acquisition company with which they may become involved. Any such companies, businesses or investments may present additional conflicts of interest in pursuing an initial business combination target. Based on the existing relationships of our sponsor, directors and officers, their level of financial investment in us and the potential loss of such investment if no business combination is consummated, the fact that we may consummate a business combination with a target in a broad array of industries, we believe there may be substantial overlap between companies that would be a suitable business combination for us and companies that would make an attractive target for their other businesses. Therefore, we do not believe that any such potential conflicts would materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination. |
||||
Our executive officers and our directors may have interests that differ from you in connection with the business combination, including the fact that they may lose their entire investment in us if our initial business combination is not completed, except to the extent they receive liquidating distributions from assets outside the trust account, and accordingly, may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination. Additionally, the personal and financial interests of our directors and executive officers may influence their motivation in timely identifying and pursuing an initial business combination or completing our initial business combination. The different timelines of competing business combinations could cause our directors and executive officers to prioritize a different business combination over finding a suitable acquisition target for our business combination. Consequently, our directors’ and executive officers’ discretion in identifying and selecting a suitable target business may result in a conflict of interest when determining whether the terms, conditions and timing of a particular business combination are appropriate and in our stockholders’ best interest, which could negatively impact the timing for a business combination. |
21
We are not prohibited from pursuing an initial business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, directors or members of our management team; accordingly, such affiliated person(s) may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination as such affiliated person(s) would have interests different from our public stockholders and would likely not receive any financial benefit unless we consummated such business combination. |
||||
In addition to the above, our officers and directors are not required to commit any specified amount of time to our affairs, and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in allocating management time among various business activities, including selecting a business combination target and monitoring the related due diligence. See “Risk Factors — Our officers and directors will allocate their time to other businesses thereby causing conflicts of interest in their determination as to how much time to devote to our affairs. This conflict of interest could have a negative impact on our ability to complete our initial business combination.” |
||||
Additionally, our sponsor and executive officers and directors have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares, private shares and any public shares held by them in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination. Further, our sponsor and executive officers and directors have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to any founder shares or private shares held by them if we are unable to complete our initial business combination by the Deadline, or by such earlier liquidation date as our board of directors may approve. If we do not complete our initial business combination within such applicable time period, the private units will be worthless. With certain limited exceptions, the founder shares will not be transferable, assignable or salable by our sponsor or its permitted transferees until six months after the completion of our initial business combination. With certain limited exceptions, the private units and the shares of common stock and rights underlying the private units, will not be transferable, assignable or salable by our sponsor or its permitted transferees until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination. Since our sponsor and executive officers and directors may directly or indirectly own shares of common stock and rights following this offering, our executive officers and directors may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination because of their financial interest in completing an initial business combination by the Deadline, or by such earlier liquidation date as our board of directors may approve. |
22
Summary of Risk Factors
An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. The occurrence of one or more of the events or circumstances described in the section titled “Risk Factors,” alone or in combination with other events or circumstances, may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results. In that event, the trading price of our securities could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment. Such risks include, but are not limited to:
• We may not be able to complete our initial business combination by the Deadline, or the expiration of any Extension, in which case we would cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, and we would redeem our public shares for a pro rata portion of the funds in the trust account, and we would liquidate. In such event, our rights would expire worthless.
• Your only opportunity to affect the investment decision regarding a potential business combination may be limited to the exercise of your right to redeem your shares to cash.
• Our initial stockholders will control a substantial interest in us and thus may influence certain actions requiring a stockholder vote.
• The ability of our public stockholders to exercise their redemption rights or sell their shares to us in a tender offer may not allow us to effectuate the most desirable business combination or optimize our capital structure.
• We may require stockholders who wish to redeem their shares in connection with a proposed business combination to comply with specific requirements for redemption that may make it more difficult for them to exercise their redemption rights.
• We may issue additional shares of capital stock or debt securities to complete a business combination, which would reduce the equity interest of our stockholders and likely cause a change in control of our ownership.
• We may be unable to obtain additional financing, if required, to complete a business combination or to fund the operations and growth of the target business.
• We may not obtain a fairness opinion with respect to the target business that we seek to acquire and therefore you may be relying solely on the judgment of our Board of Directors in approving a proposed 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.
• Our search for a business combination, and any target business with which we ultimately consummate a business combination, may be materially adversely affected by public health concerns, rising interest rates, and other current or future events, including the status of debt and equity markets.
• We may have a limited ability to assess the management of a prospective target business and, as a result, may affect our initial business combination with a target business whose management may not have the skills, qualifications or abilities to manage a public company.
• If we consummate a business combination with a target company with assets located outside of the United States, our results of operations and prospects could be subject to the economic, political, and legal policies, developments, and conditions in the country in which we operate. Further, exchange rate fluctuations and currency policies may cause our ability to succeed in the international markets to be diminished.
• Our officers and directors presently have fiduciary or contractual obligations to other entities and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented.
• Our officers and directors may have interests in a potential business combination that are different than yours, which may create conflicts of interest.
23
• The determination of the offering price of our units and the size of this offering is more arbitrary than the pricing of securities and size of an offering of an operating company in a particular industry.
• You will experience immediate and substantial dilution from the purchase of our common stock.
• There is currently no market for our securities and a market for our securities may not develop, which would adversely affect the liquidity and price of our securities.
• NASDAQ may delist our securities from trading on its exchange, which could limit investors’ ability to make transactions in our securities and subject us to additional trading restrictions.
• If third parties bring claims against us, and if our directors decide not to enforce the indemnification obligations of Bengochea SPAC Sponsors II LLC, or if Bengochea SPAC Sponsors II LLC does not have the funds to indemnify us, the proceeds held in the trust account could be reduced and the per-share redemption amount received by stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share without taking into account any interest earned on such funds or any increase as a result of our extending the time to consummate a business combination as described herein.
• Provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws and Delaware law may inhibit a takeover of us, which could limit the price investors might be willing to pay in the future for our common stock and could entrench management.
• Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide, subject to limited exceptions, that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the sole and exclusive forum for certain stockholder litigation matters, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers, employees or stockholders.
• Our stockholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against us to the extent of distributions received by them upon redemption of their shares.
• We have no operating history, and, accordingly, you have no basis on which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective.
• If we are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act, we may be required to institute burdensome compliance requirements and our activities may be restricted, which may make it difficult for us to complete our initial business combination.
• We are an emerging growth company and smaller reporting company within the meaning of the Securities Act, and if we take advantage of certain exemptions from disclosure requirements available to emerging growth companies, this could make our securities less attractive to investors and may make it more difficult to compare our performance with other public companies.
• Cyber incidents or attacks directed at us could result in information theft, data corruption, operational disruption and/or financial loss.
• This offering is not being conducted in compliance with Rule 419 promulgated under the Securities Act. Accordingly, you will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors in Rule 419 blank check offerings. For additional information concerning how Rule 419 blank check offerings differ from this offering, please see “Proposed Business — Comparison of This Offering to Those of Blank Check Companies Subject to Rule 419.”
24
The following table summarizes the relevant financial data for our business and should be read with our financial statements, which are included in this prospectus. We have not had any significant operations to date, and accordingly only balance sheet data is presented.
February 28, 2025 |
|||||||
Actual |
As |
||||||
Working capital (deficiency) |
$ |
(177,479 |
) |
789,255 |
|
||
Total assets |
$ |
145,631 |
|
200,951,055 |
|
||
Total liabilities |
$ |
194,576 |
|
9,161,800 |
|
||
Value of common stock subject to possible redemption |
$ |
— |
|
200,000,000 |
|
||
Stockholders’ (deficit) equity |
$ |
(48,945 |
) |
(8,210,745 |
) |
____________
(1) The “as adjusted” information gives effect to the sale of the units we are offering and the sale of the private units including the application of the related gross proceeds and the payment of the estimated remaining costs from such sale and the repayment of the accrued and other liabilities required to be repaid, and assumes no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option in the aggregate of 750,000 Founders Shares that have been forfeited as a result thereof.
The “as adjusted” total assets amount includes $200,000,000 to be held in the trust account, plus $1,000,000 in cash to be held outside the trust account (after giving effect to estimated offering costs) plus $48,945 of actual stockholder’s deficit as of February 28, 2025.
25
An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should consider carefully the risks described below, which we believe represent the material risks related to the offering, together with the other information contained in this prospectus, before making a decision to invest in our units. This prospectus also contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a result of specific factors, including the risks described below.
Risks Relating to Searching for and Consummating a Business Combination
If we are unable to consummate a business combination, our public stockholders may be forced to wait more than 24 months before receiving distributions from the trust account, and our rights will expire worthless.
We have 24 months from the closing of this offering, the Deadline, in which to complete a business combination. We have no obligation to return funds to investors prior to such date unless we consummate a business combination prior thereto and only then in cases where investors have sought to redeem or sell their shares to us. Only after the expiration of this full time period will public security holders be entitled to distributions from the trust account if we are unable to complete a business combination. Accordingly, investors’ funds may be unavailable to them until after such date and to liquidate your investment, public security holders may be forced to sell their public shares potentially at a loss.
Additionally, if we are unable to complete an initial business combination within the required timeframe and therefore are forced to dissolve and liquidate, the holders of our rights to receive one-tenth (1/10) of one share of common stock upon consummation of our initial business combination will not receive any of such funds with respect to their rights, nor will they receive any distribution from our assets held outside of the trust account with respect to such rights, and their rights will expire worthless.
The requirement that we complete an initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering may give potential target businesses leverage over us in negotiating a business combination.
We have 24 months from the closing of this offering to complete an initial business combination. Any potential target business with which we enter into negotiations concerning a business combination will be aware of this requirement. Consequently, such target business may obtain leverage over us in negotiating a business combination, knowing that if we do not complete a business combination with that particular target business, we may be unable to complete a business combination with any other target business. This risk will increase as we get closer to the time limit referenced above.
Our public stockholders may not be afforded an opportunity to vote on our proposed business combination.
We will either (1) seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination at a meeting called for such purpose at which public stockholders may seek to redeem their shares, regardless of whether they vote for or against the proposed business combination or don’t vote at all, into their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable), or (2) provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to sell their shares to us by means of a tender offer (and thereby avoid the need for a stockholder vote) for an amount equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable), in each case subject to the limitations described elsewhere in this prospectus. Accordingly, it is possible that we will consummate our initial business combination even if holders of a majority of our public shares do not approve of the business combination we consummate. The decision as to whether we will seek stockholder approval of a proposed business combination or will allow stockholders to sell their shares to us in a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would otherwise require us to seek stockholder approval. For instance, NASDAQ rules currently allow us to engage in a tender offer in lieu of a stockholder meeting but would still require us to obtain stockholder approval if we were seeking to issue more than 20% of our outstanding shares to a target business as consideration in any business combination. Therefore, if we were structuring a business combination that required us to issue more than 20% of our outstanding shares, we would seek stockholder approval of such business combination instead of conducting a tender offer.
26
Our initial stockholders will control a substantial interest in us and thus may influence certain actions requiring a stockholder vote.
Upon consummation of our offering, our initial stockholders will own approximately 20% of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock (assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering). None of our officers, directors, initial stockholders or their affiliates has indicated any intention to purchase units in this offering or any units or shares of common stock from persons in the open market or in private transactions. However, our officers, directors, initial stockholders or their affiliates could determine in the future to make such purchases in the open market or in private transactions, to the extent permitted by law, in order to reduce the number of stockholders seeking to tender their shares to us. In connection with any vote for a proposed business combination, our initial stockholders, as well as all of our officers and directors, have agreed to vote the shares of common stock owned by them immediately before this offering in favor of such proposed business combination. As a result, if we sought stockholder approval of a proposed transaction we could need as little as 7,215,001 of our 20,000,000 public shares (or approximately 36.1% of our public shares) to be voted in favor of the transaction in order to have such transaction approved (assuming all shares are voted, the over-allotment option is not exercised, that the initial stockholders do not purchase any units in this offering or units or shares in the after-market). If only a minimum number of shares are voted to reach a quorum for the meeting, we will not need any public shares to be voted in favor of the transaction in order to have such transaction approved (assuming the over-allotment option is not exercised, that the initial stockholders do not purchase any units in this offering or units or shares in the after-market).
Our Board of Directors is and will be 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. It is unlikely that there will be an annual meeting of stockholders to elect new directors prior to the consummation of a business combination, in which case all of the current directors will continue in office until at least the consummation of the business combination. Accordingly, you may not be able to exercise your voting rights under corporate law for up to 24 months.
If we determine to change our acquisition criteria or guidelines, many of the disclosures contained in this prospectus would not be applicable and you would be investing in our company without any basis on which to evaluate the potential target business we may acquire.
We could seek to deviate from the acquisition criteria or guidelines disclosed in this prospectus although we have no current intention to do so. Accordingly, investors may be making an investment in our company without any basis on which to evaluate the potential target business we may acquire. Regardless of whether or not we deviate from the acquisition criteria or guidelines in connection with any proposed business combination, investors will always be given the opportunity to redeem their shares or sell them to us in a tender offer in connection with any proposed business combination as described in this prospectus.
We may not be able to complete an initial business combination because such initial business combination may be subject to regulatory review and approval requirements, including foreign investment regulations and review by government entities such as the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS”), or may be ultimately prohibited.
Our initial business combination may be subject to regulatory review and approval requirements by governmental entities, or ultimately prohibited. For example, CFIUS has authority to review direct or indirect foreign investments in U.S. companies. Among other things, CFIUS is empowered to require certain foreign investors to make mandatory filings, to charge filing fees related to such filings, and to self-initiate national security reviews of foreign direct and indirect investments in U.S. companies if the parties to that investment choose not to file voluntarily. In the case that CFIUS determines an investment to be a threat to national security, CFIUS has the power to unwind or place restrictions on the investment. Whether CFIUS has jurisdiction to review an acquisition or investment transaction depends on — among other factors — the nature and structure of the transaction, including the level of beneficial ownership interest and the nature of any information or governance rights involved. While our sponsor is a limited liability company formed in Delaware and is not controlled by, nor does it have substantial ties with, a non-U.S. person, investments that result in “control” of a U.S. business by a foreign person are always subject to CFIUS jurisdiction. CFIUS’s expanded jurisdiction under the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act of 2018 and implementing regulations that became effective on February 13, 2020 further includes investments that do not result in control of a U.S. business by a foreign person but afford certain foreign investors certain information or governance rights in a U.S. business that has a nexus to “critical technologies,” “critical infrastructure” and/or “sensitive personal data.”
27
If a particular proposed initial business combination with a U.S. business falls within CFIUS’s jurisdiction, we may determine that we are required to make a mandatory filing or that we will submit to CFIUS review on a voluntary basis, or to proceed with the transaction without submitting to CFIUS and risk CFIUS intervention, before or after closing the transaction. CFIUS may decide to block or delay our proposed initial business combination, impose conditions with respect to such initial business combination or request the President of the United States to order us to divest all or a portion of the U.S. target business of our initial business combination that we acquired without first obtaining CFIUS approval, which may limit the attractiveness of, delay or prevent us from pursuing certain target companies that we believe would otherwise be beneficial to us and our stockholders. As a result, the pool of potential targets with which we could complete an initial 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 any foreign ownership issues. In addition, certain federally licensed businesses may be subject to rules or regulations that limit foreign ownership.
The process of government review, whether by CFIUS or otherwise, could be lengthy. Because we have only a limited time to complete our initial business combination, our failure to obtain any required approvals within the requisite time period may require us to liquidate. If we are unable to consummate our initial business combination within the applicable time period required under our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, including as a result of extended regulatory review of a potential initial business combination, 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 (and subject to lawfully available funds therefor), redeem the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account (which interest shall be net of taxes and less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses and net of taxes payable, other than any excise or similar tax that may be due or payable), divided by the number of then-outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our board of directors, liquidate and dissolve, subject in each case to our obligations under Delaware Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. In such event, our stockholders will miss the opportunity to benefit from an investment in a target company and the appreciation in value of such investment. Additionally, our public rights will be worthless.
Since we have not yet selected a particular industry or target business with which to complete a business combination, we are unable to currently ascertain the merits or risks of the industry or business in which we may ultimately operate.
While we may pursue an initial business combination target in any business, industry or geographic location, we intend to search globally for target companies within the M&E industry with a primary focus on the United States, and in particular on identifying attractive targets among content studios and film production, family entertainment, animation, music, gaming, e-sports, talent management, talent-facing brands and businesses. Accordingly, there is no current basis for you to evaluate the possible merits or risks of the particular industry in which we may ultimately operate or the target business which we may ultimately acquire. To the extent we complete a business combination with a financially unstable company or an entity in its development stage, we may be affected by numerous risks inherent in the business operations of those entities. If we complete a business combination with an entity in an industry characterized by a high level of risk, we may be affected by the currently unascertainable risks of that industry. Although our management will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular industry or target business, we cannot assure you that we will properly ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors. We also cannot assure you that an investment in our units will not ultimately prove to be less favorable to investors in this offering than a direct investment, if an opportunity were available, in a target business.
The ability of our stockholders to exercise their redemption rights or sell their shares to us in a tender offer may not allow us to effectuate the most desirable business combination or optimize our capital structure.
If our business combination requires us to use substantially all of our cash to pay the purchase price, because we will not know how many stockholders may exercise redemption rights or seek to sell their shares to us in a tender offer, we may either need to reserve part of the trust account for possible payment upon such redemption, or we may need to arrange third party financing to help fund our business combination. In the event that the acquisition involves the issuance of our stock as consideration, we may be required to issue a higher percentage of our stock to make
28
up for a shortfall in funds. Raising additional funds to cover any shortfall may involve dilutive equity financing or incurring indebtedness at higher than desirable levels. This may limit our ability to effectuate the most attractive business combination available to us.
In connection with any vote to approve a business combination, we will offer each public stockholder the option to vote in favor of a proposed business combination and still seek redemption of his, her or its shares.
In connection with any vote to approve a business combination, we will offer each public stockholder (but not our initial stockholders, officers and directors) the right to have his, her or its shares of common stock redeemed for cash (subject to the limitations described elsewhere in this prospectus) regardless of whether such stockholder votes for or against such proposed business combination or does not vote at all. The ability to seek redemption while voting in favor of our proposed business combination may make it more likely that we will consummate a business combination.
We do not have a specified maximum redemption threshold. The absence of such a redemption threshold may make it easier for us to consummate a business combination even where a substantial number of public stockholders seek to redeem their shares to cash in connection with the vote on the business combination.
We have no specified percentage threshold for redemption in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. As a result, we may be able to consummate a business combination even though a substantial number of our public stockholders do not agree with the transaction and have redeemed their shares.
In connection with any stockholder meeting called to approve a proposed initial business combination, we may require stockholders who wish to redeem their shares in connection with a proposed business combination to comply with specific requirements for redemption that may make it more difficult for them to exercise their redemption rights prior to the deadline for exercising their rights.
In connection with any stockholder meeting called to approve a proposed initial business combination, each public stockholder will have the right, regardless of whether he is voting for or against such proposed business combination or does not vote at all, to demand that we redeem his shares into a pro rata share of the trust account as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial business combination. We may require public stockholders who wish to redeem their shares in connection with a proposed business combination to either (i) tender their certificates to our transfer agent or (ii) deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using the Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System, at the holders’ option, in each case prior to a date set forth in the tender offer documents or proxy materials sent in connection with the proposal to approve the business combination. In order to obtain a physical stock certificate, a stockholder’s broker and/or clearing broker, DTC and our transfer agent will need to act to facilitate this request. It is our understanding that stockholders should generally allot at least two weeks to obtain physical certificates from the transfer agent. However, because we do not have any control over this process or over the brokers or DTC, it may take significantly longer than two weeks to obtain a physical stock certificate. While we have been advised that it takes a short time to deliver shares through the DWAC System, we cannot assure you of this fact. Accordingly, if it takes longer than we anticipate for stockholders to deliver their shares, stockholders who wish to redeem may be unable to meet the deadline for exercising their redemption rights and thus may be unable to redeem their shares.
If, in connection with any stockholder meeting called to approve a proposed business combination, we require public stockholders who wish to redeem their shares to comply with specific requirements for redemption, such redeeming stockholders may be unable to sell their securities when they wish to in the event that the proposed business combination is not approved.
If we require public stockholders who wish to redeem their shares to comply with specific requirements for redemption and such proposed business combination is not consummated, we will promptly return such certificates to the tendering public stockholders. Accordingly, investors who attempted to redeem their shares in such a circumstance will be unable to sell their securities after the failed acquisition until we have returned their securities to them. The market price for our shares of common stock may decline during this time and you may not be able to sell your securities when you wish to, even while other stockholders that did not seek redemption may be able to sell their securities.
29
Because of our structure, other companies may have a competitive advantage and we may not be able to consummate an attractive business combination.
We expect to encounter intense competition from entities other than blank check companies having a business objective similar to ours, including venture capital funds, leveraged buyout funds and operating businesses competing for acquisitions. Many of these entities are well established and have extensive experience in identifying and effecting business combinations directly or through affiliates. Many of these competitors possess greater technical, human and other resources than we do and our financial resources will be relatively limited when contrasted with those of many of these competitors. While we believe that there are numerous potential target businesses that we could acquire with the net proceeds of this offering, our ability to compete in acquiring certain sizable target businesses will be limited by our available financial resources. This inherent competitive limitation gives others an advantage in pursuing the acquisition of certain target businesses. Furthermore, seeking stockholder approval or engaging in a tender offer in connection with any proposed business combination may delay the consummation of such a transaction. Additionally, the rights to one-tenth (1/10) of one share of common stock upon consummation of our initial business combination included within our units, and the future dilution they potentially represent, may not be viewed favorably by certain target businesses. Any of the foregoing may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating a business combination.
Because we must furnish our stockholders with target business financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles or international financial reporting standards, we will not be able to complete a business combination with prospective target businesses unless their financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles or international financial reporting standards.
The federal proxy rules require that a proxy statement with respect to a vote on a business combination meeting certain financial significance tests include historical and/or pro forma financial statement disclosure in periodic reports. 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, or IFRS, depending on the circumstances, and the historical financial statements may be required to be audited in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), or PCAOB. We will include the same financial statement disclosure in connection with any tender offer documents we use, whether or not they are required under the tender offer rules. Additionally, to the extent we furnish our stockholders with financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS, such financial statements will likely need to be audited in accordance with U.S. GAAP at the time of the consummation of the business combination. These financial statement requirements may limit the pool of potential target businesses we may acquire.
We may issue shares of our capital stock or debt securities to complete a business combination, which would reduce the equity interest of our stockholders and likely cause a change in control of our ownership.
As of the date of this prospectus, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will authorize the issuance of up to 50,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share. Although we have no commitment as of the date of this offering, we may issue a substantial number of additional shares of common stock or shares of preferred stock, or a combination of common stock and preferred stock, to complete a business combination. The issuance of additional shares of common stock will not reduce the per-share redemption amount in the trust account. The issuance of additional shares of common stock or preferred stock:
• may significantly reduce the equity interest of investors in this offering;
• may subordinate the rights of holders of shares of common stock if we issue shares of preferred stock with rights senior to those afforded to our shares of common stock;
• may cause a change in control if a substantial number of shares of common stock are issued, which may affect, among other things, our ability to use our net operating loss carry forwards, if any, and could result in the resignation or removal of our present officers and directors; and
• may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our shares of common stock.
30
Similarly, if we issue debt securities, it could result in:
• default and foreclosure on our assets if our operating revenues after a business combination are insufficient to repay our debt obligations;
• acceleration of our obligations to repay the indebtedness even if we make all principal and interest payments when due if we breach certain covenants that require the maintenance of certain financial ratios or reserves without a waiver or renegotiation of that covenant;
• our immediate payment of all principal and accrued interest, if any, if the debt security is payable on demand; and
• our inability to obtain necessary additional financing if the debt security contains covenants restricting our ability to obtain such financing while the debt security is outstanding.
If we incur indebtedness, our lenders will not have a claim on the cash in the trust account and such indebtedness will not decrease the per-share redemption amount in the trust account.
We may be unable to obtain additional financing, if required, to complete a business combination or to fund the operations and growth of the target business, which could compel us to restructure or abandon a particular business combination.
Although we believe that the net proceeds of this offering will be sufficient to allow us to consummate a business combination, because we have not yet identified any prospective target business, we cannot ascertain the capital requirements for any particular transaction. If the net proceeds of this offering prove to be insufficient, either because of the size of the business combination, the depletion of the available net proceeds in search of a target business, or the obligation to redeem into cash a significant number of shares from stockholders, we will be required to seek additional financing. Such financing may not be available on acceptable terms, if at all. To the extent that additional financing proves to be unavailable when needed to consummate a particular business combination, we would be compelled to either restructure the transaction or abandon that particular business combination and seek an alternative target business candidate. In addition, if we consummate a business combination, we may require additional financing to fund the operations or growth of the target business. The failure to secure additional financing could have a material adverse effect on the continued development or growth of the target business. None of our officers, directors or stockholders is required to provide any financing to us in connection with or after a business combination.
If the net proceeds of this offering not being held in trust are insufficient to allow us to operate for at least the next 24 months, we may be unable to complete a business combination.
Of the net proceeds of this offering, only approximately $1,000,000 will be available to us initially outside the trust account to fund our working capital requirements. We will also have access to certain interest earned on the funds held in the trust account for working capital purposes. We believe that, upon closing of this offering, such funds will be sufficient to allow us to operate for at least the next 24 months, however, we cannot assure you that our estimate is accurate. Accordingly, if we use all of the funds held outside of the trust account and all interest available to us, we may not have sufficient funds available with which to structure, negotiate or close an initial business combination. In such event, we would need to borrow funds from our initial stockholders, officers or directors or their affiliates to operate or may be forced to liquidate. Our initial stockholders, officers, directors and their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds, from time to time or at any time, in whatever amount that they deem reasonable in their sole discretion for our working capital needs. Each loan would be evidenced by a promissory note. The notes would be paid upon consummation of our initial business combination, without interest.
We may not obtain a fairness opinion with respect to the target business that we seek to acquire and therefore you may be relying solely on the judgment of our Board of Directors in approving a proposed business combination.
We will only be required to obtain a fairness opinion with respect to the target business that we seek to acquire if it is an entity that is affiliated with any of our initial stockholders, officers, directors or their affiliates. In all other instances, we will have no obligation to obtain an opinion. Accordingly, investors may be relying solely on the judgment of our Board of Directors in approving a proposed business combination.
31
Resources could be spent researching acquisitions that are not consummated, which could materially adversely affect subsequent attempts to locate and acquire or merge with another business.
It is anticipated 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 a decision is made not to complete a specific business combination, the costs incurred up to that point for the proposed transaction likely would not be recoverable. Furthermore, even if an agreement is reached relating to a specific target business, we may fail to consummate the 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.
We may only be able to complete one business combination with the proceeds of this offering, which will cause us to be solely dependent on a single business which may have a limited number of products or services.
It is likely we will consummate a business combination with a single target business, although we have the ability to simultaneously acquire several target businesses. By consummating a business combination with only a single entity, our lack of diversification may subject us to numerous economic, competitive and regulatory developments. Further, we would not be able to diversify our operations or benefit from the possible spreading of risks or offsetting of losses, unlike other entities which may have the resources to complete several business combinations in different industries or different areas of a single industry. Accordingly, the prospects for our success may be:
• solely dependent upon the performance of a single business, or
• dependent upon the development or market acceptance of a single or limited number of products, processes or services.
This lack of diversification may subject us to numerous economic, competitive and regulatory developments, any or all of which may have a substantial adverse impact upon the particular industry in which we may operate subsequent to a business combination.
Alternatively, if we determine to simultaneously acquire several businesses and such businesses are owned by different sellers, we will need for each of such sellers to agree that our purchase of its business is contingent on the simultaneous closings of the other business combinations, which may make it more difficult for us, and delay our ability, to complete the business combination. With multiple business combinations, we could also face additional risks, including additional burdens and costs with respect to possible multiple negotiations and due diligence investigations (if there are multiple sellers) and the additional risks associated with the subsequent assimilation of the operations and services or products of the acquired companies in a single operating business. If we are unable to adequately address these risks, it could negatively impact our profitability and results of operations.
Our search for an initial business combination, and any target business with which we ultimately consummate an initial business combination, may be materially adversely affected by significant current and future events, such as public health concerns, the war in Ukraine, rising interest rates, ongoing market turbulence and the status of debt and equity markets.
Public health concerns (pandemics or epidemics), terrorist attacks, natural disasters, acts of war (including the war in Ukraine), civil unrest, economic downturns or recessions and rising interest rates could adversely affect the economies and financial markets worldwide, and the business of any potential target business with which we consummate an initial business combination could be materially and adversely affected. Furthermore, we may be unable to complete an initial business combination if concerns relating to any such situations restrict travel, limit the ability to have meetings with potential investors or the target company’s personnel or service providers, or otherwise cause the target company to be unavailable to negotiate and consummate a transaction in a timely manner. The extent to which current or future events impact our search for an initial business combination will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including new information which may emerge concerning, for example, the severity of any public health concerns, the status of efforts to contain COVID-19 or treat its impact, among others. If the disruptions posed by any current or future events continue for an extensive period of time, our ability to consummate an initial business combination, or the operations of a target business with which we ultimately consummate an initial business combination, may be materially adversely affected.
32
In addition, our ability to consummate a transaction may be dependent on the ability to raise equity and debt financing which may be impacted by rising interest rates, ongoing market turbulence or other current or future events, including as a result of increased market volatility, decreased market liquidity in third-party financing being unavailable on terms acceptable to us 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 initial business combination and could even result in our inability to find a target or to consummate an initial business combination.
Since the fourth quarter of 2020, the number of special purpose acquisition companies that have been formed has increased substantially. Many potential targets for special purpose acquisition companies have already entered into an initial business combination, and there are still many special purpose acquisition companies 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 an initial business combination.
In addition, because there are more special purpose acquisition companies seeking to enter into an initial business combination with available targets, the competition for available targets with attractive fundamentals or business models may increase, which could cause 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 an initial business combination, and may result in our inability to consummate an initial business combination on terms favorable to our investors altogether.
Changes in the market for directors and officers liability insurance could make it more difficult and more expensive for us to negotiate and complete an initial business combination.
In recent months, the market for directors and officers liability insurance for special purpose acquisition companies has changed. The premiums charged for such policies have generally increased and the terms of such policies have generally become less favorable. There can be no assurance that these trends will not continue.
The increased cost and decreased availability of directors and officers liability insurance could make it more difficult and more expensive for us to negotiate an initial business combination. In order to obtain directors and officers liability insurance or modify its coverage as a result of becoming a public company, the post-business combination entity might need to incur greater expense, accept less favorable terms or both. However, any failure to obtain adequate directors and officers liability insurance could have an adverse impact on the post-business combination’s ability to attract and retain qualified officers and directors.
In addition, even after we were to complete an initial business combination, our directors and officers could still be subject to potential liability from claims arising from conduct alleged to have occurred prior to the initial business combination. As a result, in order to protect our directors and officers, the post-business combination entity will likely need to purchase additional insurance with respect to any such claims (“run-off insurance”). The need for run-off insurance would be an added expense for the post-business combination entity, and could interfere with or frustrate our ability to consummate an initial business combination on terms favorable to our investors.
Furthermore, because our management team utilizes strategic advisors in addition to conventional directors and officers, we may choose to seek liability insurance coverage which extends to our strategic advisors, which could further increase our insurance costs.
Changes in international trade policies, tariffs and treaties affecting imports and exports may have a material adverse effect on our search for an initial business combination target or the performance or business prospects of a post-business combination company.
There have recently been significant changes to international trade policies and tariffs affecting imports and exports. Any significant increases in tariffs on goods or materials or other changes in trade policy could negatively affect our search for a target and/or our ability to complete our initial business combination.
33
Recently, the U.S. has implemented a range of new tariffs and increases to existing tariffs. In response to the tariffs announced by the U.S., other countries have imposed, are considering imposing, and may in the future impose new or increased tariffs on certain exports from the United States. There is currently significant uncertainty about the future relationship between the United States and other countries with respect to trade policies, taxes, government regulations and tariffs. and we cannot predict whether, and to what extent, current tariffs will continue or trade policies will change in the future.
Tariffs, or the threat of tariffs or increased tariffs, could have a significant negative impact on certain businesses (either due to domestic businesses’ reliance on imported goods or dependence on access to foreign markets, or foreign businesses’ reliance on sales into the United States). In addition, retaliatory tariffs could have a significant negative impact on foreign businesses that rely on imports from the United States, and domestic businesses that rely on exporting goods internationally. These tariffs and threats of tariffs and other potential trade policy changes could negatively affect the attractiveness of certain initial business combination targets, or lead to material adverse effects on a post-business combination company. Among other things, historical financial performance of companies affected by trade policies and/or tariffs may not provide useful guidance as to the future performance of such companies, because future financial performance of those companies may be materially affected by new U.S. tariffs or foreign retaliatory tariffs, or other changes to trade policies. The business prospects of a particular target for a business combination could change even after we enter into a business combination agreement, as a result of tariffs or the threat of tariffs that may have a material impact on that target’s business, and it may be costly or impractical for us to terminate that business combination agreement. These factors could affect our selection of a business combination target.
We may not be able to adequately address the risks presented by these tariffs or other potential trade policy changes. As a result, we may deem it costly, impractical or risky to complete an initial business combination with a particular target or with a target in a particular industry or from a particular country. Consequently, the pool of potential target companies may be reduced, which could impair our ability to identify a suitable target and to complete an initial business combination. If we complete an initial business combination with such a target, the post-business combination company’s operations and financial results could be adversely affected as a result of tariffs or changes to trade policies, which may cause the market value of the securities of the post-business combination company to decline.
Risks Relating to the Post-Business Combination Company
Our ability to successfully effect a business combination and to be successful thereafter will be totally dependent upon the efforts of our key personnel, some of whom may join us following a business combination. While we intend to closely scrutinize any individuals we engage after a business combination, we cannot assure you that our assessment of these individuals will prove to be correct.
Our ability to successfully effect a business combination is dependent upon the efforts of our key personnel. We believe that our success depends on the continued service of our key personnel, at least until we have consummated our initial business combination. We cannot assure you that any of our key personnel will remain with us for the immediate or foreseeable future. In addition, none of our officers is required to commit any specified amount of time to our affairs and, accordingly, our officers will have conflicts of interest in allocating management time among various business activities, including identifying potential business combinations and monitoring the related due diligence. We do not have employment agreements with, or key-man insurance on the life of, any of our officers. The unexpected loss of the services of our key personnel could have a detrimental effect on us.
The role of our key personnel after a business combination, however, cannot presently be ascertained. Although some of our key personnel may serve in senior management or advisory positions following a business combination, it is likely that most, if not all, of the management of the target business will remain in place. While we intend to closely scrutinize any individuals we engage after a business combination, we cannot assure you that our assessment of these individuals will prove to be correct. These individuals may be unfamiliar with the requirements of operating a public company which could cause us to have to expend time and resources helping them become familiar with such requirements. This could be expensive and time-consuming and could lead to various regulatory issues which may adversely affect our operations.
34
Our officers and directors may not have significant experience or knowledge regarding the jurisdiction or industry of the target business we may seek to acquire.
We may consummate a business combination with a target business in any geographic location or industry we choose. We cannot assure you that our officers and directors will have enough experience or have sufficient knowledge relating to the jurisdiction of the target or its industry to make an informed decision regarding a business combination.
If we do not conduct an adequate due diligence investigation of a target business, we may be required to subsequently take write-downs or write-offs, restructuring, and impairment or other charges that could have a significant negative effect on our financial condition, results of operations and our stock price, which could cause you to lose some or all of your investment.
We must conduct a due diligence investigation of the target businesses we intend to acquire. Intensive due diligence is time consuming and expensive due to the operations, accounting, finance and legal professionals who must be involved in the due diligence process. Even if we conduct extensive due diligence on a target business, this diligence may not reveal all material issues that may affect a particular target business, and factors outside the control of the target business and outside of our control may later arise. If our diligence fails to identify issues specific to a target business, industry or the environment in which the target business operates, we may be forced to later write-down or write-off assets, restructure our operations, or incur impairment or other charges that could result in our reporting losses. Even though these charges may be non-cash items and not have an immediate impact on our liquidity, the fact that we report charges of this nature could contribute to negative market perceptions about us or our common stock. In addition, charges of this nature may cause us to violate net worth or other covenants to which we may be subject as a result of assuming pre-existing debt held by a target business or by virtue of our obtaining post-combination debt financing.
If we effect a business combination with a company located in a foreign jurisdiction, we would be subject to a variety of additional risks that may negatively impact our operations.
If we consummate a business combination with a target business in a foreign country, we would be subject to any special considerations or risks associated with companies operating in the target business’ home jurisdiction, including any of the following:
• rules and regulations or currency redemption or corporate withholding taxes on individuals;
• tariffs and trade barriers;
• regulations related to customs and import/export matters;
• longer payment cycles;
• tax issues, such as tax law changes and variations in tax laws as compared to the United States;
• currency fluctuations and exchange controls;
• challenges in collecting accounts receivable;
• cultural and language differences;
• employment regulations;
• crime, strikes, riots, civil disturbances, terrorist attacks and wars; and
• deterioration of political relations with the United States.
We cannot assure you that we would be able to adequately address these additional risks. If we were unable to do so, our operations might suffer.
If we effect a business combination with a company located outside of the United States, the laws applicable to such company may govern some or all our material agreements and we may not be able to enforce our legal rights.
If we effect a business combination with a company located outside of the United States, the laws of the country in which such company operates may govern some or all of the material agreements relating to its operations. We cannot assure you that the target business will be able to enforce any of its material agreements or that remedies will
35
be available in this new jurisdiction. The system of laws and the enforcement of existing laws in such jurisdiction may not be as certain in implementation and interpretation as in the United States. The inability to enforce or obtain a remedy under any of our future agreements could result in a significant loss of business, business opportunities or capital. Additionally, if we acquire a company located outside of the United States, it is likely that substantially all of our assets would be located outside of the United States and some of our officers and directors might reside outside of the United States. As a result, it may not be possible for investors in the United States to enforce their legal rights, to effect service of process upon our directors or officers or to enforce judgments of United States courts predicated upon civil liabilities and criminal penalties of our directors and officers under federal securities laws.
If we acquire a company operating in the M&E industry, our future operations may be subject to risks associated with this sector.
While we may pursue an initial business combination target in any business, industry or geographic location, we intend to search globally for target companies within the M&E industry with a primary focus on the United States, and in particular on identifying attractive targets among content studios and film production, family entertainment, animation, music, gaming, e-sports, talent management, talent-facing brands and businesses. Because we have not yet identified or approached any specific target business, we cannot provide specific risks of any business combination. However, risks inherent in investments in these industries may include, but are not limited to, the following:
• adverse changes in international, national, regional or local economic, demographic and market conditions;
• competition from other companies and businesses in the M&E industry;
• the ability to develop successful new products or improve existing ones;
• changes in technology rendering our products or services obsolete following a business combination;
• the disruption or failure of our networks, systems, platform or technology that frustrate or thwart our users’ ability to access our products and services, which may cause our users, advertisers, and partners to cut back on or stop using our products and services altogether, which could harm our business;
• fluctuations in interest rates, which could adversely affect the ability of buyers and tenants of properties to obtain financing on favorable terms or at all;
• mobile malware, viruses, ransomware, hacking and phishing attacks, spamming, and improper or illegal use of our products, which could harm our business and reputation;
• litigation and other legal proceedings;
• challenges associated with perfecting, registering, maintaining, licensing, enforcing and defending our intellectual property rights;
• complexities in properly measuring the value of intangible or cutting-edge business assets, such as a celebrity’s brand recognition or the advertising potential of a streaming service;
• risks arising out of the interconnectedness of the value and goodwill of our business and brands with the marketability, popularity, and public perception of certain celebrities;
• the ability to attract and retain highly skilled employees;
• environmental risks;
• civil unrest, labor strikes, acts of God, including earthquakes, floods and other natural disasters and acts of war or terrorism, which may result in uninsured losses;
• increasing governmental regulation; and
• failure to comply with governmental regulations resulting in the imposition of penalties, fines or restrictions on operations and remedial liabilities.
36
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 companies in the M&E industry. Accordingly, if we acquire a target business in another industry, these risks we will be subject to risks attendant with the specific industry in which we operate or target business which we acquire, which may or may not be different than those risks listed above.
An investment in this offering involves uncertain U.S. federal income tax consequences.
An investment in this offering involves uncertain U.S. federal income tax consequences. For instance, the Internal Revenue Service could challenge the allocation an investor makes with respect to allocating the purchase price of a unit between the share of common stock and the right to receive 1/10 of a share of common stock upon the consummation of our initial business combination, included in each unit. Finally, it is unclear whether the redemption rights with respect to our shares of common stock suspend the running of a U.S. Holder’s (as defined in “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations”) holding period for purposes of determining whether any gain or loss realized by such holder on the sale or exchange of common stock is long-term capital gain or loss and for determining whether any dividend we pay would be considered a “qualified dividend” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, each prospective investor is urged to consult a tax advisor with respect to the specific tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our securities, including the applicability and effect of state, local, or foreign tax laws, as well as U.S. federal tax laws. See the section entitled “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” for a summary of the material United States Federal income tax consequences of an investment in our securities.
There may be tax consequences to our business combinations that may adversely affect us.
While we expect to undertake any merger or acquisition so as to minimize taxes both to the acquired business and/or asset and us, such business combination might not meet the statutory requirements of a tax-free reorganization, or the parties might not obtain the intended tax-free treatment upon a transfer of shares or assets. A reorganization that does not qualify as tax-free could result in the imposition of substantial taxes on holders of our securities.
Changes in laws or regulations, or a failure to comply with any laws and regulations, may adversely affect our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete our initial business combination, and results of operations.
We are subject to laws and regulations enacted by national, regional and local governments. In particular, we will be required to comply with certain SEC and other legal requirements and numerous complex tax laws. Compliance with, and monitoring of, applicable laws and regulations may be difficult, time consuming and costly. Those laws and regulations and their interpretation and application may also change from time to time and those changes could have a material adverse effect on our business, investments and results of operations. In addition, a failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations, as interpreted and applied, could have a material adverse effect on our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete our initial business combination, and results of operations.
On January 24, 2024, the SEC adopted a series of new rules relating to SPACs (the “SPAC Rules”) requiring, among other items, (i) additional disclosures relating to SPAC business combination transactions; (ii) additional disclosures relating to dilution and to conflicts of interest involving sponsors and their affiliates in both SPAC initial public offerings and de-SPAC transactions; (iii) the use of projections by SPACs in SEC filings in connection with proposed business combination transactions; and (iv) both the SPAC and the target company’s status as co-registrants on de-SPAC registration statements.
In addition, the SEC’s adopting release provided guidance describing circumstances in which a SPAC could become subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act, including its duration, asset composition, business purpose, and the activities of the SPAC and its management team in furtherance of such goals.
Compliance with the SPAC Rules and related guidance may increase the costs of and the time needed to negotiate and complete an initial business combination and may constrain the circumstances under which we could complete an initial business combination.
37
If our initial business combination involves a company organized under the laws of the United States (or any subdivision thereof), a U.S. federal excise tax could be imposed on us in connection with any redemptions of our shares of common stock after or in connection with such initial business combination.
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which, among other things, imposes a 1% U.S. federal excise tax on certain repurchases (including redemptions) of stock by publicly traded U.S. corporations after December 31, 2022 (the “Excise Tax”), subject to certain exceptions. If applicable, the amount of the Excise Tax is generally 1% of the aggregate fair market value of any stock repurchased by the corporation during a taxable year, net of the aggregate fair market value of certain new stock issuances by the repurchasing corporation during the same taxable year.
Because we are a Delaware corporation and because our securities trade on Nasdaq, we are a “covered corporation” within the meaning of the Inflation Reduction Act. While not free from doubt, absent any further guidance from the U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”), who has been given authority to provide regulations and other guidance to carry out and prevent the abuse or avoidance of the Excise Tax, the Excise Tax may apply to any redemptions of our common stock after December 31, 2022, including redemptions in connection with the Business Combination, unless an exemption is available. Generally, issuances of securities in connection with an initial business combination transaction (including any PIPE transaction at the time of an initial business combination), as well as any other issuances of securities not in connection with an initial business combination, would be expected to reduce the amount of the Excise Tax in connection with redemptions occurring in the same calendar year, but the number of securities redeemed may exceed the number of securities issued. On June 28, 2024, the Treasury finalized certain of the proposed regulations (those relating to procedures for reporting and paying the Excise Tax). The remaining regulations (largely relating to the computation of the Excise Tax) remain in proposed form. The Treasury intends to finalize these proposed regulations at a later date and, until such time, taxpayers may continue to rely on the proposed regulations. In addition, the Excise Tax would be payable by us, and not by the redeeming holder. Finally, subject to certain exceptions, the Excise Tax should not apply in the event of our complete liquidation.
Risks Relating to Potential Conflicts of Interest of our Management, Directors, and Others
Our officers and directors will allocate their time to other businesses thereby causing conflicts of interest in their determination as to how much time to devote to our affairs. This could have a negative impact on our ability to consummate a business combination.
Our officers and directors will not commit their full time to our affairs. We presently expect each of our officers and directors to devote such amount of time as they reasonably believe is necessary to our business. We do not intend to have any full-time employees prior to the consummation of our initial business combination. Each of our officers is engaged in other business endeavors for which he may be entitled to substantial compensation, and our officers are not obligated to contribute any specific number of hours per week to our affairs. Our independent directors also serve as officers and board members for other entities. If our officers’ and directors’ other business affairs require them to devote substantial amounts of time to such affairs in excess of their current commitment levels, it could limit their ability to devote time to our affairs which may have a negative impact on our ability to complete our initial business combination. Any such companies, businesses or investments may present additional conflicts of interest in pursuing an initial business combination target. Based on the existing relationships of our sponsor, directors and officers, their level of financial investment in us and the potential loss of such investment if no business combination is consummated, the fact that we may consummate a business combination with a target in a broad array of industries, we believe there may be substantial overlap between companies that would be a suitable business combination for us and companies that would make an attractive target for their other businesses., Therefore we do not believe that any such potential conflicts would materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination.
Our officers and directors may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is appropriate for a business combination.
Our initial stockholders have waived their right to redeem the founders shares, private shares or any other shares purchased in this offering or thereafter, or to receive distributions from the trust account with respect to the Founders Shares upon our liquidation if we are unable to consummate a business combination. Accordingly, the shares and rights acquired prior to this offering, as well as the private units purchased by our officers or directors in the aftermarket, will be worthless if we do not consummate a business combination. The personal and financial interests of our directors and
38
officers may influence their motivation in timely identifying and selecting a target business and completing a business combination and in determining whether the terms, conditions and timing of a particular business combination are appropriate and in our stockholders’ best interest.
Our officers and directors or their affiliates have pre-existing fiduciary and contractual obligations and may in the future become affiliated with other entities engaged in business activities similar to those intended to be conducted by us. Accordingly, they may have conflicts of interest in determining to which entity a particular business opportunity should be presented.
Our officers and directors or their affiliates have pre-existing fiduciary and contractual obligations to other companies. Accordingly, they may participate in transactions and have obligations that may be in conflict or competition with our consummation of our initial business combination. As a result, a potential target business may be presented by our management team to another entity prior to its presentation to us and we may not be afforded the opportunity to engage in a transaction with such target business. Additionally, our officers and directors may in the future become affiliated with entities that are engaged in a similar business, including another blank check company that may have acquisition objectives that are similar to ours. 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 other entities prior to its presentation to us, subject to our officers’ and directors’ fiduciary duties under Delaware law. For a more detailed description of our officers’ and directors’ business affiliations and the potential conflicts of interest that you should be aware of, see the sections titled “Management — Directors and Executive Officers” and “Management — Conflicts of Interest.”
Our management may negotiate employment or consulting agreements with a target business in connection with a particular business combination. These agreements may provide for them to receive compensation following a business combination and as a result, may cause them to have conflicts of interest in determining whether a particular business combination is the most advantageous.
Our management will be able to remain with the company after the consummation of a business combination only if they are able to negotiate employment or consulting agreements or other appropriate arrangements in connection with the business combination. Such negotiations would take place simultaneously with the negotiation of the business combination and could provide for such individuals to receive compensation in the form of cash payments and/or our securities for services they would render to the company after the consummation of the business combination. The personal and financial interests of such individuals may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business.
Risks Relating to our Securities
If third parties bring claims against us, the proceeds held in trust could be reduced and the per-share redemption price received by stockholders may be less than $10.00.
Our placing of funds in trust may not protect those funds from third party claims against us. Although we will seek to have all vendors and service providers we engage and prospective target businesses we negotiate with execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the trust account for the benefit of our public stockholders, they may not execute such agreements. Furthermore, even if such entities execute such agreements with us, they may seek recourse against the trust account. A court may not uphold the validity of such agreements. Accordingly, the proceeds held in trust could be subject to claims which could take priority over those of our public stockholders. If we are unable to complete a business combination and distribute the proceeds held in trust to our public stockholders, Bengochea SPAC Sponsors II LLC, an entity affiliated with Mr. Bengochea, has agreed (subject to certain exceptions described elsewhere in this prospectus) that it will be liable to ensure that the proceeds in the trust account are not reduced below $10.00 per share by the claims of target businesses or claims of vendors or other entities that are owed money by us for services rendered or contracted for or products sold to us. However, we have not independently verified whether Bengochea SPAC Sponsors II LLC has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations, we have not asked it to reserve for such obligations and we do not believe it has any significant liquid assets. Accordingly, we believe it is unlikely that it will be able to satisfy its indemnification obligations if it is required to do so. As a result, the per-share distribution from the trust account may be less than $10.00, plus interest, due to such claims.
39
Additionally, if we are forced to file a bankruptcy case or an involuntary bankruptcy case is filed against us which is not dismissed, the proceeds held in the trust account could be subject to applicable bankruptcy law, and may be included in our bankruptcy estate and subject to the claims of third parties with priority over the claims of our stockholders. To the extent any bankruptcy claims deplete the trust account, we may not be able to return to our public stockholders at least $10.00.
Our stockholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against us to the extent of distributions received by them.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we will continue in existence only until 24 months from the closing of this offering. If we have not completed a business combination by such date, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the outstanding public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including any interest not previously released to us but net of franchise and income taxes payable (less up to $100,000 for our liquidation expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our Board of Directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject (in the case of (ii) and (iii) above) to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. We cannot assure you that we will properly assess all claims that may be potentially brought against us. As such, our stockholders could potentially be liable for any claims to the extent of distributions received by them (but no more) and any liability of our stockholders may extend well beyond the third anniversary of the date of distribution. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that third parties will not seek to recover from our stockholders amounts owed to them by us.
If we are forced to file a bankruptcy case or an involuntary bankruptcy case is filed against us which is not dismissed, any distributions received by stockholders could be viewed under applicable debtor/creditor and/or bankruptcy laws as either a “preferential transfer” or a “fraudulent conveyance.” As a result, a bankruptcy court could seek to recover all amounts received by our stockholders. Furthermore, because we intend to distribute the proceeds held in the trust account to our public stockholders promptly after expiration of the time we have to complete an initial business combination, this may be viewed or interpreted as giving preference to our public stockholders over any potential creditors with respect to access to or distributions from our assets. Furthermore, our Board may be viewed as having breached their fiduciary duties to our creditors and/or may have acted in bad faith, and thereby exposing itself and our company to claims of punitive damages, by paying public stockholders from the trust account prior to addressing the claims of creditors. We cannot assure you that claims will not be brought against us for these reasons.
Members of our management team, board of directors and advisors have significant experience as founders, board members, officers, executives or employees of other companies. Certain of those persons have been, are currently, or may become, involved in litigation, investigations or other proceedings, including related to those companies or otherwise. This may have an adverse effect on us, which may impede our ability to consummate an initial business combination.
During the course of their careers, members of our management team, board of directors and advisors have had significant experience as founders, board members, officers, executives or employees of other companies. Certain of those persons have been, are currently or may in the future become involved in litigation, investigations or other proceedings, including relating to the business affairs of such companies, transactions entered into by such companies, or otherwise. Any such litigation, investigations or other proceedings may divert the attention and resources of our management team, board of directors and advisors away from identifying and selecting a target business or businesses for our initial business combination and may negatively affect our reputation, which may impede our ability to complete an initial business combination. See “Legal Proceedings” for more information regarding legal proceedings and other matters related to our management team, board of directors and advisors.
Members of our management team, board of directors and advisors and affiliated companies may have been, and may in the future be, involved in civil disputes or governmental investigations unrelated to our business.
Members of our management team, board of directors and advisors have been (and intend to be) involved in a wide variety of businesses. Such involvement has, and may lead to, media coverage and public awareness. As a result, members of our management team, board of directors and advisors and affiliated companies may have been, and may
40
in the future be, involved in civil disputes or governmental investigations unrelated to our business. Any such claims or investigations may be detrimental to our reputation and could negatively affect our ability to identify and complete an initial business combination and may have an adverse effect on the price of our securities.
Our directors may decide not to enforce Bengochea SPAC Sponsors II LLC’s indemnification obligations, resulting in a reduction in the amount of funds in the trust account available for distribution to our public stockholders.
In the event that the proceeds in the trust account are reduced below $10.00 per public share and Bengochea SPAC Sponsors II LLC asserts that it is unable to satisfy its obligations or that it has no indemnification obligations related to a particular claim, our independent directors would determine whether to take legal action against it to enforce such indemnification obligations. It is possible that our independent directors in exercising their business judgment may choose not to do so in any particular instance. If our independent directors choose not to enforce these indemnification obligations, the amount of funds in the trust account available for distribution to our public stockholders may be reduced below $10.00 per share.
The securities in which we may invest the funds held in the trust account could bear a negative rate of interest, which could reduce the value of the assets held in trust such that the per-share redemption amount received by public stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share.
The proceeds held in the trust account will be held as cash or cash items (including in demand deposit accounts) or invested only in U.S. government treasury obligations with a maturity of 185 days or less, money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act, which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations, although we may determine to hold such proceeds as cash rather than investing them for any reason including but not limited to interest rate fluctuations or the need for such funds in connection with an impending closing of an initial business combination. While short-term U.S. government treasury obligations currently yield a positive rate of interest, they have briefly yielded negative interest rates in recent years. Central banks in Europe and Japan pursued interest rates below zero in recent years, and the Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve has not ruled out the possibility that it may in the future adopt similar policies in the United States. In the event that we are unable to complete our initial business combination or make certain amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our public stockholders are entitled to receive their pro-rata share of the proceeds held in the trust account, plus any interest income not previously released to us, net of taxes payable. Negative interest rates could reduce the value of the assets held in trust such that the per-share redemption amount received by public stockholders may be less than $10.00 per share.
There is currently no market for our securities and a market for our securities may not develop, which would adversely affect the liquidity and price of our securities.
There is currently no market for our securities. Stockholders therefore have no access to information about prior market history on which to base their investment decision. Following this offering, the price of our securities may vary significantly due to one or more potential business combinations and general market or economic conditions. Furthermore, an active trading market for our securities may never develop or, if developed, it may not be sustained. You may be unable to sell your securities unless a market can be established and sustained.
We may issue our shares to investors in connection with our initial business combination at a price that is less than the prevailing market price of our shares at that time.
In connection with our initial business combination, we may issue shares to investors in private placement transactions (so-called PIPE transactions) at a price of $10.00 per share or which approximates the per-share amounts in our trust account at such time, which is generally approximately $10.00, without taking into account any interest earned on such funds or any increase as a result of our extending the time to consummate a business combination as described herein. The purpose of such issuances will be to enable us to provide sufficient liquidity to the post-business combination entity. The price of the shares we issue may therefore be less, and potentially significantly less, than the market price for our shares at such time.
41
NASDAQ may delist our securities from quotation on its exchange which could limit investors’ ability to make transactions in our securities and subject us to additional trading restrictions.
We anticipate that our securities will be listed on NASDAQ, a national securities exchange, upon consummation of this offering. Although, after giving effect to this offering, we expect to meet NASDAQ’s minimum initial listing standards for the Nasdaq Global Market, which generally only requires that we meet certain requirements relating to market capitalization, aggregate market value of publicly held shares and distribution requirements, we cannot assure you that our securities will continue to be listed on NASDAQ in the future prior to an initial business combination. Additionally, in connection with our initial business combination, it is possible that NASDAQ will require us to file a new initial listing application and meet its initial listing requirements as opposed to its more lenient continued listing requirements. We cannot assure you that we will be able to meet those initial listing requirements at that time. NASDAQ will also have discretionary authority to not approve our listing if NASDAQ determines that the listing of the company to be acquired is against public policy at that time.
If NASDAQ delists our securities from trading on its exchange, or we are not listed in connection with our initial business combination, we could face significant material adverse consequences, including:
• a limited availability of market quotations for our securities;
• reduced liquidity with respect to our securities;
• a determination that our shares of common stock are “penny stock” which will require brokers trading in our shares of common stock to adhere to more stringent rules, possibly resulting in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for our shares of common stock;
• a limited amount of news and analyst coverage for our company; and
• a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future.
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 we expect that our units and common stock and rights will be listed on NASDAQ, our units, common stock and rights will be covered securities. Although the states are preempted from regulating the sale of our securities, the federal statute does allow the states to investigate companies if there is a suspicion of fraud, and, if there is a finding of fraudulent activity, then the states can regulate or bar the sale of covered securities in a particular case. 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.
Our initial stockholders paid a nominal price for the Founders Shares and, accordingly, you will experience immediate and substantial dilution from the purchase of our shares of common stock.
The difference between the public offering price per share and the pro forma net tangible book value per share of common stock after this offering constitutes the dilution to the investors in this offering. Our initial stockholders acquired the Founders Shares at a nominal price, significantly contributing to this dilution. Upon consummation of this offering, you and the other new investors will incur an immediate and substantial dilution of approximately 114.7% or $11.47 per share (the difference between the pro forma net tangible book value per share $(1.47) (assuming a maximum redemption scenario), and the initial offering price of $10.00 per unit). This is because investors in this offering will be contributing approximately 97% of the total amount paid to us for our outstanding securities after this offering but will only own approximately 80% of our outstanding securities and this becomes exacerbated to the extent that public stockholders seek to redeem their shares into a pro rata share of the trust proceeds. Accordingly, the per-share purchase price you will be paying substantially exceeds our per share net tangible book value.
Our initial stockholders paid an aggregate of $25,000 for the Founders Shares, or approximately $0.004 per share. As a result, our initial stockholders stand to make a substantial profit even if an initial business combination subsequently declines in value or is unprofitable for our public stockholders, and may have an incentive to recommend such an initial business combination to our stockholders.
As a result of the low acquisition cost of our Founders Shares, our initial stockholders could make a substantial profit even if we select and consummate an initial business combination with an acquisition target that subsequently declines in value or is unprofitable for our public stockholders. Thus, they may have more of an economic incentive for us to
42
enter into an initial 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 Founders Shares.
If the non-managing sponsor investors purchase a substantial number of the units in this offering, it could reduce the trading volume, volatility and liquidity for our shares, adversely affect the trading price of our shares and, further, may present a conflict of interest for such non-managing sponsor investors in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination.
If the non-managing sponsor investors purchase a substantial number of the units in the offering and depending on how many units are purchased by the non-managing sponsor investors, the post-offering trading volume, volatility and liquidity of our securities may be reduced relative to what they would have been had the units been more widely offered and sold to other public investors. We do not expect any purchase of units by the non-managing sponsor investors to negatively impact our ability to meet Nasdaq listing eligibility requirements.
Although we have no knowledge of any affiliation or other agreement or arrangement, as to voting of our securities or otherwise, among the non-managing sponsor investors, if such investors hold a substantial portion of the units purchased, the sponsor and the non-managing sponsor investors would collectively own a significant number of our shares. Further, the non-managing sponsor investors will share in any appreciation of the founder shares through their membership interests in the sponsor if we successfully complete a business combination. Non-managing sponsor investors’ interests in the founder shares may provide them with an incentive to vote any public shares they own in favor of a business combination, and make a substantial profit on such interests, even if the business combination is with a target that ultimately declines in value and is not profitable for other public stockholders. Therefore, in the event that the non-managing sponsor investors purchase a substantial number of the units in this offering, continue to hold the shares included in the units and individually decide to vote such shares in favor of our initial business combination, we may not need any additional public shares sold in this offering to be voted in favor of our initial business combination to have our initial business combination approved.
Since our sponsor, officers and directors and any other holder of our founder shares, including any non-managing sponsor investors will lose their entire investment in us if our initial business combination is not completed (other than with respect to any public shares they may acquire during or after this offering), and because our sponsor, officers and directors and any other holder of our founder shares, including any non-managing sponsor investors, directly or indirectly may profit substantially from a business combination as a result of their ownership of founder shares even under circumstances where our public stockholders would experience losses in connection with their investment, a conflict of interest may arise in determining whether a particular business combination target is appropriate for our initial business combination, including in connection with the stockholder vote in respect thereto.
In November 2024, we issued our sponsor an aggregate of 12,321,429 founder shares (up to 1,607,143 of which are subject to forfeiture depending on the extent to which the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised) for $25,000. On May 8, 2025, the Sponsor forfeited 6,571,429 Founder Shares for no consideration, leaving 5,750,000 Founder Shares. Up to 750,000 Founder Shares are subject to forfeiture to the extent that the over-allotment option is not exercised by the underwriters in full or in part. Prior to this initial investment in us by the sponsor, we had no assets, tangible or intangible. Our sponsor holds founder shares and has committed to purchase 370,000 private units. Subject to each non-managing sponsor investor purchasing, through the sponsor, the private units allocated to it in connection with the closing of this offering, the sponsor will issue membership interests at a nominal purchase price to the non-managing sponsor investors reflecting interests in an aggregate of 2,520,000 founder shares.
The Sponsor and Cantor have committed to purchase an aggregate of 570,000 private units (whether or not the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), at a price of $10.00 per unit, or $5,700,000 in the aggregate (whether or not the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. Each private unit consists of one share of common stock and one right. Of those 570,000 private units, our sponsor has agreed to purchase 370,000 units and Cantor has agreed to purchase 200,000 units. The private units are identical to the units sold in this offering, subject to certain limited exceptions as described in this prospectus. If we do not complete our initial business combination by the Deadline unless the time to complete our initial business combination is extended in accordance with charter, the private units will be worthless. Given the differential in the purchase price paid for the founder shares as compared to the initial public offering price of the public shares and the substantial number of founder shares, the founder shares may have
43
significant value after the business combination even if our shares of common stock trade below the initial public offering price and holders of our public shares have a substantial loss on their investment. The non-managing sponsor investors will have the same rights to the funds held in the trust account with respect to the shares included in the units and the rights included in the units, they may purchase in this offering as the rights afforded to our other public stockholders. The non-managing sponsor investors will potentially have different interests than our other public stockholders in approving our initial business combination and otherwise exercising their rights as public stockholders because of their indirect ownership of founder shares, private shares and private rights as further discussed in this prospectus. The non-managing sponsor investors will share in any appreciation of such securities through their membership interests in the sponsor if we successfully complete a business combination. Accordingly, non-managing sponsor investors’ interests in the securities owned by them indirectly through their membership interests in the sponsor may provide them with an incentive to vote any public shares they own in favor of a business combination, and make a substantial profit on such interests, even if the business combination is with a target that ultimately declines in value and is not profitable for other public stockholders.
The personal and financial interests of our sponsor, directors and officers and any holders of our founder shares or our private units may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business combination, completing an initial business combination and influencing the operation of the business following the initial business combination and may result in a misalignment of interests between the holders of our founder shares, including any non-managing sponsor investors, and our officers and directors, on the one hand, and our public stockholders, on the other. These risks may become more acute as the deadline to complete our initial business combination nears. In particular, because the founder shares were purchased at a purchase price of approximately $0.004 per share, the holders of our founder shares (including any non-managing sponsor investors and certain of our directors and officers that directly or indirectly own founder shares) could make a substantial profit after our initial business combination even if our public stockholders lose money on their investment as a result of a decrease in the post-combination value of their shares of common stock (after accounting for any adjustments in connection with an exchange or other transaction contemplated by the business combination).
Further, each of our officers and directors may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination if the retention or resignation of any such officers and directors were to be included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination.
If our security holders exercise their registration rights, it may have an adverse effect on the market price of our shares of common stock and the existence of these rights may make it more difficult to effect a business combination.
Commencing at any time after we consummate an initial business combination, our initial stockholders are entitled to make a demand that we register the resale of the founders shares, and the holders of the private units and any additional private units issued to our initial stockholders, officers, directors, or their affiliates may be issued in payment of working capital loans made to us, are entitled to demand that we register the resale of the private units we issue to them (and the underlying securities). The presence of these additional securities trading in the public market may have an adverse effect on the market price of our securities. In addition, the existence of these rights may make it more difficult to effectuate a business combination or increase the cost of acquiring the target business, as the stockholders of the target business may be discouraged from entering into a business combination with us or will request a higher price for their securities because of the potential effect the exercise of such rights may have on the trading market for our shares of common stock.
The determination for the offering price of our units is more arbitrary than the pricing of securities for an operating company in a particular industry.
Prior to this offering there has been no public market for any of our securities. The public offering price of the units were negotiated between us Cantor. Factors considered in determining the prices and terms of the units, including the shares of common stock and rights underlying the units, include:
• the history and prospects of companies whose principal business is the acquisition of other companies;
• prior offerings of those companies;
• our prospects for acquiring an operating business at attractive values;
• our capital structure;
44
• an assessment of our management and their experience in identifying operating companies; and
• general conditions of the securities markets at the time of the offering.
However, although these factors were considered, the determination of our offering price is more arbitrary than the pricing of securities for an operating company in a particular industry since we have no historical operations or financial results to compare them to.
Provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws and Delaware law may inhibit a takeover of us, which could limit the price investors might be willing to pay in the future for our common stock and could entrench management.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws contain provisions that may discourage unsolicited takeover proposals that stockholders may consider to be in their best interests. Moreover, our Board of Directors has the ability to designate the terms of and issue new series of preferred stock. See “Certain Anti-Takeover Provisions of Delaware Law and our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws” for additional information regarding these provisions as well as other provisions that may discourage unsolicited takeover proposals.
We are also subject to anti-takeover provisions under Delaware law, which could delay or prevent a change of control. Together these provisions may make more difficult the removal of management and may discourage transactions that otherwise could involve payment of a premium over prevailing market prices for our securities.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide, subject to limited exceptions, that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the sole and exclusive forum for certain stockholder litigation matters, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers, employees or stockholders.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation requires, to the fullest extent permitted by law, that derivative actions brought in our name, actions against directors, officers and employees for breach of fiduciary duty and other similar actions may be brought only in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware, except any action (A) as to which the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten days following such determination), (B) which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery, (C) for which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction, or (D) any action arising under the Securities Act. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the forum provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.
This choice of forum provision may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or any of our directors, officers or employees, which may discourage lawsuits with respect to such claims, although our stockholders will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder and may therefore bring a claim in another appropriate forum. We cannot be certain that a court will decide that this provision is either applicable or enforceable, and if a court were to find the choice of forum provision contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions, which could harm our business, operating results and financial condition.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that the exclusive forum provision will be applicable to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. Section 27 of the Exchange Act creates exclusive federal jurisdiction over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. As a result, the exclusive forum provision will not apply to suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction.
45
General Risks
We have no operating history and, accordingly, you will not have any basis on which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective.
We have no operating results to date. Therefore, our ability to commence operations is dependent upon obtaining financing through this public offering of our securities. Since we do not have an operating history, you will have no basis upon which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective, which is to acquire an operating business. We have not conducted any substantive discussions and we have no plans, arrangements or understandings with any prospective acquisition candidates. We will not generate any revenues until, at the earliest, after the consummation of a business combination.
Our independent registered public accounting firm’s report contains an explanatory paragraph that expresses substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a “going concern.”
On February 28, 2025, we had cash of $17,097 and a working capital deficit of $177,479. Further, we have incurred and expect to continue to incur significant costs in pursuit of our financing and acquisition plans. Management’s plans to address this need for capital through this offering are discussed in the section of this prospectus titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” We cannot assure you that our plans to raise capital or to consummate an initial business combination will be successful. These factors, among others, raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements contained elsewhere in this prospectus do not include any adjustments that might result from our inability to consummate this offering or our inability to continue as a going concern.
You will not be entitled to protections normally afforded to investors of blank check companies.
Since the net proceeds of this offering are intended to be used to complete a business combination with a target business that has not been identified, we may be deemed to be a “blank check” company under the United States securities laws. However, since we will be listed on a national securities exchange upon the successful consummation of this offering, we are exempt from rules promulgated by the SEC to protect investors of blank check companies such as Rule 419. Accordingly, investors will not be afforded the benefits or protections of those rules which would, for example, completely restrict the transferability of our securities, require us to complete a business combination within 24 months of the effective date of the initial registration statement and restrict the use of interest earned on the funds held in the trust account. Because we are not subject to Rule 419, our units will be immediately tradable and we will be entitled to withdraw amounts from the funds held in the trust account prior to the completion of a business combination.
Macro-economic turbulence and instability relating to recent and ongoing global conflicts and other drivers of uncertainty may adversely affect our business, investments and results of operations and our ability to successfully consummate a business combination.
A deterioration in economic conditions and related drivers of global uncertainty and change, such as reduced business activity, high unemployment, rising interest rates, housing prices, and energy prices (including the price of gasoline), increased consumer indebtedness, lack of available credit, the rate of inflation, and consumer perceptions of the economy, as well as other factors, such as terrorist attacks, protests, looting, and other forms of civil unrest, cyber-attacks and data breaches, public health emergencies (such as the COVID-19 pandemic and other epidemics), extreme weather conditions and climate change, significant changes in the political environment, political instability, armed conflict (such as the ongoing military conflict between Ukraine and Russia and the emerging military conflict in Israel and Gaza) and/or public policy, including increased state, local or federal taxation, could adversely affect our financial condition, the financial condition of prospective target companies for our initial business combination, or the financial condition of the combined company even if we successfully consummate a business combination, as well as our ability to locate a commercially viable target company for our business combination in the first instance.
46
Changes in laws or regulations, or a failure to comply with any laws and regulations, may adversely affect our business, investments and results of operations.
We are subject to laws and regulations enacted by national, regional and local governments. In particular, we will be required to comply with certain SEC and other legal requirements. Compliance with, and monitoring of, applicable laws and regulations may be difficult, time consuming and costly.
On March 30, 2022, the SEC issued proposed rules relating to, among other items, enhancing disclosures in business combination transactions involving SPACs and private operating companies; amending the financial statement requirements applicable to transactions involving shell companies; effectively limiting the use of projections in SEC filings in connection with proposed business combination transactions; increasing the potential liability of certain participants in proposed business combination transactions; and the extent to which SPACs could become subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act of 1940. These rules, if adopted, whether in the form proposed or in revised form, may materially adversely affect our ability to negotiate and complete our initial business combination and may increase the costs and time related thereto.
We are an “emerging growth company” and “smaller reporting company” and we cannot be certain if the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies and smaller reporting companies will make our shares of common stock less attractive to investors.
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act. We will remain an “emerging growth company” for up to five years. However, if our non-convertible debt issued within a three year period or revenues exceeds $1.235 billion, or the market value of our shares of common stock that are held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million on the last day of the second fiscal quarter of any given fiscal year, we would cease to be an emerging growth company as of the following fiscal year. As an emerging growth company, we are not required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, we have reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements and we are exempt from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. Additionally, as an emerging growth company, we have elected to delay the adoption of new or revised accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and private companies until those standards apply to private companies. As such, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with public company effective dates. We cannot predict if investors will find our shares of common stock less attractive because we may rely on these provisions. If some investors find our shares of common stock less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our shares and our share price may be more volatile.
Additionally, we are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K. Smaller reporting companies may take advantage of certain reduced disclosure obligations, including, among other things, providing only two years of audited financial statements. We will remain a smaller reporting company until the last day of the fiscal year in which (1) the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $250 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter, or (2) our annual revenues exceeded $100 million during such completed fiscal year and the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the end of that year’s second fiscal quarter. 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.
If we are deemed to be an investment company, we may be required to institute burdensome compliance requirements and our activities may be restricted, which may make it difficult for us to complete a business combination.
A company that, among other things, is or holds itself out as being engaged primarily, or proposes to engage primarily, in the business of investing, reinvesting, owning, trading or holding certain types of securities would be deemed an investment company under the Investment Company Act, as amended. Since we will invest the proceeds held in the trust account, it is possible that we could be deemed an investment company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, we do not believe that our anticipated principal activities will subject us to the Investment Company Act. To this end, the proceeds held in trust may be invested by the trustee only 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. By restricting the investment of the proceeds to these instruments, we intend to meet the requirements for the exemption provided in Rule 3a-1 promulgated under the Investment Company Act.
47
On March 30, 2022, the SEC issued proposed rules relating to, among other items, the extent to which SPACs could become subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The SEC’s proposed rules would provide a safe harbor for companies like our company from the definition of “investment company” under Section 3(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act, provided that they satisfy certain conditions that limit a company’s duration, asset composition, business purpose and activities. The duration component of the proposed safe harbor rule would require the company to file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the SEC announcing that it has entered into an agreement with the target company (or companies) to engage in an initial business combination no later than 24 months after the effective date of the company’s registration statement for its initial public offering. The company would then be required to complete its initial business combination no later than 36 months after the effective date of its registration statement for its initial public offering. These rules, if adopted, whether in the form proposed or in revised form, may materially adversely affect our ability to negotiate and complete our initial business combination and may increase the costs and time related thereto.
If we are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act, we may be subject to certain restrictions that may make it more difficult for us to complete a business combination, including:
• restrictions on the nature of our investments; and
• restrictions on the issuance of securities.
In addition, we may have imposed upon us certain burdensome requirements, including:
• registration as an investment company;
• adoption of a specific form of corporate structure; and
• reporting, record keeping, voting, proxy, compliance policies and procedures and disclosure requirements and other rules and regulations.
The SEC is also proposing to amend rules and forms under both the Investment Advisers Act of and the Investment Company Act of 1940 to require registered investment advisers, certain advisers exempt from registration, registered investment companies, and business development companies, to provide additional information regarding their environmental, social, and governance (“ESG”) investment practices. The proposed amendments, if passed, may impose additional disclosure requirements on the company if we are deemed to be an investment company.
Compliance with these additional regulatory burdens and proposed amendments would require additional expense for which we have not allotted.
Compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 will require substantial financial and management resources and may increase the time and costs of completing an acquisition.
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires that we evaluate and report on our system of internal controls and may require that we have such system of internal controls audited beginning with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2026. If we fail to maintain the adequacy of our internal controls, we could be subject to regulatory scrutiny, civil or criminal penalties and/or stockholder litigation. Any inability to provide reliable financial reports could harm our business. Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act also requires that our independent registered public accounting firm report on management’s evaluation of our system of internal controls. A target company may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding adequacy of their internal controls. The development of the internal controls of any such entity to achieve compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may increase the time and costs necessary to complete any such acquisition. Furthermore, any failure to implement required new or improved controls, or difficulties encountered in the implementation of adequate controls over our financial processes and reporting in the future, could harm our operating results or cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations. Inferior internal controls could also cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, which could have a negative effect on the trading price of our stock.
48
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
The statements contained in this prospectus that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our or our management’s expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipates,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predicts,” “project,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements in this prospectus may include, for example, statements about:
• our ability to complete our initial business combination;
• our success in retaining or recruiting, or changes required in, our officers, key employees or directors following our initial business combination;
• our officers and directors allocating their time to other businesses and potentially having conflicts of interest with our business or in approving our initial business combination, as a result of which they would then receive expense reimbursements and other benefits;
• our potential ability to obtain additional financing to complete a business combination;
• our pool of prospective target businesses;
• the ability of our officers and directors to generate a number of potential investment opportunities;
• potential changes in control of us if we acquire one or more target businesses for stock;
• our public securities’ potential liquidity and trading;
• the lack of a market for our securities;
• the impact on our business prospects of recently announced or proposed changes to rules or regulations impacting special purpose acquisition companies;
• the impact on our business prospects of the COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing market turbulence, rising interest rates, or geopolitical concerns and government instability;
• our expectations regarding the time during which we will be an “emerging growth company” under the JOBS Act or a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K;
• our use of proceeds not held in the trust account; or
• our financial performance following this offering or following our initial business combination.
The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on us. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be those that we have anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those factors described under the heading “Risk Factors.” Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.
49
We estimate that the net proceeds of this offering, in addition to the funds we will receive from the sale of the private units ($10.00 for each unit sold in this offering will be deposited into the trust account), will be as set forth in the following table:
Without |
Over-Allotment |
|||||||
Gross proceeds |
|
|
|
|
||||
Gross proceeds from units offered to public(1) |
$ |
200,000,000 |
|
$ |
230,000,000 |
|
||
Gross proceeds from private units offered in the private placement |
|
5,700,000 |
|
|
5,700,000 |
|
||
Total gross proceeds |
$ |
205,700,000 |
|
$ |
235,700,000 |
|
||
Estimated offering expenses |
|
|
|
|
||||
Underwriting commissions (% of gross proceeds from units offered to public) |
$ |
4,000,000 |
|
$ |
4,000,000 |
|
||
Legal fees and expenses |
|
275,000 |
|
|
275,000 |
|
||
Printing and engraving expenses |
|
40,000 |
|
|
40,000 |
|
||
Trustee fees and expenses |
|
25,000 |
|
|
25,000 |
|
||
Accounting fees and expenses |
|
85,000 |
|
|
85,000 |
|
||
SEC/FINRA expenses |
|
98,534 |
|
|
98,534 |
|
||
Travel and road show expenses |
|
15,000 |
|
|
15,000 |
|
||
Nasdaq listing fees |
|
85,000 |
|
|
85,000 |
|
||
Miscellaneous |
|
76,466 |
|
|
76,466 |
|
||
Total offering expenses (other than underwriting commissions) |
$ |
700,000 |
|
$ |
700,000 |
|
||
Proceeds after estimated offering expenses |
$ |
201,000,000 |
|
$ |
231,000,000 |
|
||
Held in trust account(3) |
$ |
200,000,000 |
|
$ |
230,000,000 |
|
||
% of public offering size |
|
100.0 |
% |
|
100.0 |
% |
||
Not held in trust account |
$ |
1,000,000 |
|
$ |
1,000,000 |
|
The following table shows the use of the approximately $1,000,000 of net proceeds not held in the trust account(2)
Amount |
% of Total |
|||||
Legal, accounting, due diligence, travel, and other expenses in connection with any business combination |
$ |
350,000 |
35.0 |
% |
||
Legal and accounting fees related to regulatory reporting obligations |
|
200,000 |
20.0 |
% |
||
Nasdaq and other regulatory fees |
|
85,000 |
8.5 |
% |
||
Working capital to cover miscellaneous(4) |
|
365,000 |
36.5 |
% |
||
Total |
$ |
1,000,000 |
100 |
% |
____________
(1) Includes amounts payable to public stockholders who properly redeem their shares in connection with our successful completion of our initial business combination.
(2) These expenses are estimates only. Our actual expenditures for some or all of these items may differ from the estimates set forth herein. For example, we may incur greater legal and accounting expenses than our current estimates in connection with negotiating and structuring our initial business combination based upon the level of complexity of such business combination. In the event we identify a business combination target in a specific industry subject to specific regulations, we may incur additional expenses associated with legal due diligence and the engagement of special legal counsel. In addition, our staffing needs may vary and as a result, we may engage a number of consultants to assist with legal and financial due diligence. We do not anticipate any change in our intended use of proceeds, other than fluctuations among the current categories of allocated expenses, which fluctuations, to the extent they exceed current estimates for any specific category of expenses, would not be available for our expenses. The amount in the table above does not include interest available to us from the trust account. The proceeds held in the trust account will, if they are invested at all, only be invested only in U.S. government treasury obligations with a maturity of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations.
50
(3) The underwriters have agreed to defer until the consummation of our initial business combination $9,000,000 of its underwriting commissions in the aggregate (or $10,950,000 in the aggregate if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), which equals 4.5% of the gross proceeds of the gross proceeds from the units sold to the public, excluding any units purchased pursuant to the underwriters’ over-allotment option, and 6.5% of the gross proceeds from the units sold pursuant to the underwriters’ over-allotment option. Upon completion of our initial business combination, $9,000,000, which constitutes the underwriters’ deferred commissions (or $10,950,000 if the underwriters’ option to purchase additional units is exercised in full) will be paid to the underwriters from the funds held in the trust account, and the remaining funds, less amounts released to the trustee to pay redeeming shareholders, will be released to us and can be used to pay all or a portion of the purchase price of the business or businesses with which our initial business combination occurs or for general corporate purposes, including payment of principal or interest on indebtedness incurred in connection with our initial business combination, to fund the purchases of other companies, or for working capital. The underwriters will not be entitled to any interest accrued on the deferred underwriting discounts and commissions.
(4) This amount includes an approximate amount of annualized director and officer liability insurance premiums we anticipate paying upon the completion of this offering and until we complete a business combination. Unused funds allotted to other categories will go to this expense category which will include any miscellaneous expenses that may arise.
Our sponsor and Cantor have committed to purchase the private units (for an aggregate purchase price of $5,700,000) from us on a private placement basis simultaneously with the consummation of this offering. All of the proceeds we receive from these purchases will be placed in the trust account described below.
Nasdaq rules provide that at least 90% of the gross proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private units be deposited in a trust account. In connection with this offering we expect to raise $205,700,000, or $235,700,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full. Of the $205,700,000 in gross proceeds we receive from this offering, or $235,700,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full $200,000,000 ($10.00 per unit), or $230,000,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full ($10.00 per unit), will be deposited into a trust account in the United States with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee, after deducting $4,000,000 in underwriting discounts and commissions payable upon the closing of this offering and an aggregate of $1,700,000 to pay fees and expenses in connection with the closing of this offering and for working capital following the closing of this offering. The funds held in trust will be held as cash or cash items (including demand deposit accounts) or invested only 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, so that we are not deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act. To mitigate the risk that we might be deemed to be an investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act, which risk increases the longer that we hold investments in the trust account, we may, at any time (based on our management team’s ongoing assessment of all factors related to our potential status under the Investment Company Act), instruct the trustee to liquidate the investments held in the trust account and instead to hold the funds in the trust account in cash or in an interest bearing demand deposit account at a bank. We expect that the interest earned on the trust account will be sufficient to pay taxes. Except with respect to interest earned on the funds held in the trust account that may be released to us to pay our income or other tax obligations as described in this prospectus, the proceeds will not be released from the trust account until the earlier of the completion of a business combination or our redemption of 100% of the outstanding public shares if we have not completed a business combination in the required time period. Any funds withdrawn from the trust account to pay for allowable taxes, will reduce the amount held in the trust account, thereby also reducing the redemption amount per share of common stock to redeeming stockholders. The remaining proceeds held in the trust account may be used as consideration to pay the sellers of a target business with which we complete a business combination. Any amounts not paid as consideration to the sellers of the target business may be used to finance operations of the target business.
Our sponsor will provide us the use of their office space and certain administrative services in our search for a target business at no cost. Regardless of whether the over-allotment option is exercised in full, the net proceeds from this offering available to us out of trust for our working capital requirements in searching for a business combination will be approximately $1,000,000. We intend to use the proceeds for expenses such as paying for due diligence, legal, accounting and other expenses of structuring and negotiating business combinations, as well as for reimbursement of any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by our officers, directors, initial stockholders or their affiliates in connection with activities on our behalf as described above, and for directors and officers liability insurance. The allocation of the net proceeds available to us outside of the trust account represents our best estimate of the intended uses of these funds. In the event that our assumptions prove to be inaccurate, we may reallocate some of such proceeds within the above-described categories.
51
We may use substantially all of the net proceeds of this offering, including any remaining funds held in the trust account, to acquire a target business and to pay our expenses relating thereto. To the extent that our capital stock is used in whole or in part as consideration to effect a business combination, the proceeds held in the trust account which are not used to consummate a business combination, and after being paid out to redeeming stockholders, will be disbursed to the combined company and will, along with any other net proceeds not expended, be used as working capital to finance the operations of the target business. Such working capital funds could be used in a variety of ways including continuing or expanding the target business’ operations, for strategic acquisitions and for marketing, research and development of existing or new products.
To the extent we are unable to consummate a business combination, we will pay the costs of liquidation from our remaining assets outside of the trust account. If such funds are insufficient, we may use up to $100,000 of interest earned on the funds held in the trust account for our liquidation expenses.
Prior to the closing of this offering, our sponsor has agreed to loan us up to $300,000 to be used for a portion of the expenses of the offering. As of February 28, 2025, we had borrowed $157,101 (of up to $300,000 available to us). Such funds may be used to pay a portion of the expenses of this offering referenced in the line items above for SEC registration fee, FINRA filing fee, any non-refundable portion of the NASDAQ listing fee, a portion of the legal and audit fees and other offering expenses. This loan is non-interest bearing, unsecured and repayable upon the date on which we conclude the initial public offering of our securities.
We believe that, upon consummation of this offering, the approximate $1,000,000 of net proceeds not held in the trust account will be sufficient to allow us to operate for the next 24 months assuming that a business combination is not consummated during that time. However, if necessary, in order to meet our working capital needs following the consummation of this offering, our initial stockholders, officers, directors and their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds, on a non-interest bearing basis, from time to time or at any time, in whatever amount they deem reasonable in their sole discretion. Each loan would be evidenced by a promissory note. The notes would either be paid upon consummation of our initial business combination, without interest, or, at holder’s discretion, on the date on which the Company determines conducts the initial public offering of its securities convert such loans into units, which would be identical to the private units. In the event that the initial business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts, but no proceeds from our trust account would be used for such repayment. These loans would be repaid at completion of the initial business combination.
A public stockholder will be entitled to receive funds from the trust account (including interest earned on his, her or its portion of the trust account to the extent not previously released to us) only in the event of (i) our redemption of 100% of the outstanding public shares if we have not completed a business combination in the required time period, (ii) if that public stockholder redeems such shares, or sells such shares to us in a tender offer, in connection with a business combination which we consummate or (iii) we seek to amend any provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that would affect our public stockholders’ ability to redeem or sell their shares to us as described herein or affect the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete a business combination by the Deadline. This redemption right shall apply in the event of the approval of any such amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, whether proposed by our initial stockholders, executive officers, directors or any other person. In no other circumstances will a public stockholder have any right or interest of any kind to or in the trust account.
52
We have not paid any cash dividends on our common stock to date and do not intend to pay cash dividends prior to the completion of an initial business combination. The payment of cash dividends in the future will be dependent upon our revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements and general financial condition subsequent to completion of a business combination. Further, if we incur any indebtedness, our ability to declare dividends may be limited by restrictive covenants we may agree to in connection therewith. The payment of any dividends subsequent to a business combination will be within the discretion of our Board of Directors at such time. It is the present intention of our Board of Directors to retain all earnings, if any, for use in our business operations and, accordingly, our Board of Directors does not anticipate declaring any dividends in the foreseeable future. In addition, our Board of Directors is not currently contemplating and does not anticipate declaring any stock dividends in the foreseeable future, except if we increase the size of the offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, in which case we will effect a stock dividend immediately prior to the consummation of the offering in such amount as to maintain the ownership of our initial stockholders at approximately 20% of our issued and outstanding shares of our common stock upon the consummation of this offering (assuming the initial stockholders do not purchase units in this offering and not including the private units or their underlying securities).
53
The difference between the public offering price per share, assuming no value is attributed to the rights included in the units we are offering by this prospectus and the private units, and the pro forma net tangible book value per share after this offering constitutes the dilution to investors in this offering. Such calculation does not reflect any dilution associated with the sale or rights including the private units. Net tangible book value per share is determined by dividing our net tangible book value, which is our total tangible assets less total liabilities (including the value of shares of common stock which may be redeemed for cash or sold in a tender offer), by the number of outstanding shares of common stock.
The below calculations (A) assume that (i) no shares of common stock are issued to stockholders of a potential business combination target as consideration or issuable by a post-business combination company, for instance under an equity or employee share purchase plan, (ii) no shares of common stock and convertible equity or debt securities are issued in connection with additional financing that we may seek in connection with an initial business combination (however, we may need to do so as we intend to target an initial business combination with a target company whose enterprise value is greater than we could acquire with the net proceeds of the offering and the sale of private units), (iii) no working capital loans are converted into private units, as further described in this prospectus and (B) assume the issuance of 20,000,000 shares (and no exercise of over-allotment option) and 5,000,000 founder shares (assuming the over-allotment option is not exercised in full).
At February 28, 2025, our net tangible book deficit was $177,479, or approximately $(0.03) per share of common stock. After giving effect to the sale of 20,000,000 shares of common stock included in the units we are offering by this prospectus, the sale of the private units and the deduction of underwriting commissions, estimated expenses of this offering and proceeds held in the trust account subject to redemption/tender, our pro forma net tangible book value at February 28, 2025 would have been $(8,210,745) or $(1.47) per share, representing an immediate increase in net tangible book value (as decreased by the value of the approximately 20,000,000 shares of common stock that may be redeemed for cash and assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option) of $(1.44) per share (assuming maximum redemption scenario) to our initial stockholders and an immediate dilution of $11.47 per share or 114.70% to our public stockholders not exercising their redemption rights. The decrease attributable to public shares subject to redemption is included in the calculation below at $10.00 per share, as all public stockholders have the right to redeem. The dilution to new investors if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full would be an immediate dilution of $11.58 per share or 115.80%.
The following table illustrates the dilution to the new investors on a per-share basis, assuming no value is attributed to the rights included in the units and the private units:
As of February 28, 2025 |
||||||||||||||||
No exercise of over-allotment option |
No |
25% of |
50% of |
75% of |
Maximum |
|||||||||||
Public offering price |
$ |
10.00 |
|
10.00 |
|
10.00 |
|
10.00 |
|
10.00 |
|
|||||
Net tangible book value before this offering |
|
(0.03 |
) |
(0.03 |
) |
(0.03 |
) |
(0.03 |
) |
(0.03 |
) |
|||||
Increase attributable to public stockholders |
|
7.53 |
|
6.92 |
|
5.93 |
|
3.98 |
|
(1.44 |
) |
|||||
Pro forma net tangible book value after this offering |
|
7.50 |
|
6.89 |
|
5.90 |
|
3.95 |
|
(1.47 |
) |
|||||
Dilution to public stockholders |
$ |
2.50 |
|
3.11 |
|
4.10 |
|
6.05 |
|
11.47 |
|
|||||
Percentage of dilution to public stockholders |
|
25.00 |
% |
31.10 |
% |
41.00 |
% |
60.50 |
% |
114.70 |
% |
54
Full exercise of over-allotment option |
No |
25% of |
50% of |
75% of |
Maximum |
|||||||||||
Public offering price |
$ |
10.00 |
|
10.00 |
|
10.00 |
|
10.00 |
|
10.00 |
|
|||||
Net tangible book value before this offering |
|
(0.03 |
) |
(0.03 |
) |
(0.03 |
) |
(0.03 |
) |
(0.03 |
) |
|||||
Increase attributable to public stockholders |
|
7.53 |
|
6.92 |
|
5.92 |
|
3.97 |
|
(1.55 |
) |
|||||
Pro forma net tangible book value after this offering |
|
7.50 |
|
6.89 |
|
5.89 |
|
3.94 |
|
(1.58 |
) |
|||||
Dilution to public stockholders |
$ |
2.50 |
|
3.11 |
|
4.11 |
|
6.06 |
|
11.58 |
|
|||||
Percentage of dilution to public stockholders |
|
25.00 |
% |
31.10 |
% |
41.10 |
% |
60.60 |
% |
115.80 |
% |
For purposes of presentation, we have reduced our pro forma net tangible book value after this offering (assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option) by $200,000,000 because holders of our public shares may exercise their redemption rights at a per share redemption price equal to the amount in the trust account as set forth in our tender offer or proxy materials (initially anticipated to be the aggregate amount held in trust two business days prior to the commencement of our tender offer or stockholders meeting, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account (less taxes payable)), divided by the number of shares of common stock sold in this offering.
The following table sets forth information with respect to our existing stockholders and the public stockholders:
|
|
Average |
|||||||||||||
Number |
Purchased |
Percentage |
Amount |
Percentage |
|||||||||||
Initial stockholders |
5,000,000 |
(1) |
18.10 |
% |
$ |
25,000 |
0.01 |
% |
$ |
0.005 |
|||||
Private Placement purchasers |
627,000 |
(3) |
2.27 |
% |
$ |
5,700,000 |
2.77 |
% |
$ |
9.09 |
|||||
Public stockholders |
22,000,000 |
(2) |
79.63 |
% |
$ |
200,000,000 |
97.22 |
% |
$ |
9.09 |
|||||
Total |
27,627,000 |
|
100.00 |
% |
$ |
205,725,000 |
100.00 |
% |
|
____________
(1) Assumes the over-allotment option has not been exercised and an aggregate of 750,000 founders shares have been forfeited as a result thereof.
(2) Includes the issuance of an additional 2,000,000 shares underlying the rights contained in the public stockholders
(3) Includes the issuance of an additional 57,000 shares underlying the rights contained in the private placement
The pro forma net tangible book value per share after the offering is calculated as follows:
As of February 28, 2025 |
||||||||||||||||
No exercise of over-allotment option |
No |
25% of |
50% of |
75% of |
Maximum |
|||||||||||
Numerator: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
Net tangible book deficit before this offering |
$ |
(177,479 |
) |
(177,479 |
) |
(177,479 |
) |
(177,479 |
) |
(177,479 |
) |
|||||
Net proceeds from this offering and sale of the private units |
|
201,000,000 |
|
201,000,000 |
|
201,000,000 |
|
201,000,000 |
|
201,000,000 |
|
|||||
Plus: Offering costs paid in advance, excluded from tangible book value before this offering |
|
128,534 |
|
128,534 |
|
128,534 |
|
128,534 |
|
128,534 |
|
|||||
Less: Over-allotment liability |
|
(161,800 |
) |
(161,800 |
) |
(161,800 |
) |
(161,800 |
) |
(161,800 |
) |
|||||
Less: Deferred underwriting |
|
(9,000,000 |
) |
(9,000,000 |
) |
(9,000,000 |
) |
(9,000,000 |
) |
(9,000,000 |
) |
|||||
Less: Proceeds held in trust subject to possible redemption |
|
— |
|
(50,000,000 |
) |
(100,000,000 |
) |
(150,000,000 |
) |
(200,000,000 |
) |
|||||
$ |
191,789,255 |
|
141,789,255 |
|
91,789,255 |
|
41,789,255 |
|
(8,210,745 |
) |
55
As of February 28, 2025 |
|||||||||||||||
No exercise of over-allotment option |
No |
25% of |
50% of |
75% of |
Maximum |
||||||||||
Denominator: |
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
shares outstanding prior to this offering |
5,750,000 |
|
5,750,000 |
|
5,750,000 |
|
5,750,000 |
|
5,750,000 |
|
|||||
shares forfeited if over-allotment is not exercised |
(750,000 |
) |
(750,000 |
) |
(750,000 |
) |
(750,000 |
) |
(750,000 |
) |
|||||
shares included in the units offered |
20,000,000 |
|
20,000,000 |
|
20,000,000 |
|
20,000,000 |
|
20,000,000 |
|
|||||
Less: shares subject to possible redemption |
— |
|
(5,000,000 |
) |
(10,000,000 |
) |
(15,000,000 |
) |
(20,000,000 |
) |
|||||
shares underlying private units |
570,000 |
|
570,000 |
|
570,000 |
|
570,000 |
|
570,000 |
|
|||||
25,570,000 |
|
20,570,000 |
|
15,570,000 |
|
10,570,000 |
|
5,570,000 |
|
Full exercise of over-allotment option |
No |
25% of |
50% of |
75% of |
Maximum |
|||||||||||
Numerator: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
Net tangible book deficit before this offering |
$ |
(177,479 |
) |
(177,479 |
) |
(177,479 |
) |
(177,479 |
) |
(177,479 |
) |
|||||
Net proceeds from this offering and sale of the private units(1) |
|
231,000,000 |
|
231,000,000 |
|
231,000,000 |
|
231,000,000 |
|
231,000,000 |
|
|||||
Plus: Offering costs paid in advance, excluded from tangible book value before this offering |
|
128,534 |
|
128,534 |
|
128,534 |
|
128,534 |
|
128,534 |
|
|||||
Less: Deferred underwriting discount |
|
(10,950,000 |
) |
(10,950,000 |
) |
(10,950,000 |
) |
(10,950,000 |
) |
(10,950,000 |
) |
|||||
Less: Proceeds held in trust subject to possible redemption |
|
— |
|
(57,500,000 |
) |
(115,000,000 |
) |
(172,500,000 |
) |
(230,000,000 |
) |
|||||
$ |
220,001,055 |
|
162,501,055 |
|
105,001,055 |
|
47,501,055 |
|
(9,998,945 |
) |
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Denominator: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
shares outstanding prior to this offering(3) |
|
5,750,000 |
|
5,750,000 |
|
5,750,000 |
|
5,750,000 |
|
5,750,000 |
|
|||||
shares included in the units offered |
|
23,000,000 |
|
23,000,000 |
|
23,000,000 |
|
23,000,000 |
|
23,000,000 |
|
|||||
Less: shares subject to possible redemption(2) |
|
— |
|
(5,750,000 |
) |
(11,500,000 |
) |
(17,250,000 |
) |
(23,000,000 |
) |
|||||
shares underlying private units |
|
570,000 |
|
570,000 |
|
570,000 |
|
570,000 |
|
570,000 |
|
|||||
|
29,320,000 |
|
23,570,000 |
|
17,820,000 |
|
12,070,000 |
|
6,320,000 |
|
____________
(1) Expenses applied against gross proceeds include offering expenses to be capitalized of $750,000 (not including amounts for director and officer liability insurance premiums to be paid upon closing of this offering, which amount is not an offering expense to be capitalized) and underwriting commissions of $4,000,000. See “Use of Proceeds.”
(2) If we seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination and we do not conduct redemptions in connection with our initial business combination pursuant to the tender offer rules, our sponsor, initial stockholders, directors, officers or their affiliates may purchase shares or public rights in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market either prior to or following the completion of our initial business combination. In the event of any such purchases of our shares prior to the completion of our initial business combination, the number of shares of common stock subject to redemption will be reduced by the amount of any such purchases, increasing the pro forma net tangible book value per share.
(3) Assumes that 750,000 founder shares are surrendered to us for no consideration.
56
The following table sets forth our capitalization at February 28, 2025 and as adjusted to give effect to the sale of our units and the private units and the application of the estimated net proceeds derived from the sale of such securities:
February 28, 2025 |
||||||||
Actual |
As Adjusted(1) |
|||||||
Promissory note – related party |
$ |
157,101 |
|
$ |
— |
|
||
Deferred underwriting commissions |
|
— |
|
|
9,000,000 |
|
||
Over-allotment liability |
|
— |
|
|
161,800 |
|
||
common stock, $0.0001 par value, –0– and 20,000,000 shares which are subject to possible redemption/tender |
|
— |
|
|
200,000,000 |
|
||
Stockholders’ deficit: |
|
|
|
|
||||
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued or outstanding |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
||
Common stock, $0.0001 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized; 5,750,000 shares issued and outstanding, actual; 5,570,000 shares issued and outstanding (excluding 20,000,000 shares subject to possible redemption/tender), as adjusted(2) |
|
575 |
|
|
557 |
|
||
Additional paid-in capital |
|
24,425 |
|
|
— |
|
||
Accumulated deficit |
|
(73,945 |
) |
|
(8,211,302 |
) |
||
Total stockholders’ (deficit) equity: |
|
(48,945 |
) |
|
(8,210,745 |
) |
||
Total capitalization |
$ |
108,156 |
|
$ |
200,951,055 |
|
____________
(1) Includes the $5,700,000 we will receive from the sale of the private units.
(2) Assumes the over-allotment option has not been exercised and an aggregate of 750,000 Founders Shares have been forfeited as a result thereof.
57
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
We were formed on November 26, 2024 for the purpose of entering into a merger, stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more target businesses. While we may pursue an initial business combination target in any business, industry or geographic location, we intend to search globally for target companies within the M&E industry with a primary focus on the United States, and in particular on identifying attractive targets among content studios and film production, family entertainment, animation, music, gaming, e-sports, talent management, talent-facing brands and businesses, and more. We intend to utilize cash derived from the proceeds of this offering, our securities, debt or a combination of cash, securities and debt, in effecting a business combination. The issuance of additional shares of common stock or preferred stock:
• may significantly reduce the equity interest of our stockholders;
• may subordinate the rights of holders of shares of common stock if we issue shares of preferred stock with rights senior to those afforded to our shares of common stock;
• will likely cause a change in control if a substantial number of our shares of common stock are issued, which may affect, among other things, our ability to use our net operating loss carry forwards, if any, and most likely will also result in the resignation or removal of our present officers and directors; and
• may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our securities.
Similarly, if we issue debt securities, it could result in:
• default and foreclosure on our assets if our operating revenues after a business combination are insufficient to pay our debt obligations;
• acceleration of our obligations to repay the indebtedness even if we have made all principal and interest payments when due if the debt security contains covenants that required the maintenance of certain financial ratios or reserves and we breach any such covenant without a waiver or renegotiation of that covenant;
• our immediate payment of all principal and accrued interest, if any, if the debt security is payable on demand; and
• our inability to obtain additional financing, if necessary, if the debt security contains covenants restricting our ability to obtain additional financing while such security is outstanding.
We have neither engaged in any operations nor generated any revenues to date. Our entire activity since inception has been to prepare for our proposed fundraising through an offering of our equity securities.
We are an emerging growth company as defined in the JOBS Act. As an emerging growth company, we have elected to delay the adoption of new or revised accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and private companies until those standards apply to private companies. As such, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with public company effective dates.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our liquidity needs have been satisfied, as of February 28, 2025, through an advance from our sponsor in an aggregate amount of $157,101. We estimate that the net proceeds from (i) the sale of the units in this offering, after deducting offering expenses of approximately $700,000 and underwriting discounts and commissions of $4,000,000 and (ii) the sale of the private units for a purchase price of $5,700,000 (whether or not if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be $201,000,000 (or $231,000,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full). Of this amount, $200,000,000 (or $230,000,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full) will be held in the trust account. The remaining $1,000,000 will not be held in trust.
We may use substantially all of the net proceeds of this offering, including the funds held in the trust account, to acquire a target business and to pay our expenses relating thereto. To the extent that our capital stock is used in whole or in part as consideration to effect a business combination, the remaining proceeds held in the trust account
58
as well as any other net proceeds not expended will be used as working capital to finance the operations of the target business. Such working capital funds could be used in a variety of ways including continuing or expanding the target business’ operations, for strategic acquisitions and for marketing, research and development of existing or new products. Such funds could also be used to repay any operating expenses or finders’ fees which we had incurred prior to the completion of our business combination if the funds available to us outside of the trust account were insufficient to cover such expenses.
We believe that, upon consummation of this offering, the approximate $1,000,000 of net proceeds not held in the trust account, together with the interest earned on the funds held in the trust account available to us for working capital needs, will be sufficient to allow us to operate for at least the next 24 months, assuming that a business combination is not consummated during that time. Over this time period, we will be using these funds for identifying and evaluating prospective acquisition candidates, performing business due diligence on prospective target businesses, traveling to and from the offices, plants or similar locations of prospective target businesses, reviewing corporate documents and material agreements of prospective target businesses, selecting the target business to acquire and structuring, negotiating and consummating the business combination. We anticipate that we will incur approximately:
• $350,000 of expenses for legal, accounting due diligence, travel, and other expenses in connection with any business combination;
• $200,000 of expenses in legal and accounting fees relating to our regulatory reporting obligations;
• our sponsor will provide us the use of their office space and certain administrative services in our search for a target business at no cost;
• $450,000 for working capital and other expenses including directors and officers insurance premiums.
In particular, we and our sponsor are considering whether to engage a Chief Legal Officer or other in-house counsel utilizing a portion of our working capital budget and/or budget for legal and other expenses in order to, among other things, assist with our compliance with our ongoing reporting obligations, negotiations with prospective targets for our initial business combination, and preparation of draft filings and agreements in anticipation of our initial business combination.
If our estimates of the above costs are less than the actual costs, we may have insufficient funds available to operate our business prior to our initial business combination. Moreover, we may need to obtain additional financing either to consummate our initial business combination or because we become obligated to redeem a significant number of our public shares upon consummation of our initial business combination, in which case we may issue additional securities or incur debt in connection with such business combination. We do not have a maximum debt leverage ratio or a policy with respect to how much debt we may incur. The amount of debt we will be willing to incur will depend on the facts and circumstances of the proposed business combination and market conditions at the time of the potential business combination. At this time, we are not party to any arrangement or understanding with any third party with respect to raising additional funds through the sale of our securities or the incurrence of debt. Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, we would only consummate such financing simultaneously with the consummation of our initial business combination. In the current economic environment, it has become especially difficult to obtain acquisition financing. Additionally, following our initial business combination, if cash on hand is insufficient, we may need to obtain additional financing in order to meet our obligations.
Related Party Transactions
Our sponsor, Bengochea SPAC Sponsors II LLC and Cantor, have committed to purchase 570,000 private units at $10.00 per private unit (for a total purchase price of $5,700,000) from us. This purchase will take place on a private placement basis simultaneously with the consummation of this offering.
The Company had initially engaged D. Boral Capital LLC (“D. Boral”) to act as the lead underwriter in connection with this public offering. In May 2025, D. Boral and the Company agreed to terminate such engagement, and in consideration therefore, the sponsor has agreed to transfer 10,000 founder shares to D. Boral in full settlement of any fees incurred by D. Boral in connection with their engagement (the “D. Boral Shares”). The D. Boral Shares will be subject to the same lock-up and transfer restrictions as the other holders of founder shares.
59
We do not believe we will need to raise additional funds following this offering in order to meet the expenditures required for operating our business. However, in order to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, our initial stockholders, officers, directors or their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds on a non-interest bearing basis as may be required. If we consummate an initial business combination, we would repay such loaned amounts. In the event that the initial business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts, but no proceeds from our trust account would be used for such repayment.
Controls and Procedures
We are not currently required to maintain an effective system of internal controls as defined by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. We will be required to comply with the internal control requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act for the quarter ending February 28, 2026. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not completed an assessment, nor have our auditors tested our systems, of internal controls. We expect to assess the internal controls of our target business or businesses prior to the completion of our initial business combination and, if necessary, to implement and test additional controls as we may determine are necessary in order to state that we maintain an effective system of internal controls. A target business may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding the adequacy of internal controls. Target businesses we may consider for a business combination may have internal controls that need improvement in areas such as:
• staffing for financial, accounting and external reporting areas, including segregation of duties;
• reconciliation of accounts;
• proper recording of expenses and liabilities in the period to which they relate;
• evidence of internal review and approval of accounting transactions;
• documentation of processes, assumptions and conclusions underlying significant estimates; and
• documentation of accounting policies and procedures.
Because it will take time, management involvement and perhaps outside resources to determine what internal control improvements are necessary for us to meet regulatory requirements and market expectations for our operation of a target business, we may incur significant expense in meeting our public reporting responsibilities, particularly in the areas of designing, enhancing, or remediating internal and disclosure controls. Doing so effectively may also take longer than we expect, thus increasing our exposure to financial fraud or erroneous financing reporting.
Once our management’s report on internal controls is complete, we will retain our independent auditors to audit and render an opinion on such report when required by Section 404. The independent auditors may identify additional issues concerning a target business’s internal controls while performing their audit of internal control over financial reporting.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
The net proceeds of this offering, including amounts in the trust account, will, if they are invested at all, only be invested in United States “government securities” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act having a maturity of 185 days or less, or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations. Due to the short-term nature of these investments, we believe there will be no associated material exposure to interest rate risk.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements; Commitments and Contractual Obligations; Quarterly Results
As of the date of this prospectus, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of Regulation S-K and did not have any commitments or contractual obligations. No unaudited quarterly operating data is included in this prospectus as we have conducted no operations to date.
60
General
We are a blank check company incorporated as a Delaware corporation whose business purpose is to effect a merger, stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. We have not selected any specific business combination target and we have not, nor has anyone on our behalf, engaged in any substantive discussions, directly or indirectly, with any business combination target with respect to an initial business combination with us.
Our efforts to identify a prospective initial business combination target will not be limited to a particular industry, sector or geographic region. While we may pursue an initial business combination opportunity in any industry or sector, we intend to capitalize on the ability of our management team’s established global relationships and operating experience particularly in media and entertainment. As such, we intend to search globally for target companies with a focus on the media & entertainment (“M&E”) industry, with a focus on music, animation, artificial intelligence (“AI”), and more. To date, our efforts have been limited to organizational activities as well as activities related to this offering. None of our officers, directors, promoters or other affiliates has engaged in any substantive discussions on our behalf with representatives of other companies regarding the possibility of a potential business combination with us.
Overview
The members of our management team, including Jose A. Bengochea, our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), and Chairman, and William Caragol, our Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), as well as our strategic advisors, have extensive experience with special purpose acquisition companies and consummating business combinations.
Mr. Bengochea, our CEO founded Iron Horse Acquisitions Corp. (NASDAQ: “IROH” and referred to herein as “Iron Horse I”), a special purpose acquisition company (“SPAC”) formed for substantially similar purposes as our Company. Mr. Caragol, our CFO, served as both CFO and COO of Iron Horse I, and its initial public offering (“IPO”) was consummated on December 29, 2023. In September 2024, Iron Horse I entered into a definitive Business Combination Agreement with Zhong Guo Liang Tou Group Limited, a company incorporated and existing under the laws of the British Virgin Islands (“CFI”), and Rosy Sea Holdings Limited, a company incorporated and existing under the laws of the British Virgin Islands (“Seller”) and the owner of 100% of the issued and outstanding capital stock of CFI, for an approximate valuation of $523 million. Iron Horse I then filed its S4 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in December 2024.
Iron Horse I was founded on the premise that there were growing global opportunities in the M&E industry, as well as in the tangential consumer products industry with close ties to M&E that could unlock additional value. We believe that these correlations have become more apparent since the Iron Horse I IPO. For instance, global M&E industry revenue grew to $2.8 trillion in 2023 and is expected to reach $3.4 trillion by 2028 according to a 2024 report by PricewaterhouseCoopers. A clear driver of change in this space has been the advent of AI and proliferation of AI-based technologies as the industries’ pandemic-related woes have largely been erased, allowing for increase in entertainment bundling on entertainment streaming, gaming and virtual experiences, as well as a growing revival of real-life M&E experiences.
As a result, our management team believes a number of strong and growing M&E businesses are now in a position to benefit from capital and industry expertise to achieve their full growth potential and harness the opportunities unlocked by these recent changes.
Our Sponsor
Our sponsor is a Delaware limited liability company, which was formed to invest in us. Although our sponsor is permitted to undertake any activities permitted under the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act and other applicable law, our sponsor’s business is focused on investing in our company. The managing member of the sponsor is Mr. Bengochea, our Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Bengochea controls the management of our sponsor, including the exercise of voting and investment discretion over the securities of our company held by our sponsor. Of the 570,000
61
private units, 370,000 will be purchased by the sponsor in the private placement, and the non-managing sponsor investors have been allocated through their membership interests in the sponsor 315,000 private units, or 85% of the private units, with our officers and directors owning the remainder.
See “Summary — The Offering — Private units.”
The following table sets forth the payments to be received by our sponsor and its affiliates from us prior to or in connection with the completion of our initial business combination and the securities issued and to be issued by us to our sponsor or its affiliates:
Entity/Individual |
Amount of Compensation to be Received |
|
||
Bengochea SPAC Sponsors II LLC |
5,000,000(1) shares of common stock |
$25,000 |
||
370,000(2) private units to be purchased simultaneously with the closing of this offering(1)(2) |
$3,700,000 |
|||
Up to $300,000 |
Repayment of loans made to us to cover offering related and organizational expenses |
|||
Reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination |
Expenses incurred in connection with identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination |
|||
Up to $1,500,000 in working capital loans, which loans may be converted into private units of the post-business combination entity at the price of $10.00 per private unit |
Working capital loans to finance transaction costs in connection with an initial business combination |
____________
(1) Assumes the full forfeiture of 750,000 founder shares and no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option.
(2) The sponsor non-managing members have expressed an interest to purchase sponsor non-managing membership interests reflecting interests in an aggregate of 315,000 of the 370,000 private units to be purchased by our sponsor (whether or not the over-allotment option is exercised), at a price of $10.00 per interest ($3,700,000 in the aggregate) in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. Of the 370,000 private units, 370,000 units will be purchase by the sponsor, of which the non-managing sponsor investors shall be allocated through their membership interests in the sponsor, 315,000 private units, which would result in them owning 85% of the private units, with our officers and directors owning the remainder.
The low price that our sponsor, executive officers and directors (directly or indirectly) paid for the founder shares creates an incentive whereby our officers and directors could potentially make a substantial profit even if we select an acquisition target that subsequently declines in value and is unprofitable for public stockholders. If we are unable to complete our initial business combination by the Deadline, or by such earlier liquidation date as our board of directors may approve, the founder shares, private shares and private units will be worthless, except to the extent they receive liquidating distributions from assets outside the trust account. In addition, our sponsor will provide us the use of their office space and certain administrative services in our search for a target business at no cost.
Because our sponsor acquired the founder shares at a nominal price, our public stockholders will incur immediate and substantial dilution upon the closing of this offering, assuming no value is ascribed to the private units. See the sections titled “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to our Securities — The nominal purchase price paid by our sponsor for the founder shares may result in significant dilution to the implied value of your public shares upon the consummation of our initial business combination, and our sponsor is likely to make a substantial profit on its investment in us in the event we consummate an initial business combination, even if the business combination causes the trading price of our shares of common stock to materially decline.” and “Dilution.”
The nominal purchase price paid by our sponsor for the founder shares may significantly dilute the implied value of your public shares in the event we consummate an initial business combination, and our sponsor and other initial stockholders are likely to make a substantial profit on their investment in us in the event we consummate an initial
62
business combination, even if the business combination causes the trading price of our shares of common stock to decline materially. The following table sets forth information with respect to our initial stockholders and the public stockholders:
Shares |
Total Consideration |
Average Price |
|||||||||||||
Number |
Purchased |
Percentage |
Amount |
Percentage |
|||||||||||
Initial stockholders |
5,000,000 |
(1) |
18.10 |
% |
$ |
25,000 |
0.01 |
% |
$ |
0.005 |
|||||
Private Placement purchasers |
627,000 |
(3) |
2.27 |
% |
$ |
5,700,000 |
2.77 |
% |
$ |
9.09 |
|||||
Public stockholders |
22,000,000 |
(2) |
79.63 |
% |
$ |
200,000,000 |
97.22 |
% |
$ |
9.09 |
|||||
Total |
27,627,000 |
|
100.00 |
% |
$ |
205,725,000 |
100.00 |
% |
|
____________
(1) Assumes the over-allotment option has not been exercised and an aggregate of 750,000 Founders Shares have been forfeited as a result thereof.
(2) Includes the issuance of an additional 2,000,000 shares underlying the rights contained in the public stockholders.
(3) Includes the issuance of an additional 57,000 shares underlying the rights contained in the private placement.
Business Strategy
Our team has demonstrated an extensive global track record of successful acquisitions, value creation, and value enhancement, both in and outside the M&E industry, most recently demonstrated by our previous Management Team’s previous SPAC Iron Horse I.
We believe our team’s track record encompasses successful experiences through negotiating deals across numerous industries, working directly with operators and navigating companies through acquisition transactions (as both acquiror and acquiree), expanding product ranges for existing businesses, and providing strategic guidance to develop revenue and commercial opportunities.
Management Team
Our management team has a long history of value creation in the private and public markets, with a strong track record of creating value for stockholders including through acquiring and operating successful businesses within our target sectors. Several members of our team have unique networks and relationships and extensive experience sourcing and executing transactions that will enhance our ability to identify, negotiate and complete a successful business combination and accelerate the growth trajectory and profitability of the acquired business post-business combination.
We believe that we are well positioned to identify attractive acquisition opportunities, in particular because our team expects to utilize their access to industry contacts and proprietary deal flow to generate business combination opportunities. We believe that our team’s networks in particular will broaden our access to potential transaction opportunities outside typical competitive deal sourcing intermediaries. Our team is well-connected in our target sectors and, as such, we have the opportunity to be potential targets’ preferred partner for opportunities that they might think are appropriate for a SPAC acquisition, beginning with members of the Iron Horse I team returning with their experience in SPAC deals and in public markets.
Jose Antonio Bengochea is our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. Mr. Bengochea has served as the Chief Executive Officer of and a director of Iron Horse I since November 2021, and has served as the managing member of Bengochea SPAC Sponsor I LLC, the sponsor of Iron Horse I since November 2021. Mr. Bengochea is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Bengochea Capital LLC (“Bengochea Capital”), an investment firm founded in 2020 to pursue frontier asset classes and, through Mr. Bengochea’s network of connections to various M&E industry executives and celebrities, to examine global opportunities in media and entertainment. Bengochea Capital has been a registered media entity with the Recording Academy for the 2023 Grammy Awards; is currently a registered media entity with the Recording Academy for the upcoming 2024 Grammy Awards; has been present at the Cannes Film Festival, among other prestigious events; and has access to several animation, family, and IP potential deal-flow, with a growing number of business touchpoints across Asia. Prior to founding Bengochea Capital, Mr. Bengochea was a part of Sony’s Global Business Development team in Los Angeles and, prior to that, served as a corporate attorney at the law firm of Jenner & Block in New York City. Mr. Bengochea holds an A.B. summa cum laude from Harvard University, where he designed his own degree, entitled Comparative Imperial History, and graduated with a secondary specialization in Archaeology. Mr. Bengochea also holds a J.D. degree from Harvard Law School and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
63
William Caragol is our Chief Financial Officer and a director of the Company. Mr. Caragol has served as the Chief Financial Officer (since December 2024) and Chief Operating Officer of Iron Horse I since December 2023. Mr. Caragol has over thirty years of experience working with growth stage companies. In 2018, he founded and is the Managing Director of Quidem LLC, a corporate strategic and financial advisory firm. Since July 2021 he has been the Chief Financial Officer of Mainz Biomed N.V. (NASDAQ: MYNZ), a molecular genetics diagnostic company specializing in the early detection of cancer. Since July 2021, Mr. Caragol has served on the Board of Directors of Worksport Ltd. (NASDAQ: WKSP), a growth stage technology company, and sits on the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and the Corporate Governance Committee. Since July 2023, Mr. Caragol has served on the Board of Directors of DeFi Development Corp. (NASDAQ: DFDV), a real-estate software firm and Solana-focused treasury company, and sits on the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and the Corporate Governance Committee. From 2021 to 2023, Mr. Caragol served on the Board of Directors and was Chairman of the Audit Committee of Greenbox POS (NASDAQ: GBOX) a financial technology company leveraging proprietary blockchain security to build customized payment solutions. Mr. Caragol earned a B.S. in business administration and accounting from Washington & Lee University and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Management is joined by three new members to serve on the board of directors, including Tarron Hecox, Melissa Escobar, and Dr. Constantino Mendieta, while all three previous Iron Horse I independent directors are returning to serve as Strategic Advisors.
Tarron Hecox will serve as our lead independent director of the Company from the date of this prospectus. Mr. Hecox has ample public markets and operational experience. Since 2019, he has held various commercial roles at AGCO Corporation (NYSE: AGCO), a Fortune 500 company. Previously, Mr. Hecox worked with the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, William Blair & Company, and Parnassus Investments, and he also formerly co-founded Spartan Capital L.L.C. in 2017, a private fund formed to pursue technology opportunities. Mr. Hecox is also well versed in SPACs and entertainment through the private fund he co-founded in 2014, Limitless Strategies, LLC, which focuses on creating value through public and private investments in media, entertainment, and AI. Mr. Hecox received his MBA from Harvard Business School in 2016; an undergraduate degree with highest distinction from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he studied economics, finance, and accounting; a master’s degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln; and has held a CPA designation.
Ms. Melissa de Assis Escobar will serve as an independent director of the Company from the date of this prospectus. Ms. Escobar is an especially prominent global figure in entertainment, having been recognized as a pioneer in the development of Hispanic content and global talent. She co-founded Latin World Entertainment alongside actress Sofia Vergara and Luis Balaguer in 1994, and together leads Latin World Entertainment’s growth into a multicultural entertainment leader specializing in series, documentaries, films, and brand marketing, with an audience of over 900 million global followers through its network. Under Ms. Escobar’s leadership, Latin World Entertainment has won critical acclaim, having produced works such as Griselda for Netflix and Maradona: Sueño Bendito for Amazon Prime. In all, she has over 30 years of entertainment experience, having worked with top-tier companies such as Telemundo, Univision, Amazon, Netflix, YouTube/Google, Disney Buenavista, ABC and HBO Latino. Her team has marketed over 1,000 major Hollywood studio films to Hispanics, and promoted premier Spanish-language music tours for the largest live entertainment companies in the USA.
Dr. Constantino Mendieta will serve as an independent director of the Company from the date of this prospectus. Dr. Mendieta is an avid global technology and entertainment investor as well as a leading, Board Certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon. Dr. Mendieta founded the 4Beauty Aesthetic Institute in 2002 and serves as founder and lead surgeon where he has appeared on NBC, CNN, as well as on several programs for his advancements in the surgical community, and the Consumer Research Council in America has named Dr. Mendieta one of America’s Top Surgeons five years in a row. In 2018, Dr. Mendieta also founded his family office, Mendieta Family Holdings LLC, which, in part, focuses on investments in media & entertainment assets, SPACs, and emerging technologies. He is also the doctor to several high-profile musicians, models, and celebrities. Dr. Mendieta holds a B.S. in Psychology from Creighton University, MD from Creighton University, has a Fellowship of Plastic Surgery from the Royal College Of Surgeon, Edinburgh, Scotland, performed plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital, Fellowship in Aesthetic Surgery, and a Clinical Fellow from Harvard Medical School.
64
In addition, three previous independent directors from Iron Horse I are returning as Strategic Advisors.
Ken Hertz will serve as a strategic advisor to the Company from the date of this prospectus, and has been serving since December 2023 as an Iron Horse I independent director and Chairman of Iron Horse I’s Executive Committee. Mr. Hertz is currently a director for JUST GOODS and has served as a Senior Partner in the Los Angeles law firm of Hertz Lichtenstein Young & Polk LLP since 2007. Mr. Hertz and his partners specialize in representing talent, senior executives, entrepreneurs, agencies, and brands in entertainment, fashion, sports, media, and technology industries. Prior to forming the firm, Mr. Hertz had been a partner in Hansen Jacobson & Teller, since 1989. Before that, he was global head of music — business and legal affairs — for The Walt Disney Company. He is also a principal in memBrain — an entertainment marketing and strategy consulting firm that advises a number of C-Suite executives on their company’s entertainment related marketing strategies. memBrain has worked with Intel, McDonald’s, Hasbro, MillerCoors, Li & Fung and Logitech. Mr. Hertz has also been an active early-stage venture investor and advisor since 1997 and is a frequent speaker and commentator on the subjects of entertainment, marketing and convergence. He is often quoted in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and Wall Street Journal, has appeared on CNBC’s monthly newsmagazine “Business Nation,” has been an instructor at UCLA’s Anderson Graduate School of Management, Marshall School of Business, Stanford Business School, and an adjunct professor of law at USC. He graduated UCLA with a J.D. in 1984 and U.C. Berkeley in 1981 with a B.S.
Brian Turner will serve as a strategic advisor to the Company from the date of this prospectus. Mr. Turner has been serving since December 2023 as the Chairman of the board of directors of Iron Horse I and was formerly Chair of the Board of Microvision, Inc. (NASDAQ: MVIS), a public company in the lidar space. He has served on numerous public and private companies boards of directors as well. Mr. Turner was the Chief Financial Officer of Coinstar Inc. from 2003 until June 2009. Prior to Coinstar, from 2001 to 2003, he served as Senior Vice President of Operations, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer of Real Networks, Inc., a digital media and technology company. Prior to Real Networks, from 1999 to 2001, Mr. Turner was employed by Bsquare Corp., a software company, where he initially served as Senior Vice President of Operations, Chief Financial Officer, and Secretary, before being promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer. From 1995 to 1999, Mr. Turner was Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Administration of Radisys Corp., an embedded software company. Mr. Turner’s experience also includes 13 years at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP where he held several positions including Director of Corporate Finance. Mr. Turner was formerly Chairman of the Board of Microvision, Inc. (NASDAQ: MVIS), a public company in the lidar space, and is now Chair of the Audit Committee for MVIS. Mr. Turner has also been a director for several private companies. Mr. Turner holds a Bachelors of Business Administration in Accounting and a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science from the University of Washington.
Scott Morris, will serve as a strategic advisor to the Company. Mr. Morris was an Iron Horse I independent director and has been Chairman of Avista (NYSE: AVA) since 2008. Mr. Morris started his career at AVA in 1981. From 2008 to 2019, he served as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and served as Avista’s President from 2008 to 2018. Prior to that, Mr. Morris was also the company’s Chief Operating Officer. His experiences include management positions in multiple industries, including construction, customer service, and utilities. He is a graduate of Gonzaga University and received his master’s degree from Gonzaga University in organizational leadership. He also attended the Stanford Business School Financial Management Program and the Kidder Peabody School of Financial Management. Mr. Morris serves on the boards of McKinstry Inc. and California Water Service. He is also on the Board of Trustees of Gonzaga University. He has served on a number of Spokane nonprofit and economic development Boards.
The past performance of our management team is not a guarantee that we will be able to identify a suitable candidate for our initial business combination or of success with respect to any business combination we may consummate. Our management team may have had acquisitions or investments that were not successful. You should not rely on the historical record of our management’s performance as indicative of our future performance.
Commitment to Diversity
As a first generation American and native Spanish speaker, Mr. Bengochea is a passionate advocate of greater diversity in entertainment, media, and in the public markets, and is honored to serve once again as one of the only Hispanic executives on the public markets. Ms. Escobar is also proud to serve as one of the only Hispanic directors on the public markets, herself being originally from Colombia and having dedicated much of her career to promoting Hispanic talent, such as Sofia Vergara, and empowering Hispanic voices through entertainment. Dr. Mendieta, one of our Independent Directors, is also a first-generation Hispanic immigrant.
65
Acquisition Strategy
Our team intends to leverage its skills, expertise and networks within the team’s international hubs, particularly within the media, entertainment, and AI industries, to identify attractive target companies and provide guidance on the benefits of being a publicly-traded entity, including broader access to capital, increased liquidity for potential acquisitions, expanded branding opportunities in the marketplace, reputational and consumer confidence gains, and on the process of transitioning from a private company to a public registrant. We also expect to be able to source potential targets from our team’s contacts within private equity, with celebrities, with M&E investors, and with various industry leaders. Upon completion of this offering, each of our team members will communicate our acquisition criteria to their respective networks and immediately begin screening opportunities.
Consistent with this strategy, we have identified parameters and criteria that we think are important and relevant in evaluating prospective target businesses. We intend to apply these parameters in evaluating prospects, although we may ultimately decide to execute our initial business combination with a company that may not match all of our initial parameters:
• Growth Prospects: We intend to seek companies with high growth trajectories that are driven by competitive advantages that can be accelerated or magnified through a partnership with us and access to the public markets.
• Earnings Potential: We intend to acquire one or more businesses that have multiple and diverse potential drivers of revenue and earnings growth and that have the potential to generate strong and stable free cash flow.
• M&E Focus: We intend to prioritize entities within our team’s core spheres of expertise and from among our team’s networks, such as family entertainment, animation, gaming, music, and businesses which we believe have benefited from the global pandemic and subsequent evolution of media and AI.
• Public Advantages: We intend to seek target companies that are public market ready and whose leadership teams have the vision to take advantage of and appreciate the benefits of becoming a publicly-traded entity.
• Evolving Circumstance: We intend to seek companies which are capitalizing on industry shifts and trends created by various factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the migration toward new global consumption patterns, and the proliferation of AI-based technologies.
• Valuations: We consider ourselves to be rigorous, disciplined and valuation-centric investors, with a keen understanding of market value and successful track record. We intend to seek companies with a respectable market share and growth potential in the segments in which they operate.
These criteria are not intended to be exhaustive. Any evaluation relating to the merits of a particular initial business combination may be based, to the extent relevant, on these general guidelines, as well as other considerations, factors and criteria deemed relevant by our management in effecting our initial business combination consistent with our business objectives. In evaluating a prospective target business, we expect to conduct a due diligence review which may encompass, among other things, meetings with incumbent management and employees, document reviews, interviews of customers and suppliers, inspections of facilities, as well as reviewing financial and other information which will be made available to us.
We are not prohibited from pursuing a business combination with a company that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers or directors. In the event that we seek to complete a business combination with a business that is affiliated with our sponsor, officers or directors, we, or a committee of independent directors, will obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions that our business combination is fair to our stockholders from a financial point of view. In the event that we seek such a business combination, the independent members of our Board of Directors would be required to approve the transaction.
66
Sources of Target Businesses
While we have not yet selected a target business with which to consummate our initial business combination, we believe based on our management’s business knowledge and past experience that there are numerous potential candidates. We expect that our principal means of identifying potential target businesses will be through the extensive contacts and relationships of our initial stockholders, officers and directors. While our officers and directors are not required to commit any specific amount of time in identifying or performing due diligence on potential target businesses, our officers and directors believe that the relationships they have developed over their careers will generate a number of potential business combination opportunities that will warrant further investigation. We also anticipate that target business candidates will be brought to our attention from various unaffiliated sources, including investment bankers, venture capital funds, private equity funds, leveraged buyout funds, management buyout funds and other members of the financial community. Target businesses may be brought to our attention by such unaffiliated sources as a result of being solicited by us through calls or mailings. These sources may also introduce us to target businesses they think we may be interested in on an unsolicited basis, since many of these sources will have read this prospectus and know what types of businesses we are targeting.
Our officers and directors must present to us all target business opportunities that have a fair market value of at least 80% of the assets held in the trust account (net of taxes payable) at the time of the agreement to enter into the initial business combination, subject to any fiduciary or contractual obligations. While we do not presently anticipate engaging the services of professional firms or other individuals that specialize in business acquisitions on any formal basis, we may engage the services of professional firms or other individuals that specialize in business acquisitions, in which event we may pay a finder’s fee, consulting fee or other compensation to be determined in an arm’s length negotiation based on the terms of the transaction.
Our audit committee will review and approve all reimbursements and payments made to our initial stockholders, officers, directors or our or their respective affiliates, with any interested director abstaining from such review and approval.
We have no present intention to enter into a business combination with a target business that is affiliated with any of our officers, directors or initial stockholders. However, we are not restricted from entering into any such transactions and may do so if (i) such transaction is approved by a majority of our disinterested independent directors and (ii) we obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm, or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions, that the business combination is fair to our unaffiliated stockholders from a financial point of view.
Selection of a Target Business and Structuring of a Business Combination
Subject to our management team’s fiduciary obligations and the limitations that a target business have a fair market value of at least 80% of the balance in the trust account (net of taxes payable) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination, as described below in more detail, and that we must acquire a controlling interest in the target business, our management will have virtually unrestricted flexibility in identifying and selecting a prospective target business. We have not established any specific attributes or criteria (financial or otherwise) for prospective target businesses. In evaluating a prospective target business, our management may consider a variety of factors, including one or more of the following:
• financial condition and results of operation;
• growth potential;
• brand recognition and potential;
• experience and skill of management and availability of additional personnel;
• capital requirements;
• competitive position;
• barriers to entry;
• stage of development of the products, processes or services;
67
• existing distribution and potential for expansion;
• degree of current or potential market acceptance of the products, processes or services;
• proprietary aspects of our tangible and intangible assets and the extent of intellectual property or other protections for our products, formulas, brands or media;
• impact of regulation on the business;
• regulatory environment of the industry;
• costs associated with effecting the business combination;
• industry leadership, sustainability of market share and attractiveness of industries in which a target business participates; and
• macro competitive dynamics in the industry within which the company competes.
These criteria are not intended to be exhaustive. Any evaluation relating to the merits of a particular business combination will be based, to the extent relevant, on the above factors as well as other considerations deemed relevant by our management in effecting a business combination consistent with our business objective. In evaluating a prospective target business, we will conduct an extensive due diligence review which will encompass, among other things, meetings with incumbent management and inspection of facilities, as well as review of financial and other information which is made available to us. This due diligence review will be conducted either by our management or by unaffiliated third parties we may engage, although we have no current intention to engage any such third parties.
The time and costs required to select and evaluate a target business and to structure and complete the business combination cannot presently be ascertained with any degree of certainty. Any costs incurred with respect to the identification and evaluation of a prospective target business with which a business combination is not ultimately completed will result in a loss to us and reduce the amount of capital available to otherwise complete a business combination.
Fair Market Value of Target Business
NASDAQ listing rules require that the target business or businesses that we acquire must collectively have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the balance of the funds in the trust account (net of taxes payable) at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if we are not then listed on NASDAQ for whatever reason, we would no longer be required to meet the foregoing 80% fair market value test.
We currently anticipate structuring a business combination to acquire 100% of the equity interests or assets of the target business or businesses. We may, however, structure our initial business combination where we merge directly with the target business or a newly formed subsidiary or where we acquire less than 100% of such interests or assets of the target business in order to meet certain objectives of the target management team or stockholders or for other reasons, but we do not intend to complete such business combination unless the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. Even if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our stockholders prior to the business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post-transaction company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us in the business combination transaction. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we issue a substantial number of new shares in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock of a target. In this case, we could acquire a 100% controlling interest in the target; however, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new shares, our stockholders immediately prior to our initial business combination could own less than a majority of our outstanding shares subsequent to our initial business combination. If less than 100% of the equity interests or assets of a target business or businesses are owned or acquired by the post-transaction company, the portion of such business or businesses that is owned or acquired is what will be valued for purposes of the 80% of trust account balance test.
The fair market value of the target will be determined by our Board of Directors based upon one or more standards generally accepted by the financial community (such as actual and potential sales, earnings, cash flow and/or book value). The proxy solicitation materials or tender offer documents used by us in connection with any proposed
68
transaction will provide public stockholders with our analysis of the fair market value of the target business, as well as the basis for our determinations. If our board is not able to independently determine that the target business has a sufficient fair market value, we will obtain an opinion from an unaffiliated, independent investment banking firm, or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions, with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. We will not be required to obtain an opinion from an investment banking firm as to the fair market value if our Board of Directors independently determines that the target business complies with the 80% threshold.
Lack of Business Diversification
We may seek to effect a business combination with more than one target business, although we expect to complete our business combination with just one business. Therefore, at least initially, the prospects for our success may be entirely dependent upon the future performance of a single business operation. Unlike other entities which may have the resources to complete several business combinations of entities operating in multiple industries or multiple areas of a single industry, it is probable that we will not have the resources to diversify our operations or benefit from the possible spreading of risks or offsetting of losses. By consummating a business combination with only a single entity, our lack of diversification may:
• subject us to numerous economic, competitive and regulatory developments, any or all of which may have a substantial adverse impact upon the particular industry in which we may operate subsequent to a business combination, and
• result in our dependency upon the performance of a single operating business or the development or market acceptance of a single or limited number of products, processes or services.
If we determine to simultaneously acquire several businesses and such businesses are owned by different sellers, we will need for each of such sellers to agree that our purchase of its business is contingent on the simultaneous closings of the other acquisitions, which may make it more difficult for us, and delay our ability, to complete the business combination. With multiple acquisitions, we could also face additional risks, including additional burdens and costs with respect to possible multiple negotiations and due diligence investigations (if there are multiple sellers) and the additional risks associated with the subsequent assimilation of the operations and services or products of the acquired companies in a single operating business.
Limited Ability to Evaluate the Target Business’ Management
Although we intend to scrutinize the management of a prospective target business when evaluating the desirability of effecting a business combination, we cannot assure you that our assessment of the target business’ management will prove to be correct. In addition, we cannot assure you that the management team will have the necessary skills, qualifications or abilities to manage a public company. Furthermore, the future role of our officers and directors, if any, in the target business following a business combination cannot presently be stated with any certainty. While it is possible that some of our key personnel will remain associated in senior management or advisory positions with us following a business combination, it is unlikely that they will devote their full-time efforts to our affairs subsequent to a business combination. Moreover, they would only be able to remain with the company after the consummation of a business combination if they are able to negotiate employment or consulting agreements in connection with the business combination. Such negotiations would take place simultaneously with the negotiation of the business combination and could provide for them to receive compensation in the form of cash payments and/or our securities for services they would render to the company after the consummation of the business combination. While the personal and financial interests of our key personnel may influence their motivation in identifying and selecting a target business, their ability to remain with the company after the consummation of a business combination will not be the determining factor in our decision as to whether or not we will proceed with any potential business combination. Additionally, we cannot assure you that our officers and directors will have significant experience or knowledge relating to the operations of the particular target business.
69
Following a business combination, we may seek to recruit additional managers to supplement the incumbent management of the target business. We cannot assure you that we will have the ability to recruit additional managers, or that any such additional managers we do recruit will have the requisite skills, knowledge or experience necessary to enhance the incumbent management.
Stockholders May Not Have the Ability to Approve an Initial Business Combination
In connection with any proposed business combination, we will either (1) seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination at a meeting called for such purpose at which stockholders may seek to redeem their shares, regardless of whether they vote for or against the proposed business combination or don’t vote at all, into their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable), or (2) provide our stockholders with the opportunity to sell their shares to us by means of a tender offer (and thereby avoid the need for a stockholder vote) for an amount equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable), in each case subject to the limitations described herein and in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. The decision as to whether we will seek stockholder approval of a proposed business combination or will allow stockholders to sell their shares to us in a tender offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors such as the timing of the transaction and whether the terms of the transaction would otherwise require us to seek stockholder approval. If we determine to engage in a tender offer, such tender offer will be structured so that each stockholder may tender all of his, her or its shares rather than some pro rata portion of his, her or its shares. In that case, we will file tender offer documents with the SEC which will contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination as is required under the SEC’s proxy rules. Whether we seek stockholder approval or engage in a tender offer, we will consummate our initial business combination only if a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock voted are voted in favor of the business combination. We have no specified maximum percentage threshold for redemptions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and even those public stockholders who vote in favor of our initial business combination have the right to redeem their public shares. As a result, this may make it easier for us to consummate our initial business combination.
If we seek to consummate an initial business combination with a target business that imposes any type of working capital closing condition or requires us to have a minimum amount of funds available from the trust account upon consummation of such initial business combination, this may force us to seek third party financing which may not be available on terms acceptable to us or at all. As a result, we may not be able to consummate such initial business combination and we may not be able to locate another suitable target within the applicable time period, if at all. Public stockholders may therefore have to wait 24 months from the closing of this offering in order to be able to receive a pro rata share of the trust account.
Our initial stockholders, officers and directors have agreed (1) to vote any shares of common stock owned by them in favor of any proposed business combination, (2) not to redeem any shares of common stock in connection with a stockholder vote to approve a proposed initial business combination and (3) not sell any shares of common stock in any tender in connection with a proposed initial business combination.
None of our officers, directors, initial stockholders or their affiliates has indicated any intention to purchase units or shares of common stock in this offering or from persons in the open market or in private transactions. However, if we hold a meeting to approve a proposed business combination and a significant number of stockholders vote, or indicate an intention to vote, against such proposed business combination or that they wish to redeem their shares, our officers, directors, initial stockholders or their affiliates could make such purchases in the open market or in private transactions in order to reduce the number of redemptions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, our officers, directors, initial stockholders and their affiliates will not make purchases of shares of common stock if the purchases would violate Section 9(a)(2) or Rule 10b-5 of the Exchange Act, which are rules designed to stop potential manipulation of a company’s stock.
70
Redemption Rights
At any meeting called to approve an initial business combination, public stockholders may seek to redeem their shares, regardless of whether they vote for or against the proposed business combination or do not vote at all, into their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account as of two business days prior to the consummation of the initial business combination, less any taxes then due but not yet paid. Alternatively, we may provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to sell their shares of our common stock to us through a tender offer (and thereby avoid the need for a stockholder vote) for an amount equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, less any taxes then due but not yet paid.
Our initial stockholders and our officers and directors will not have redemption rights with respect to any shares of common stock owned by them, directly or indirectly, whether acquired prior to this offering or purchased by them in this offering or in the aftermarket.
Any proxy solicitation materials we furnish to stockholders in connection with a vote for any proposed business combination will indicate whether we are requiring stockholders to satisfy such certification and delivery requirements. Accordingly, a stockholder would have from the time the stockholder received our proxy statement up until the vote on the proposal to approve the business combination to deliver his or her shares if he or she wishes to seek to exercise his redemption rights. This time period varies depending on the specific facts of each transaction. However, as the delivery process can be accomplished by the stockholder, whether or not he is a record holder or his shares are held in “street name,” in a matter of hours by simply contacting the transfer agent or his broker and requesting delivery of his shares through the DWAC System, we believe this time period is sufficient for an average investor. However, we cannot assure you of this fact. Please see the risk factor titled “In connection with any stockholder meeting called to approve a proposed initial business combination, we may require stockholders who wish to redeem their shares in connection with a proposed business combination to comply with specific requirements for redemption that may make it more difficult for them to exercise their redemption rights prior to the deadline for exercising their rights” for further information on the risks of failing to comply with these requirements.
Any request to redeem such shares once made, may be withdrawn at any time up to the vote on the proposed business combination or the expiration of the tender offer. Furthermore, if a holder of public shares delivered his or her certificate in connection with an election of their redemption and subsequently decides prior to the applicable date not to elect to exercise such rights, he or she may simply request that the transfer agent return the certificate (physically or electronically).
If the initial business combination is not approved or completed for any reason, then our public stockholders who elected to exercise their redemption rights would not be entitled to redeem their shares for the applicable pro rata share of the trust account. In such case, we will promptly return any shares delivered by public holders.
Liquidation if No Business Combination
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we will have only 24 months from the closing of this offering to complete an initial business combination. If we have not completed an initial business combination by such date and stockholders have not otherwise amended our charter to extend this date, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the outstanding public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including any interest not previously released to us but net of taxes payable and up to $100,000 of interest income that may be released to us for liquidation expenses, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our Board of Directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject (in the case of (ii) and (iii) above) to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law.
Our initial stockholders, officers and directors have agreed that they will not propose any amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that would affect our public stockholders’ ability to redeem or sell their shares to us in connection with a business combination as described herein or affect the substance or timing of our obligation
71
to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete a business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering unless we provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their shares of common stock upon such approval at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest not previously released to us but net of franchise and income taxes payable, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. This redemption right shall apply in the event of the approval of any such amendment, whether proposed by our initial stockholders, executive officers, directors or any other person.
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, stockholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against a corporation to the extent of distributions received by them in a dissolution. The pro rata portion of our trust account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of 100% of our outstanding public shares in the event we do not complete our initial business combination within the required time period may be considered a liquidation distribution under Delaware law. If the corporation complies with certain procedures set forth in Section 280 of the Delaware General Corporation Law intended to ensure that it makes reasonable provision for all claims against it, including a 60-day notice period during which any third-party claims can be brought against the corporation, a 90-day period during which the corporation may reject any claims brought, and an additional 150-day waiting period before any liquidating distributions are made to stockholders, any liability of stockholders with respect to a liquidating distribution is limited to the lesser of such stockholder’s pro rata share of the claim or the amount distributed to the stockholder, and any liability of the stockholder would be barred after the third anniversary of the dissolution. It is our intention to redeem our public shares as soon as reasonably possible following our 24 month anniversary (or up to 30 months, if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus), and, therefore, we do not intend to comply with those procedures. As such, our stockholders could potentially be liable for any claims to the extent of distributions received by them (but no more) and any liability of our stockholders may extend well beyond the third anniversary of such date.
Furthermore, if the pro rata portion of our trust account distributed to our public stockholders upon the redemption of 100% of our public shares in the event we do not complete our initial business combination within the required time period is not considered a liquidation distribution under Delaware law and such redemption distribution is deemed to be unlawful, then pursuant to Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, the statute of limitations for claims of creditors could then be six years after the unlawful redemption distribution, instead of three years, as in the case of a liquidation distribution.
Because we will not be complying with Section 280 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, Section 281(b) of the Delaware General Corporation Law requires us to adopt a plan, based on facts known to us at such time that will provide for our payment of all existing and pending claims or claims that may be potentially brought against us within the subsequent ten years. However, because we are a blank check company, rather than an operating company, and our operations will be limited to searching for prospective target businesses to acquire, the only likely claims to arise would be from our current and former vendors (such as lawyers, auditors investment bankers, etc.) or prospective target businesses.
We are required to seek to have all third parties (including any vendors or other entities we engage after this offering) and any prospective target businesses enter into agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind they may have in or to any monies held in the trust account. As a result, the claims that could be made against us will be limited, thereby lessening the likelihood that any claim would result in any liability extending to the trust. We therefore believe that any necessary provision for creditors will be reduced and should not have a significant impact on our ability to distribute the funds in the trust account to our public stockholders. Nevertheless, MaloneBailey, LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm, and the underwriters of the offering, will not execute agreements with us waiving such claims to the monies held in the trust account. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that other vendors, service providers and prospective target businesses will execute such agreements. Nor is there any guarantee that, even if they execute such agreements with us, they will not seek recourse against the trust account. Bengochea SPAC Sponsors II LLC, an entity affiliated with Mr. Bengochea, has agreed that it will be liable to ensure that the proceeds in the trust account are not reduced below $10.00 per share by the claims of target businesses or claims of vendors or other entities that are owed money by us for services rendered or contracted for or products sold to us, but we cannot assure you that it will be able to satisfy its indemnification obligations if it is required to do so. We have not independently verified whether Bengochea SPAC Sponsors II LLC has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity
72
obligations, we have not asked it to reserve for such obligations and we do not believe it has any significant liquid assets. Accordingly, we believe it is unlikely that it will be able to satisfy its indemnification obligations if it is required to do so. Additionally, the agreement Bengochea SPAC Sponsors II LLC entered into specifically provides for two exceptions to the indemnity given: it will have no liability (1) as to any claimed amounts owed to a target business or vendor or other entity who has executed an agreement with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind they may have in or to any monies held in the trust account, or (2) as to any claims for indemnification by the underwriters of this offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. As a result, if we liquidate, the per-share distribution from the trust account could be less than $10.00 due to claims or potential claims of creditors.
We anticipate notifying the trustee of the trust account to begin liquidating such assets promptly after our 24 month anniversary (or up to 30 months, if we extend the time to complete a business combination as described in this prospectus) and anticipate it will take no more than 10 business days to effectuate such distribution. The holders of the founders shares have waived their rights to participate in any liquidation distribution from the trust account with respect to such shares. There will be no distribution from the trust account with respect to our rights, which will expire worthless. We will pay the costs of any subsequent liquidation from our remaining assets outside of the trust account. If such funds are insufficient, we will use the up to $100,000 of interest earned on the funds held in the trust account that may be released to us for our liquidation expenses.
If we are unable to complete an initial business combination and expend all of the net proceeds of this offering, other than the proceeds deposited in the trust account, and without taking into account interest, if any, earned on the trust account, or any increase as a result of our extending the time to consummate a business combination as described herein, the initial per-share redemption price would be $10.00. As discussed above, the proceeds deposited in the trust account could become subject to claims of our creditors that are in preference to the claims of public stockholders.
Our public stockholders shall be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only in the event of our failure to complete a business combination within the required time period, if the stockholders seek to have us redeem or purchase their respective shares upon a business combination which is actually completed by us or upon certain amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation prior to consummating an initial business combination. In no other circumstances shall a stockholder have any right or interest of any kind to or in the trust account.
If we are forced to file a bankruptcy case or an involuntary bankruptcy case is filed against us which is not dismissed, the proceeds held in the trust account could be subject to applicable bankruptcy law, and may be included in our bankruptcy estate and subject to the claims of third parties with priority over the claims of our stockholders. To the extent any bankruptcy claims deplete the trust account, we cannot assure you we will be able to return to our public stockholders at least $10.00 per share.
If we are forced to file a bankruptcy case or an involuntary bankruptcy case is filed against us which is not dismissed, any distributions received by stockholders could be viewed under applicable debtor/creditor and/or bankruptcy laws as either a “preferential transfer” or a “fraudulent conveyance.” As a result, a bankruptcy court could seek to recover all amounts received by our stockholders. Furthermore, because we intend to distribute the proceeds held in the trust account to our public stockholders promptly by the Deadline or the end of any Extension, this may be viewed or interpreted as giving preference to our public stockholders over any potential creditors with respect to access to or distributions from our assets. Furthermore, our Board may be viewed as having breached their fiduciary duties to our creditors and/or may have acted in bad faith, and thereby exposing itself and our company to claims of punitive damages, by paying public stockholders from the trust account prior to addressing the claims of creditors. We cannot assure you that claims will not be brought against us for these reasons.
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains certain requirements and restrictions relating to this offering that will apply to us until the consummation of our initial business combination. These provisions cannot be amended without the approval of a majority of our stockholders. If we seek to amend any provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that would affect our public stockholders’ ability to redeem or sell their shares to us as described herein or affect the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our public shares if we do not complete a business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, we will provide public
73
stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares in connection with any such vote. This redemption right shall apply in the event of the approval of any such amendment, whether proposed by any executive officer, director, initial stockholder, or any other person. Our initial stockholders, officers and directors have agreed to waive any redemption rights with respect to any founders shares, private shares and any public shares they may hold in connection with any vote to amend our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Specifically, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides, among other things, that:
• we shall either (1) seek stockholder approval of our initial business combination at a meeting called for such purpose at which stockholders may seek to redeem their shares, regardless of whether they vote for or against the proposed business combination or don’t vote at all, into their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable), or (2) provide our stockholders with the opportunity to sell their shares to us by means of a tender offer (and thereby avoid the need for a stockholder vote) for an amount equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable), in each case subject to the limitations described herein and in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation;
• we will consummate our initial business combination only if a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock voted are voted in favor of the business combination;
• if our initial business combination is not consummated by the Deadline or end of any Extension, then we will redeem all of the outstanding public shares and thereafter liquidate and dissolve our company;
• upon the consummation of this offering, $200,000,000, or $230,000,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full, shall be placed into the trust account;
• we may not consummate any other business combination, merger, stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar transaction prior to our initial business combination; and
• prior to our initial business combination, we may not issue additional stock that participates in any manner in the proceeds of the trust account, or that votes as a class with the common stock sold in this offering on an initial business combination.
Competition
In identifying, evaluating and selecting a target business, we may encounter intense competition from other entities having a business objective similar to ours. Many of these entities are well established and have extensive experience identifying and effecting business combinations directly or through affiliates. Many of these competitors possess greater technical, human and other resources than us and our financial resources will be relatively limited when contrasted with those of many of these competitors. While we believe there may be numerous potential target businesses that we could acquire with the net proceeds of this offering, our ability to compete in acquiring certain sizable target businesses may be limited by our available financial resources.
The following also may not be viewed favorably by certain target businesses:
• our obligation to seek stockholder approval of a business combination or engage in a tender offer may delay the completion of a transaction;
• our obligation to redeem or repurchase shares of common stock held by our public stockholders may reduce the resources available to us for a business combination; and
• our rights to one-tenth (1/10) of one share of common stock upon consummation of our initial business combination included within our units, and the potential future dilution they represent.
Any of these factors may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating a business combination. Our management believes, however, that our status as a public entity and potential access to the United States public equity markets may give us a competitive advantage over privately held entities having a similar business objective as ours in acquiring a target business with significant growth potential on favorable terms.
74
If we succeed in effecting a business combination, there will be, in all likelihood, intense competition from competitors of the target business, including from companies that may be subject to less stringent disclosure and other securities law requirements as the surviving company in our business combination and that therefore may have a competitive advantage. We cannot assure you that, subsequent to a business combination, we will have the resources or ability to compete effectively.
Facilities
We currently maintain our principal executive offices at 851 Broken Sound Parkway Nw Boca Raton, FL 33487. Our sponsor will provide us the use of this office space and certain administrative services in our search for a target business at no cost. We consider this office space adequate for our current operations.
Employees
We have two executive officers. These individuals are not obligated to devote any specific number of hours to our matters and intend to devote only as much time as they deem necessary to our affairs. The amount of time they will devote in any time period will vary based on whether a target business has been selected for the business combination and the stage of the business combination process the company is in. Accordingly, once a suitable target business has been located, management may spend more time investigating such target business and negotiating and processing the business combination (and consequently spend more time on our affairs) than had been spent prior to locating a suitable target business. We presently expect our executive officers to devote such amount of time as they reasonably believe is necessary to our business. We do not intend to have any full-time employees prior to the consummation of a business combination.
Periodic Reporting and Audited Financial Statements
We have registered our units, common stock and rights under the Exchange Act and have reporting obligations, including the requirement that we file annual, quarterly and current reports with the SEC. In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, our annual report will contain financial statements audited and reported on by our independent registered public accountants.
We will provide stockholders with audited financial statements of the prospective target business as part of any proxy solicitation materials or tender offer documents sent to stockholders to assist them in assessing the target business. These financial statements will need to be prepared in accordance with or reconciled to United States generally accepted accounting principles or international financial reporting standards as promulgated by the International Accounting Standards Board. We cannot assure you that any particular target business identified by us as a potential acquisition candidate will have the necessary financial statements. To the extent that this requirement cannot be met, we may not be able to acquire the proposed target business.
We may be required to have our internal control procedures audited for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. A target company may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding adequacy of their internal controls. The development of the internal controls of any such entity to achieve compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may increase the time and costs necessary to complete any such acquisition.
Legal Proceedings
There is no material litigation, arbitration or governmental proceeding currently pending against us or any members of our management team in their capacity as such, and we and the members of our management team have not been subject to any such proceeding in the 24 months preceding the date of this prospectus.
However, During the course of their careers, members of our management team and board of directors and advisors have had significant experience as founders, board members, officers, executives or employees of other companies. Certain of those persons have been, are currently or may in the future become involved in litigation, investigations or other proceedings, including relating to the business affairs of such companies, transactions entered into by such companies, or otherwise, including as follows.
75
On November 25, 2024, Valley National Bank (dba “Agile” Premium Finance) filed a federal contract lawsuit against 4 Beauty, Dr. Mendieta, and others in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida for misappropriation of funds loaned by Agile. Agile further alleged that Dr. Mendieta conspired with other defendants in a coordinated effort to obtain financing under false pretenses and aided and abetted in fraudulent activity. Agile sought compensatory and punitive damages exceeding $1.85 million. The case is currently ongoing.
Comparison to Offerings of Blank Check Companies Subject to Rule 419
The following table compares and contrasts the terms of our offering and the terms of an offering of blank check companies under Rule 419 promulgated by the SEC assuming that the gross proceeds, underwriting discounts and underwriting expenses for the Rule 419 offering are the same as this offering and that the underwriters will not exercise their over-allotment option. None of the terms of a Rule 419 offering will apply to this offering because we will have net tangible assets in excess of $5,000,000 upon the successful consummation of this offering and will file a Current Report on Form 8-K, including an audited balance sheet demonstrating this fact.
Terms of the Offering |
Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering |
|||
Escrow of offering proceeds |
$200,000,000 of the proceeds from this offering and the sale of the private units will be placed in a U.S.-based trust account with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee. |
$168,300,000 of the offering proceeds would be required to be deposited into either an escrow account with an insured depositary institution or in a separate bank account established by a broker-dealer in which the broker-dealer acts as trustee for persons having the beneficial interests in the account. |
||
Investment of net proceeds |
The $200,000,000 of the proceeds of this offering and the sale of the private units held in trust will, if such proceeds are invested at all, only be invested in United States “government securities” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act with 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. |
Proceeds could be invested only in specified securities such as a money market fund meeting conditions of the Investment Company Act or in securities that are direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed as to principal or interest by, the United States. |
||
Limitation on fair value or net assets of target business |
Our initial business combination must occur with one or more target businesses that together have a fair market value of at least 80% of the assets held in the trust account (excluding the deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable) at the time of the agreement to enter into the initial business combination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if we are not then listed on NASDAQ for whatever reason, we would no longer be required to meet the foregoing 80% fair market value test. |
We would be restricted from acquiring a target business unless the fair value of such business or net assets to be acquired represent at least 80% of the maximum offering proceeds. |
76
Terms of the Offering |
Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering |
|||
Trading of securities issued |
The units may commence trading on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. The shares of common stock and rights comprising the units will begin to trade separately on the 52nd day after the date of this prospectus unless Cantor informs us of its decision to allow earlier separate trading, provided we have filed with the SEC a Current Report on Form 8-K, which includes an audited balance sheet reflecting our receipt of the proceeds of this offering, including any proceeds we receive from the exercise of the over-allotment option, if such option is exercised prior to the initial filing of such Current Report on Form 8-K. If the over-allotment option is exercised after the initial filing of such Current Report on Form 8-K, we will file an amendment to the Form 8-K to provide updated financial information to reflect the exercise and consummation of the over-allotment option. We will also include in this Form 8-K, an amendment thereto, or in a subsequent Form 8-K, information indicating if Cantor has allowed separate trading of the shares of common stock and rights prior to the 52nd day after the date of this prospectus. The distributable right will be distributed upon successful completion of our initial business combination. |
No trading of the units or the underlying shares of common stock and rights would be permitted until the completion of a business combination. During this period, the securities would be held in the escrow or trust account. |
||
Election to remain an investor |
We will either (1) give our stockholders the opportunity to vote on the business combination or (2) provide our public stockholders with the opportunity to sell their shares of our common stock to us in a tender offer for cash equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, less taxes. If we hold a meeting to approve a proposed business combination, we will send each stockholder a proxy statement containing information required by the SEC. Alternatively, if |
A prospectus containing information required by the SEC would be sent to each investor. Each investor would be given the opportunity to notify the company, in writing, within a period of no less than 20 business days and no more than 45 business days from the effective date of the post-effective amendment, to decide whether he or she elects to remain a stockholder of the company or require the return of his or her investment. If the company has not received the notification by |
77
Terms of the Offering |
Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering |
|||
we do not hold a meeting and instead conduct a tender offer, we will conduct such tender offer in accordance with the tender offer rules of the SEC and file tender offer documents with the SEC which will contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination as we would have included in a proxy statement. |
The end of the 45th business day, funds and interest or dividends, if any, held in the trust or escrow account would automatically be returned to the stockholder. Unless a sufficient number of investors elect to remain investors, all of the deposited funds in the escrow account must be returned to all investors and none of the securities will be issued. |
|||
Business combination deadline |
Pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, if we are unable to complete our initial business combination within 24 months from the closing of this offering, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the outstanding public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including any interest not released to us but net of taxes payable, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidation distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of our remaining stockholders and our Board of Directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject (in the case of (ii) and (iii) above) to our obligations under Delaware law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. |
If an acquisition has not been consummated within 24 months after the effective date of the initial registration statement, funds held in the trust or escrow account would be returned to investors. |
78
Terms of the Offering |
Terms Under a Rule 419 Offering |
|||
Interest earned on the funds in the trust account |
There can be released to us, from time to time, any interest earned on the funds in the trust account that we may need to pay our tax obligations (excluding taxes payable pursuant to the IR Act). The remaining interest earned on the funds in the trust account will not be released until the earlier of the completion of a business combination and our liquidation upon failure to effect a business combination within the allotted time (in which case up to $100,000 of interest may be used for liquidation expenses). |
All interest earned on the funds in the trust account will be held in trust for the benefit of public stockholders until the earlier of the completion of a business combination and our liquidation upon failure to effect a business combination within the allotted time. |
||
Release of funds |
Except for any interest earned on the funds in the trust account released to us for our tax obligations as described above, the proceeds held in the trust account will not be released to us until the earlier of the completion of a business combination and our liquidation upon failure to effect a business combination within the allotted time. |
The proceeds held in the escrow account would not be released to the company until the earlier of the completion of a business combination or the failure to effect a business combination within the allotted time. |
79
Directors and Executive Officers
Our current directors and executive officers are as follows:
Name |
Age |
Title |
||
Jose Antonio Bengochea |
34 |
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman |
||
William Caragol |
58 |
Chief Financial Officer and Director |
||
Tarron Hecox |
34 |
Lead Independent Director Nominee |
||
Melissa Escobar |
56 |
Independent Director Nominee |
||
Dr. Constantino Mendieta |
61 |
Independent Director Nominee |
Jose Antonio Bengochea is our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. Mr. Bengochea has served as the Chief Executive Officer of and a director of Iron Horse I since November 2021, and has served as the managing member of Bengochea SPAC Sponsor I LLC, the sponsor of Iron Horse I since November 2021. Mr. Bengochea is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Bengochea Capital LLC (“Bengochea Capital”), an investment firm founded in 2020 to pursue frontier asset classes and, through Mr. Bengochea’s network of connections to various M&E industry executives and celebrities, to examine global opportunities in media and entertainment. Bengochea Capital has been a registered media entity with the Recording Academy for the 2023 Grammy Awards; is currently a registered media entity with the Recording Academy for the upcoming 2024 Grammy Awards; has been present at the Cannes Film Festival, among other prestigious events; and has access to several animation, family, and IP potential deal-flow, with a growing number of business touchpoints across Asia. Prior to founding Bengochea Capital, Mr. Bengochea was a part of Sony’s Global Business Development team in Los Angeles and, prior to that, served as a corporate attorney at the law firm of Jenner & Block in New York City. Mr. Bengochea holds an A.B. summa cum laude from Harvard University, where he designed his own degree, entitled Comparative Imperial History, and graduated with a secondary specialization in Archaeology. Mr. Bengochea also holds a J.D. degree from Harvard Law School and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
We believe that Mr. Bengochea will be an excellent candidate to serve as an officer of the Company due to his extensive M&E experience, having taken a SPAC from IPO to business combination in addition to his strong academic credentials.
William Caragol is our Chief Financial Officer and a director of the Company. Mr. Caragol has served as the Chief Financial Officer (since December 2024) and Chief Operating Officer of Iron Horse I since December 2023. Mr. Caragol has over thirty years of experience working with growth stage companies. In 2018, he founded and is the Managing Director of Quidem LLC, a corporate strategic and financial advisory firm. Since July 2021 he has been the Chief Financial Officer of Mainz Biomed N.V. (NASDAQ: MYNZ), a molecular genetics diagnostic company specializing in the early detection of cancer. Since July 2021, Mr. Caragol has served on the Board of Directors of Worksport Ltd. (NASDAQ: WKSP), a growth stage technology company, and sits on the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and the Corporate Governance Committee. Since July 2023, Mr. Caragol has served on the Board of Directors of DeFi Development Corp. (NASDAQ: DFDV), a real-estate software firm and Solana-focused treasury company, and sits on the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and the Corporate Governance Committee. From 2021 to 2023, Mr. Caragol served on the Board of Directors and was Chairman of the Audit Committee of Greenbox POS (NASDAQ: GBOX) a financial technology company leveraging proprietary blockchain security to build customized payment solutions. Mr. Caragol earned a B.S. in business administration and accounting from Washington & Lee University and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
We believe that Mr. Caragol will be an excellent candidate to serve as an officer and director of the Company due to his extensive financial experience including the most recent role as CFO and COO of Iron Horse I from inception as a SPAC through its business combination.
Tarron Hecox will serve as our lead independent director of the Company from the date of this prospectus. Mr. Hecox has ample public markets and operational experience. Since 2019, he has held various commercial roles at AGCO Corporation (NYSE: AGCO), a Fortune 500 company. Previously, Mr. Hecox worked with the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, William Blair & Company, and Parnassus Investments, and he also formerly co-founded Spartan Capital L.L.C. in 2017, a private fund formed to pursue technology opportunities. Mr. Hecox is also well versed in SPACs and entertainment through the private fund he co-founded in 2014, Limitless Strategies, LLC, which focuses on
80
creating value through public and private investments in media, entertainment, and AI. Mr. Hecox received his MBA from Harvard Business School in 2016; an undergraduate degree with highest distinction from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he studied economics, finance, and accounting; a master’s degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln; and has held a CPA designation. We believe that Mr. Hecox’s strong history of public markets experience, and his extensive experiences with corporate ventures, makes him an excellent candidate to serve as a director of the Company.
Ms. Melissa de Assis Escobar will serve as an independent director of the Company from the date of this prospectus. Ms. Escobar is an especially prominent global figure in entertainment, having been recognized as a pioneer in the development of Hispanic content and global talent. She co-founded Latin World Entertainment alongside actress Sofia Vergara and Luis Balaguer in 1994, and together leads Latin World Entertainment’s growth into a multicultural entertainment leader specializing in series, documentaries, films, and brand marketing, with an audience of over 900 million global followers through its network. Under Ms. Escobar’s leadership, Latin World Entertainment has won critical acclaim, having produced works such as Griselda for Netflix and Maradona: Sueño Bendito for Amazon Prime. In all, she has over 30 years of entertainment experience, having worked with top-tier companies such as Telemundo, Univision, Amazon, Netflix, YouTube/Google, Disney Buenavista, ABC and HBO Latino. Her team has marketed over 1,000 major Hollywood studio films to Hispanics, and promoted premier Spanish-language music tours for the largest live entertainment companies in the USA. We believe that Ms. Escobar will be an excellent candidate to serve as a director of the Company due to her prominence in the M&E industry and extensive global network.
Dr. Constantino Mendieta will serve as an independent director of the Company from the date of this prospectus. Dr. Mendieta is an avid global technology and entertainment investor as well as a leading, Board Certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon. Dr. Mendieta founded the 4Beauty Aesthetic Institute in 2002 and serves as founder and lead surgeon where he has appeared on NBC, CNN, as well as on several programs for his advancements in the surgical community, and the Consumer Research Council in America has named Dr. Mendieta one of America’s Top Surgeons five years in a row. In 2018, Dr. Mendieta also founded his family office, Mendieta Family Holdings LLC, which, in part, focuses on investments in media & entertainment assets, SPACs, and emerging technologies. He is also the doctor to several high-profile musicians, models, and celebrities. Dr. Mendieta holds a B.S. in Psychology from Creighton University, MD from Creighton University, has a Fellowship of Plastic Surgery from the Royal College Of Surgeon, Edinburgh, Scotland, performed plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital, Fellowship in Aesthetic Surgery, and a Clinical Fellow from Harvard Medical School. We believe that Mr. Mendieta will be an excellent candidate to serve as a director of the Company due to his familiarity with SPACs, investments in media and entertainment, and extensive celebrity network.
Strategic Advisors
We expect that our Strategic Advisors will assist our management team in search of suitable acquisition targets following the consummation of this offering. However, they have no written advisory agreement with us. Although all three Strategic Advisors were independent directors of Iron Horse I, they are not board members of this current company, have no fiduciary obligations to us, will not perform board or committee functions and will not have any voting or decision-making power. Accordingly, if any of our advisors becomes aware of a business combination which is suitable for any of the entities to which he has fiduciary or contractual obligations (including other blank check companies), he will honor his fiduciary or contractual obligations to present such business combination opportunity to such entity, and only present it to us if such entity rejects the opportunity. Nonetheless, we believe them to be powerful assets whose networks, experiences, and accolades make them value-enhancing additions to our team. They are as follows:
Ken Hertz will serve as a strategic advisor to the Company from the date of this prospectus, and has been serving since December 2023 as an Iron Horse I independent director and Chairman of Iron Horse I’s Executive Committee. Mr. Hertz is currently a director for JUST GOODS and has served as a Senior Partner in the Los Angeles law firm of Hertz Lichtenstein Young & Polk LLP since 2007. Mr. Hertz and his partners specialize in representing talent, senior executives, entrepreneurs, agencies, and brands in entertainment, fashion, sports, media, and technology industries. Prior to forming the firm, Mr. Hertz had been a partner in Hansen Jacobson & Teller, since 1989. Before that, he was global head of music — business and legal affairs — for The Walt Disney Company. He is also a principal in memBrain — an entertainment marketing and strategy consulting firm that advises a number of C-Suite executives on their company’s entertainment related marketing strategies. memBrain has worked with Intel, McDonald’s, Hasbro, MillerCoors, Li & Fung and Logitech. Mr. Hertz has also
81
been an active early-stage venture investor and advisor since 1997 and is a frequent speaker and commentator on the subjects of entertainment, marketing and convergence. He is often quoted in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and Wall Street Journal, has appeared on CNBC’s monthly newsmagazine “Business Nation,” has been an instructor at UCLA’s Anderson Graduate School of Management, Marshall School of Business, Stanford Business School, and an adjunct professor of law at USC. He graduated UCLA with a J.D. in 1984 and U.C. Berkeley in 1981 with a B.S.
Brian Turner will serve as a strategic advisor to the Company from the date of this prospectus. Mr. Turner has been serving since December 2023 as the Chairman of the board of directors of Iron Horse I and was formerly Chair of the Board of Microvision, Inc. (NASDAQ: MVIS), a public company in the lidar space. He has served on numerous public and private companies boards of directors as well. Mr. Turner was the Chief Financial Officer of Coinstar Inc. from 2003 until June 2009. Prior to Coinstar, from 2001 to 2003, he served as Senior Vice President of Operations, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer of Real Networks, Inc., a digital media and technology company. Prior to Real Networks, from 1999 to 2001, Mr. Turner was employed by Bsquare Corp., a software company, where he initially served as Senior Vice President of Operations, Chief Financial Officer, and Secretary, before being promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer. From 1995 to 1999, Mr. Turner was Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Administration of Radisys Corp., an embedded software company. Mr. Turner’s experience also includes 13 years at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP where he held several positions including Director of Corporate Finance. Mr. Turner was formerly Chairman of the Board of Microvision, Inc. (NASDAQ: MVIS), a public company in the lidar space, and is now Chair of the Audit Committee for MVIS. Mr. Turner has also been a director for several private companies. Mr. Turner holds a Bachelors of Business Administration in Accounting and a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science from the University of Washington.
Scott Morris, will serve as a strategic advisor to the Company. Mr. Morris was an Iron Horse I independent director and has been Chairman of Avista (NYSE: AVA) since 2008. Mr. Morris started his career at AVA in 1981. From 2008 to 2019, he served as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and served as Avista’s President from 2008 to 2018. Prior to that, Mr. Morris was also the company’s Chief Operating Officer. His experiences include management positions in multiple industries, including construction, customer service, and utilities. He is a graduate of Gonzaga University and received his master’s degree from Gonzaga University in organizational leadership. He also attended the Stanford Business School Financial Management Program and the Kidder Peabody School of Financial Management. Mr. Morris serves on the boards of McKinstry Inc. and California Water Service. He is also on the Board of Trustees of Gonzaga University. He has served on a number of Spokane nonprofit and economic development Boards.
Executive Compensation
No executive officer has received any cash compensation for services rendered to us. Our sponsor will provide us the use of their office space and certain administrative services in our search for a target business at no cost. Our sponsor, officers and directors, or any affiliate of our sponsor or officers, will be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with activities on our behalf such as identifying potential target businesses and performing due diligence on suitable business combinations. There is no limit on the amount of out-of-pocket expenses reimbursable by us; provided, however, that to the extent such expenses exceed the available proceeds not deposited in the trust account, such expenses would not be reimbursed by us unless we consummate an initial business combination. They may also receive repayment for any loans made by them to us for working capital needs or extending our time to consummate an initial business combination.
No other compensation of any kind, including any finder’s fee, reimbursement, consulting fee or monies in respect of any payment of a loan, will be paid by us to our sponsor, officers and directors, or any affiliate of our sponsor or officers, prior to, or in connection with any services rendered in order to effectuate the consummation of our initial business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is).
After our initial business combination, members of our management team who remain with us may be paid consulting, management or other fees from the combined company with any and all amounts being fully disclosed to stockholders, to the extent then known, in the proxy solicitation materials furnished to our stockholders. However, the amount of such compensation may not be known at the time of the stockholder meeting held to consider an initial business
82
combination, as it will be up to the directors of the post-combination business to determine executive and director compensation. In this event, such compensation will be publicly disclosed at the time of its determination in a Current Report on Form 8-K or a periodic report, as required by the SEC.
Director Independence
Currently Tarron Hecox, Melissa Escobar, and Dr. Constantino Mendieta would each be considered an “independent director” under NASDAQ listing rules, which is defined generally as a person other than an officer or employee of the company or its subsidiaries or any other individual having a relationship, which, in the opinion of the company’s board of directors would interfere with the director’s exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director.
Our independent directors will have regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present.
Any affiliated transactions will be on terms no less favorable to us than could be obtained from independent parties. Our Board of Directors will review and approve all affiliated transactions with any interested director abstaining from such review and approval.
Audit Committee
Effective upon the date of this prospectus, we will establish an audit committee of the board of directors, which will consist of Tarron Hecox, Dr. Constantino Mendieta, and Melissa Escobar, each of whom is an independent director under NASDAQ’s listing standards. Tarron Hecox will serve as chair of the audit committee. The audit committee’s duties, which are specified in our Audit Committee Charter, include, but are not limited to:
• reviewing and discussing with management and the independent auditor the annual audited financial statements, and recommending to the board whether the audited financial statements should be included in our Form 10-K;
• discussing with management and the independent auditor significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of our financial statements;
• discussing with management major risk assessment and risk management policies;
• monitoring the independence of the independent auditor;
• verifying the rotation of the lead (or coordinating) audit partner having primary responsibility for the audit and the audit partner responsible for reviewing the audit as required by law;
• reviewing and approving all related-party transactions;
• inquiring and discussing with management our compliance with applicable laws and regulations;
• pre-approving all audit services and permitted non-audit services to be performed by our independent auditor, including the fees and terms of the services to be performed;
• appointing or replacing the independent auditor;
• determining the compensation and oversight of the work of the independent auditor (including resolution of disagreements between management and the independent auditor regarding financial reporting) for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or related work;
• establishing procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by us regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or reports which raise material issues regarding our financial statements or accounting policies; and
• approving reimbursement of expenses incurred by our management team in identifying potential target businesses.
83
Financial Experts on Audit Committee
The audit committee will at all times be composed exclusively of “independent directors” who are “financially literate” as defined under NASDAQ’s listing standards. NASDAQ’s standards define “financially literate” as being able to read and understand fundamental financial statements, including a company’s balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement.
In addition, we must certify to NASDAQ that the committee has, and will continue to have, at least one member who has past employment experience in finance or accounting, requisite professional certification in accounting, or other comparable experience or background that results in the individual’s financial sophistication. The Board of Directors has determined that Tarron Hecox qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert,” as defined under rules and regulations of the SEC.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
Effective upon the date of this prospectus, we will establish a nominating and corporate governance committee of the board of directors. The members of our nominating and corporate governance will be Tarron Hecox, Dr. Constantino Mendieta, and Melissa Escobar. Tarron Hecox will serve as chair of the nominating and corporate governance committee.
The primary purposes of our nominating and corporate governance committee will be to assist the board in:
• identifying, screening and reviewing individuals qualified to serve as directors and recommending to the board of directors candidates for nomination for election at the annual meeting of stockholders or to fill vacancies on the board of directors;
• developing, recommending to the board of directors and overseeing implementation of our corporate governance guidelines;
• coordinating and overseeing the annual self-evaluation of the board of directors, its committees, individual directors and management in the governance of the company; and
• reviewing on a regular basis our overall corporate governance and recommending improvements as and when necessary.
The nominating and corporate governance committee will be governed by a charter that complies with the rules of NASDAQ.
Guidelines for Selecting Director Nominees
The guidelines for selecting nominees, which are specified in the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee charter, generally provide that person to be nominated:
• should have demonstrated notable or significant achievements in business, education or public service;
• should possess the requisite intelligence, education and experience to make a significant contribution to the board of directors and bring a range of skills, diverse perspectives and backgrounds to its deliberations; and
• should have the highest ethical standards, a strong sense of professionalism and intense dedication to serving the interests of the stockholders.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider a number of qualifications relating to management and leadership experience, background and integrity and professionalism in evaluating a person’s candidacy for membership on the board of directors. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may require certain skills or attributes, such as financial or accounting experience, to meet specific board needs that arise from time to time and will also consider the overall experience and makeup of its members to obtain a broad and diverse mix of board members. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee does not distinguish among nominees recommended by stockholders and other persons.
84
Compensation Committee
Effective upon the date of this prospectus, we will establish a compensation committee of the board of directors, which will consist of Tarron Hecox, Dr. Constantino Mendieta, and Melissa Escobar, each of whom is an independent director under NASDAQ’s listing standards. Melissa Escobar will serve as chair of the compensation committee. The compensation committee’s duties, which are specified in our Compensation Committee Charter, include, but are not limited to:
• reviewing and approving on an annual basis the corporate goals and objectives relevant to our Chief Executive Officer’s compensation, evaluating our Chief Executive Officer’s performance in light of such goals and objectives and determining and approving the remuneration (if any) of our Chief Executive Officer based on such evaluation;
• reviewing and approving the compensation of all of our other executive officers;
• reviewing our executive compensation policies and plans;
• implementing and administering our incentive compensation equity-based remuneration plans;
• assisting management in complying with our proxy statement and annual report disclosure requirements;
• approving all special perquisites, special cash payments and other special compensation and benefit arrangements for our executive officers and employees;
• if required, producing a report on executive compensation to be included in our annual proxy statement; and
• reviewing, evaluating and recommending changes, if appropriate, to the remuneration for directors.
Code of Ethics
Effective upon the date of this prospectus, we will adopt a code of ethics that applies to all of our executive officers, directors and employees. The code of ethics will codify the business and ethical principles that govern all aspects of our business.
Conflicts of Interest
In general, officers and directors of a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware are required to present business opportunities to a corporation if:
• the corporation could financially undertake the opportunity;
• the opportunity is within the corporation’s line of business; and
• it would not be fair to the corporation and its stockholders for the opportunity not to be brought to the attention of the corporation.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that:
• except as may be prescribed by any written agreement with us, we renounce our interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any director or officer unless such opportunity is expressly offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company and such opportunity is one we are legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for us to pursue; and
• our officers and directors will not be liable to our company or our stockholders for monetary damages for breach of any fiduciary duty by reason of any of our activities to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law.
Our officers and directors are, and may in the future become, affiliated with other companies. In order to minimize potential conflicts of interest which may arise from such other corporate affiliations, each of our officers and directors has contractually agreed, pursuant to a written agreement with us, until the earliest of our execution of a definitive agreement for a business combination, our liquidation or such time as he or she ceases to be an officer or director, to
85
present to our company for our consideration, prior to presentation to any other entity, any suitable business opportunity which may reasonably be required to be presented to us, subject to any fiduciary or contractual obligations he or she might have. The foregoing agreement does not restrict our officers from becoming affiliated with other companies in the future which could take priority over our company; however, we believe that such agreement still benefits us because our officers and directors are obligated to present suitable business opportunities to us to the extent that none of their other fiduciary or contractual obligations require them to present it to another entity.
The following table summarizes the pre-existing fiduciary or contractual obligations of our officers and directors:
Name of Individual(s) |
Name of Affiliated Company |
Position at Affiliated Company |
||
Jose Antonio Bengochea |
Bengochea Capital, LLC Bengochea SPAC Sponsors II LLC Iron Horse I |
CEO Founder Managing Member CEO, Director |
||
William J. Caragol, Jr |
Quidem LLC Mainz Biomed N.V. DeFi Development Corp. Worksport Ltd. Iron Horse I |
Managing Director CFO Director Director CFO and COO |
||
Melissa Escobar |
Latin World Entertainment |
Co-Founder |
||
Dr. Constantino Mendieta |
Mendieta Family Holdings LLC |
Founder |
||
Tarron Hecox |
AGCO Corporation Limitless Strategies LLC |
Employee Co-Founder |
While the foregoing may limit the pool of potential business combination candidates, we do not believe that this limitation will be material.
Prior SPAC Experience
Iron Horse Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: “IROH”) Several members of our management team and advisors served as an officer or director of Iron Horse I, a special purpose acquisition company. Mr. Bengochea, our CEO served as the CEO and a director of Iron Horse I, and Mr. Caragol, our CFO, served as both CFO and COO of Iron Horse I. Mr. Hertz, Mr. Turner and Mr. Morris, our financial advisors, all serve as independent directors on the board of directors of Iron Horse I. Iron Horse I closed its IPO on December 29, 2023 after its registration statement was declared effective on December 27, 2023. In September 2024, Iron Horse I entered into a business combination agreement (the “Business Combination Agreement”), dated as of September 27, 2024, with Rosey Sea Holdings Limited, a company incorporated and existing under the laws of the British Virgin Islands (“Seller”) and the owner of 100% of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Zhong Guo Liang Tou Group Limited, a company incorporated and existing under the laws of the British Virgin Islands (the “Target”).The share price of IROH as listed on May [*], 2025 was $___. Iron Horse I has until June 29, 2025 to complete its business combination unless such time is extended by a vote of its stockholders at a special meeting convened to extend the time to complete a business combination.
Investors should also be aware of the following additional potential conflicts of interest:
• None of our officers and directors is required to commit their full time to our affairs and, accordingly, they may have conflicts of interest in allocating their time among various business activities.
• Unless we consummate our initial business combination, our officers, directors and initial stockholders will not receive reimbursement or repayment for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them, or loans made to us, to the extent that such expenses exceed the amount of available proceeds not deposited in the trust account.
86
• The Founders Shares beneficially owned by our initial stockholders, and the private units purchased by our initial stockholders, and any units which our officers or directors may purchase in the aftermarket will expire worthless if a business combination is not consummated. This is because our officers and directors and affiliates will not receive liquidation distributions from the trust account with respect to any of the Founders Shares or private units.
For the foregoing reasons, our Board may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is appropriate to effect a business combination with.
To further minimize conflicts of interest, we have agreed not to consummate an initial business combination with an entity that is affiliated with any of our officers, directors or initial stockholders unless we have obtained an opinion from an independent investment banking firm, or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions, that the business combination is fair to our unaffiliated stockholders from a financial point of view. We will also need to obtain the approval of a majority of our disinterested independent directors. Furthermore, in no event will any of our initial stockholders, members of our management team or their respective affiliates be paid any compensation prior to, or for any services they render in order to effectuate, the consummation of an initial business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is) other than repayment of the $300,000 loan from our sponsor and reimbursement of any out-of-pocket expenses. Our sponsor will also provide us the use of their office space and certain administrative services in our search for a target business at no cost.
In addition, our sponsor and our officers and directors may sponsor or form other special purpose acquisition companies similar to ours or may pursue other business or investment ventures during the period in which we are seeking an initial business combination. As a result, our sponsor, officers and directors could have conflicts of interest in determining whether to present business combination opportunities to us or to any other special purpose acquisition company with which they may become involved. Any such companies, businesses or investments may present additional conflicts of interest in pursuing an initial business combination target. However, based on the fact that there may be substantial overlap between any such companies, businesses or investments that would be a suitable business combination for us, and because we may consummate a business combination with a target in a broad array of industries, we do not believe that any such potential conflicts would materially affect our ability to complete our initial business combination. Potential investors should also be aware of the following other potential conflicts of interest:
• Our officers and directors are not required to, and will not, commit their full time to our affairs, which may result in a conflict of interest in allocating their time between our operations and our search for a business combination and their other businesses. We do not intend to have any full-time employees prior to the completion of our initial business combination. Each of our officers is engaged in several other business endeavors for which he may be entitled to substantial compensation, and our officers are not obligated to contribute any specific number of hours per week to our affairs.
• Our initial stockholders purchased founder shares prior to the date of this prospectus and will purchase private units in a transaction that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. Our sponsor, officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with us, pursuant to which they have agreed to waive their redemption rights with respect to their founder shares, private shares and public shares in connection with the completion of our initial business combination. Additionally, our sponsor, officers and directors have agreed to waive their rights to liquidating distributions from the trust account with respect to their founder shares and private shares if we fail to complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame, although they will be entitled to liquidating distributions from assets outside the trust account. If we do not complete our initial business combination within the prescribed time frame, the private units will be worthless. Furthermore, our sponsor, officers and directors have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of their founder shares and any shares of common stock issuable upon exercise thereof until the earlier to occur of: (i) six months after the completion of our initial business combination or (ii) the date following the completion of our initial business combination on which we complete a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of our stockholders having the right to exchange their shares for cash, securities or other property. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the closing price of our shares of common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share sub-divisions, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period after our initial business combination, the founder shares will be released from the lockup. The private units (including the shares issuable upon exercise of the private units) will
87
not be transferable until 30 days following the completion of our initial business combination. Because each of our officers and director nominees will own shares or rights directly or indirectly, they may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination.
Our sponsor and members of our management team will directly or indirectly own our securities following this offering, and accordingly, they may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination, including the fact that they may lose their entire investment in us if our initial business combination is not completed, except to the extent they receive liquidating distributions from assets outside the trust account. Upon the closing of this offering, our sponsor will have invested in us an aggregate of $3,725,000, comprised of the $25,000 purchase price for the founder shares (or approximately $0.004 per share) and the $3,700,000 purchase price for the private units (or $10.00 per private unit). Accordingly, our management team may be more willing to pursue a business combination with a riskier or less-established target business than would be the case if our sponsor had paid the same per share price for the founder shares as our public stockholders paid for their public shares, as our sponsor and members of our management team would likely not receive any financial benefit unless we consummated such business combination. These interests of our executive officers and directors may affect the consideration paid, terms, conditions and timing relating to a business combination in a way that conflicts with the interests of our public stockholders.
• Certain members of our management team may receive compensation upon consummation of our initial business combination, and accordingly, they may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination as such compensation will not be received unless we consummate such business combination.
• Our officers and directors may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination if the retention or resignation of any such officers and directors was included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination.
• In the event our sponsor or members of our management team provide loans to us to finance transaction costs and/or incur expenses on our behalf in connection with an initial business combination, such persons may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination as such loans may not be repaid and/or such expenses may not be reimbursed unless we consummate such business combination.
• Similarly, if we agree to pay our sponsor, or a member of our management team or one of their affiliates a finder’s fee, advisory fee, consulting fee or success fee in order to effectuate the completion of our initial business combination, such persons may have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is an appropriate business with which to effectuate our initial business combination as any such fee may not be paid unless we consummate such business combination, which, if made prior to the completion of our initial business combination, will be paid from permitted withdrawals.
88
Assuming no liquidation, merger, stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction takes place, lock-ups on securities owned by our initial stockholder would expire as follows:
Founder Shares |
Private Units |
|
6 months after the completion of our initial business combination |
30 days after the completion of our initial business combination |
|
Any permitted transferees will be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements of our initial stockholders with respect to any founder shares, which we refer to as the lock-up. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (1) the closing price of our common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock sub-divisions, stock capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing after our initial business combination or (2) if we consummate a transaction after our initial business combination which results in our stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property, the founder shares will be released from the lock-up. |
Any permitted transferees will be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements of our initial stockholders with respect to any founder shares, which we refer to as the lock-up. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (1) the closing price of our common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock sub-divisions, stock capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing after our initial business combination or (2) if we consummate a transaction after our initial business combination which results in our stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property, the securities included in the private units will be released from the lock-up. |
• Our officers and directors may have a conflict of interest with respect to evaluating a particular business combination if the retention or resignation of any such officers and directors was included by a target business as a condition to any agreement with respect to our initial business combination.
89
The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our shares of common stock as of the date of this prospectus and as adjusted to reflect the sale of our shares of common stock included in the units offered by this prospectus (assuming none of the individuals listed purchase units in this offering), by:
• each person known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding shares of common stock;
• each of our officers and directors; and
• all of our officers and directors as a group.
Unless otherwise indicated, we believe that all persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock beneficially owned by them. The following table does not reflect record of beneficial ownership of the rights included in the units offered by this prospectus or the private units as they will not be issued within 60 days of the date of this prospectus.
Prior to Offering |
After Offering(2) |
|||||||||
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner |
Amount and |
Approximate |
Amount and |
Approximate |
||||||
Bengochea SPAC Sponsors II LLC(1) |
5,750,000 |
100 |
% |
5,370,000 |
21.1 |
% |
||||
Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. |
|
200,000 |
0.01 |
% |
||||||
|
5,570,000 |
|
____________
* Less than one percent.
(1) Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each of the following is c/o Bengochea SPAC Sponsors II LLC. Mr. Bengochea is the managing member, and has dispositive voting rights on the shares of common stock held at _____________.
(2) Interests shown consist of founder shares and shares of common stock included in the private units, without the exercise of the over-allotment option.
Immediately after this offering, our initial stockholders will beneficially own approximately 20% of the then issued and outstanding shares of common stock (assuming they do not purchase any units offered by this prospectus and not including the private units or any component securities). None of our officers, directors and initial stockholders has indicated to us that it or they intend to purchase our securities in the offering. Because of the ownership block held by our officers, directors and initial stockholders, such individuals may be able to effectively exercise influence over all matters requiring approval by our stockholders, including the election of directors and approval of significant corporate transactions other than approval of our initial business combination.
If the underwriters do not exercise all or a portion of the over-allotment option, an aggregate of 750,000 founders shares will be forfeited. Only a number of shares necessary to maintain the 20% ownership interest in our shares of common stock after giving effect to the offering and the exercise, if any, of the underwriters’ over-allotment option (assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering) will be necessary.
All of the founders shares have transfer restrictions until the earlier of 180 days after the date of the consummation of our initial business combination, or earlier if, subsequent to our initial business combination, we consummate a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of our stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property. Up to 750,000 of the Founders Shares may be forfeited if the over-allotment option is not exercised in full as described above.
The holders of these shares will not be able transfer, assign or sell any founder shares until the earlier to occur of (A) 180 days after the completion of our initial business combination or (B) subsequent to our initial business combination, (x) if the last sale price of our shares of common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share sub-divisions, share dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing after our initial business combination, or (y) the date on which we complete a liquidation, merger, stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of our stockholders
90
having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property (except with respect to permitted transferees as described in the section of this prospectus entitled “Principal Stockholders — Restrictions on Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Units”).
Our sponsor, Bengochea SPAC Sponsors II LLC and Cantor, and/or their respective designees will purchase from us an aggregate of 570,000 private units (for a total purchase price of $5,700,000) from us. These purchases will take place on a private placement basis simultaneously with the consummation of this offering. The private units are identical to the public units sold in this offering. The initial purchasers have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the private units and underlying securities (except in connection with the same limited exceptions that the Founders Shares may be transferred as described above) until after the completion of our initial business combination. In the event of a liquidation prior to our initial business combination, the private units will likely be worthless.
SPONSOR OWNERSHIP
The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of interests in Bengochea SPAC Sponsors II LLC, our sponsor, by each person known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of its membership interests;
Before Offering |
After Offering |
||||||||||
Name of Beneficial Owner |
Number of |
Approximate |
Number of |
Approximate |
|||||||
Bengochea SPAC Sponsors II LLC* |
5,750,000 |
100 |
% |
5,000,000 |
** |
20 |
% |
||||
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
|
____________
* Mr. Bengochea is the managing member of the sponsor and directs its day to day operations.
** Assumes the over-allotment option is not exercised
Except as indicated above, there is no person that has a direct or indirect material interest in the sponsor.
In order to meet our working capital needs following the consummation of this offering, our initial stockholders, officers, directors and their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds, on a non-interest bearing basis, from time to time or at any time, in whatever amount they deem reasonable in their sole discretion. Each loan would be evidenced by a promissory note. The notes would either be paid upon consummation of our initial business combination, without interest, or, at the holder’s discretion, if there are excess funds, on the date on which the Company concludes the initial public offering of its securities. In the event that the initial business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts, but no proceeds from our trust account would be used for such repayment.
Our executive officers are our “promoters,” as that term is defined under the federal securities laws.
Private Units
Our sponsor and the representative of the underwriters, have committed, pursuant to written agreements, to purchase an aggregate of 570,000 private units (570,000 if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), at a price of $10.00 per private unit, or $5,700,000 in the aggregate, in a private placement that will occur simultaneously with the closing of this offering. The non-managing sponsor investors have indicated an interest to indirectly purchase, through the purchase of non-managing sponsor membership interests, an aggregate of 315,000 private units at a price of $10.00 per private unit ($3,150,000 in the aggregate) in a private placement that will close simultaneously with the closing of this offering. Subject to each non-managing sponsor investor purchasing, through the sponsor, the private units allocated to it in connection with the closing of this offering, the sponsor will issue membership interests at a nominal purchase price to the non-managing sponsor investors reflecting interests in an aggregate of 2,520,000 founder shares held by the sponsor.
91
As a result, the number of private units purchased by the non-managing sponsor investors through the sponsor, if any, will proportionally reduce the number of private units that would otherwise be purchased by the managing member of the sponsor through the sponsor.
The private units will be identical to the units sold in this offering except that, so long as they are held by our sponsor or its permitted transferees, the private units (i) may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, be transferred, assigned or sold by the holders until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination, (ii) will be entitled to registration rights and (iii) with respect to private units held by the underwriter and/or its designees, will not be exercisable more than five years from the commencement of sales in this offering in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(8). If we do not complete our initial business combination by the Deadline, the private units will be worthless. The private units are subject to the transfer restrictions described below. Our sponsor, and our officers and directors are deemed to be our “promoters” as such term is defined under the federal securities laws.
Restrictions on Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Units
The founder shares and private units and any shares of common stock issued upon conversion thereof are each subject to transfer restrictions pursuant to lock-up provisions in the agreements entered into by our sponsor and management team. Those lock-up provisions provide that such securities are not transferable or saleable (i) in the case of the founder shares and (ii) in the case of the private units and any shares issuable upon conversion or exercise thereof, as follows:
Founder Shares |
Private Units |
|
until the earlier of (A) 6 months after the completion of our initial business combination. Any permitted transferees will be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements of our initial stockholders with respect to any founder shares, which we refer to as the lock-up. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (1) the closing price of our common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock sub-divisions, stock capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing after our initial business combination or (2) if we consummate a transaction after our initial business combination which results in our stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property, the founder shares will be released from the lock-up. |
until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination. Any permitted transferees will be subject to the same restrictions and other agreements of our initial stockholders with respect to any founder shares, which we refer to as the lock-up. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (1) the closing price of our common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock sub-divisions, stock capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing after our initial business combination or (2) if we consummate a transaction after our initial business combination which results in our stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property, the securities included in the private units will be released from the lock-up. |
Our sponsor, officers and directors agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any founder shares until the earlier to occur of (A) 180 days after the completion of our initial business combination or (B) subsequent to our initial business combination, (x) if the last sale price of our shares of common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share sub-divisions, share dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing after our initial business combination, or (y) the date on which we complete a liquidation, merger, stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of our stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property (except with respect to permitted transferees as described in the section of this prospectus entitled “Principal Stockholders — Restrictions on Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Units”). The private units and the units that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans (including the underlying securities) will not be transferable, assignable or saleable by our sponsor (as applicable) or their permitted transferees until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination (except with respect to permitted transferees as described herein under the section of this prospectus entitled “Principal Stockholders — Restrictions on Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Units”).
Lock-up Agreement with Underwriter
We, our sponsor and our executive officers and directors have agreed that, for a period of 180 days from the date of this prospectus, we and they will not, without the prior written consent of the representative, offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right
92
or warrant to purchase, lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any units, warrants, shares of common stock or any other securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, any units, shares of common stock, founder shares or rights, subject to certain exceptions. The representative in its sole discretion may release any of the securities subject to these lock-up agreements at any time without notice, other than in the case of the officers and directors, which shall be with notice. Our sponsor, officers and directors are also subject to separate transfer restrictions on their founder shares and private units pursuant to the letter agreement described herein.
Our sponsor, officers and directors agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any founder shares until the earlier to occur of (A) 180 days after the completion of our initial business combination or (B) subsequent to our initial business combination, (x) if the last sale price of our shares of common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share sub-divisions, share dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing after our initial business combination, or (y) the date on which we complete a liquidation, merger, stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of our stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property (except with respect to permitted transferees as described in the section of this prospectus entitled “Principal Stockholders — Restrictions on Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Units”). The private units and the units that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans (including the underlying securities) will not be transferable, assignable or saleable by our sponsor (as applicable) or their permitted transferees until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination (except with respect to permitted transferees as described herein under the section of this prospectus entitled “Principal Stockholders — Restrictions on Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Units”).
Except in certain limited circumstances, no member of the sponsor (including the non-managing sponsor investors) may transfer all or any portion of its membership interests in the sponsor. For more information, see “Principal Stockholders — Restrictions on Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Units”.
Non-Managing Sponsor Investors’ Membership Interest Units In The Sponsor
The non-managing sponsor investors may not sell, transfer, assign, pledge, mortgage, charge, hypothecate, exchange or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, all or any portion of their units in the sponsor without the prior written consent of the managing member of the sponsor, unless it’s a permitted transfer as permitted to such non-managing sponsor investors’ affiliates (which affiliates shall include any non-managing sponsor investors’ owners of an equity interest, direct investors, members, or limited partners, as the case may be), immediate family, or to a trust, the primary beneficiary(ies) of which is a member or members of such non-managing sponsor investors’ immediate family; provided that such recipient shall be required to become a non-managing sponsor investor in the sponsor.
Registration Rights
The holders of the (i) founder shares, which were issued in a private placement prior to the closing of this offering, (ii) private units which will be issued in a private placement simultaneously with the closing of this offering and the shares underlying such private units, including those to be issued upon conversion of the rights, and (iii) private units that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans will have registration rights to require us to register a sale of any of our securities held by them and any other securities of the company acquired by them prior to the consummation of our initial business combination pursuant to a registration rights agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of this offering. Pursuant to the registration rights agreement and assuming the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full, we will be obligated to register up to 6,377,000 shares of common stock. The number of shares of common stock includes (i) up to 5,750,000 founder shares, (ii) 570,000 shares underlying the private units, and 57,000 underlying the rights included in the private units (if the underwriter exercises the over-allotment option in full). The holders of these securities are entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form demands, that we register such securities. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to our completion of our initial business combination. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the underwriter may only make a demand on one occasion and only during the five-year period beginning on the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. In addition, the underwriter may participate in a “piggy-back” registration only during the seven-year period beginning on the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
93
In November 2024, we issued 12,321,429 shares of common stock to Bengochea SPAC Sponsors II LLC, for $25,000 in cash, in connection with our organization. On May 8, 2025, the Sponsor forfeited 6,571,429 Founder Shares leaving 5,750,000 Founder Shares for no consideration, and equating to approximately $0.004 per share. Bengochea SPAC Sponsors II LLC shall subsequently transfer, on consummation of this offering, certain of such shares to our officers, directors and other individuals at the same price originally paid for such shares. If the underwriters do not exercise all or a portion of their over-allotment option, our initial stockholders will forfeit up to an aggregate of 750,000 shares of common stock in proportion to the portion of the over-allotment option that was not exercised.
If the underwriters determine the size of the offering should be increased (including pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act) or decreased, a share dividend or a contribution back to capital, as applicable, would be effectuated in order to maintain our initial stockholders’ ownership at a percentage of the number of shares to be sold in this offering.
Our sponsor and Cantor have committed that they and/or their respective designees will purchase, pursuant to a written subscription agreement with us, the 570,000 private units (for a total purchase price of $5,700,000) from us. This purchase will take place on a private placement basis simultaneously with the consummation of this offering. The purchasers have agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the private units and underlying securities (except to certain permitted transferees) until after the completion of our initial business combination. In the event of a liquidation prior to our initial business combination, the private units will likely be worthless.
In order to meet our working capital needs following the consummation of this offering, our initial stockholders, officers and directors or their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan us funds, on a non-interest bearing basis, from time to time or at any time, in whatever amount they deem reasonable in their sole discretion. Each loan would be evidenced by a promissory note. The notes would either be paid upon consummation of our initial business combination, without interest, or, at holder’s discretion, if there are excess proceeds, upon the close of this initial public offering. In the event that the initial business combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the trust account to repay such loaned amounts, but no proceeds from our trust account would be used for such repayment.
The holders of our Founders Shares issued and outstanding on the date of this prospectus, as well as the holders of the private units our initial stockholders, officers, directors or their affiliates may be issued in payment of working capital loans made to us (and all underlying securities), will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to an agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of this offering. The holders of a majority of these securities are entitled to make up to two demands that we register such securities. The holders of a majority of the private units issued in payment of working capital loans made to us (or underlying securities) can elect to exercise these registration rights at any time after we consummate a business combination. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to our consummation of a business combination. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, Cantor may only make a demand on one occasion and only during the five-year period beginning on the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. In addition, Cantor may participate in a “piggy-back” registration only during the seven-year period beginning on the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
Prior to the closing of this offering, our sponsor has agreed to loan us up to $300,000 to be used for a portion of the expenses of the offering. As of February 28, 2025, we had borrowed $157,101 (of up to $300,000 available to us) under the promissory note with our sponsor, which was used to pay a portion of the expenses of this offering referenced in the line items above for SEC registration fee, FINRA filing fee, any non-refundable portion of the NASDAQ listing fee not covered by Cantor, a portion of the legal and audit fees and other offering expenses. This loan is non-interest bearing, unsecured and repayable upon the earlier of (a) the date on which the SPAC consummates its initial business combination or, at the holder’s discretion, if funds allow, or (b) the date on which the Company concludes the initial public offering of its securities. The principal balance may be prepaid at any time. Our sponsor will provide us the use of their office space and certain administrative services in our search for a target business at no cost.
We will enter into agreements with our officers and directors to provide contractual indemnification in addition to the indemnification provided for in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.
94
Other than the foregoing payments, no compensation or fees of any kind will be paid to our initial stockholders, members of our management team or their respective affiliates, for services rendered prior to or in connection with the consummation of our initial business combination (regardless of the type of transaction that it is). However, such individuals will receive reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with activities on our behalf, such as identifying potential target businesses, performing business due diligence on suitable target businesses and business combinations as well as traveling to and from the offices, plants or similar locations of prospective target businesses to examine their operations. There is no limit on the amount of out-of-pocket expenses reimbursable by us; provided, however, that to the extent such expenses exceed the available proceeds not deposited in the trust account, such expenses would not be reimbursed by us unless we consummate an initial business combination.
After our initial business combination, members of our management team who remain with us may be paid consulting, management or other fees from the combined company with any and all amounts being fully disclosed to stockholders, to the extent then known, in the proxy solicitation materials furnished to our stockholders. However, the amount of such compensation may not be known at the time of the stockholder meeting held to consider an initial business combination, as it will be up to the directors of the post-combination business to determine executive and director compensation. In this event, such compensation will be publicly disclosed at the time of its determination in a Current Report on Form 8-K or a periodic report, as required by the SEC.
All ongoing and future transactions between us and any of our officers and directors or their respective affiliates will be on terms believed by us to be no less favorable to us than are available from unaffiliated third parties. Such transactions will require prior approval by a majority of our uninterested “independent” directors or the members of our board who do not have an interest in the transaction, in either case who had access, at our expense, to our attorneys or independent legal counsel. We will not enter into any such transaction unless our disinterested “independent” directors determine that the terms of such transaction are no less favorable to us than those that would be available to us with respect to such a transaction from unaffiliated third parties.
Related Party Policy
Our Code of Ethics requires us to avoid, wherever possible, all related party transactions that could result in actual or potential conflicts of interests, except under guidelines approved by the Board of Directors (or the audit committee). Related-party transactions are defined as transactions in which (1) the aggregate amount involved will or may be expected to exceed $120,000 in any calendar year, (2) we or any of our subsidiaries is a participant, and (3) any (a) executive officer, director or nominee for election as a director, (b) greater than 5% beneficial owner of our shares of common stock, or (c) immediate family member, of the persons referred to in clauses (a) and (b), has or will have a direct or indirect material interest (other than solely as a result of being a director or a less than 10% beneficial owner of another entity). A conflict of interest situation can arise when a person takes actions or has interests that may make it difficult to perform his or her work objectively and effectively. Conflicts of interest may also arise if a person, or a member of his or her family, receives improper personal benefits as a result of his or her position.
Our audit committee, pursuant to its written charter, will be responsible for reviewing and approving related-party transactions to the extent we enter into such transactions. The audit committee will consider all relevant factors when determining whether to approve a related party transaction, including whether the related party transaction is on terms no less favorable to us than terms generally available from an unaffiliated third-party under the same or similar circumstances and the extent of the related party’s interest in the transaction. No director may participate in the approval of any transaction in which he or she is a related party, but that director is required to provide the audit committee with all material information concerning the transaction. We also require each of our directors and executive officers to complete a directors’ and officers’ questionnaire that elicits information about related party transactions.
These procedures are intended to determine whether any such related party transaction impairs the independence of a director or presents a conflict of interest on the part of a director, employee or officer.
To further minimize conflicts of interest, we have agreed not to consummate an initial business combination with an entity that is affiliated with any of our initial stockholders, officers or directors unless we have obtained an opinion from an independent investment banking firm, or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions, that the business combination is fair to our unaffiliated stockholders from a financial point of view. We will also need
95
to obtain approval of a majority of our disinterested independent directors. However, the following payments will be made to our sponsor, officers or directors, or our or their affiliates, none of which will be made from the proceeds of this offering held in the trust account prior to the completion of our initial business combination:
• Repayment of up to an aggregate of $300,000 in loans made to us by our sponsor to cover offering-related and organizational expenses;
• Our sponsor will provide us the use of their office space and certain administrative services in our search for a target business at no cost;
• Reimbursement for any out-of-pocket expenses related to identifying, investigating and completing an initial business combination;
• Repayment of non-interest-bearing extension loans which may be made by our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of our officers and directors to extend the time we have to consummate an intended initial business combination. Such loans may be convertible into units, at a price of $10.00 per private unit, at the option of the lender. The units would be identical to the private units; and
• Repayment of non-interest bearing loans which may be made by our sponsor or an affiliate of our sponsor or certain of our officers and directors to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended initial business combination, the terms of which have not been determined nor have any written agreements been executed with respect thereto.
Our audit committee will review on a quarterly basis all payments that were made to our sponsor, officers or directors, or our or their affiliates.
96
General
As of the date of this prospectus, we will be authorized to issue 50,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001, and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001. As of the date of this prospectus, 5,750,000 shares of common stock are outstanding. No shares of preferred stock are currently outstanding. The following description summarizes the material terms of our securities. Because it is only a summary, it may not contain all the information that is important to you. For a complete description you should refer to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, bylaws and the form of rights agreement, which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and to the applicable provisions of Delaware law.
Units
Each unit consists of one share of common stock and one-tenth (1/10) of one right. Each right entitles the holder to receive one-tenth (1/10) of one share of common stock upon consummation of our initial business combination.
We will file a Current Report on Form 8-K which includes an audited balance sheet promptly upon the consummation of this offering. The audited balance sheet will reflect proceeds we receive from the exercise of the over-allotment option, if the over-allotment option is exercised on the date of this prospectus. If the over-allotment option is exercised after the date of this prospectus, we will file an amendment to the Form 8-K to provide updated financial information to reflect the exercise of the over-allotment option. We will also include in this Form 8-K, an amendment thereto, or in a subsequent Form 8-K information indicating if Cantor has allowed separate trading of the shares of common stock and rights prior to the 52nd day after the date of this prospectus.
Common Stock
Our stockholders of record are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters to be voted on by stockholders. In connection with any vote held to approve our initial business combination, our initial stockholders, as well as all of our officers and directors, have agreed to vote their respective shares of common stock owned by them immediately prior to this offering in favor of the proposed business combination.
We will consummate our initial business combination only if a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock voted are voted in favor of the business combination.
Our Board of Directors 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. There is no cumulative voting with respect to the election of directors, with the result that the holders of more than 50% of the shares eligible to vote for the election of directors can elect all of the directors.
Pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, if we do not consummate an initial business combination by 24 months from the closing of this offering, we will cease our corporate existence except for the purposes of winding up our affairs and liquidating. If we are forced to liquidate prior to an initial business combination, our public stockholders are entitled to share ratably in the trust account, based on the amount then held in the trust account.
Our initial stockholders, officers and directors have agreed to waive their rights to participate in any liquidation distribution from the trust account occurring upon our failure to consummate an initial business combination with respect to the founder shares. Our initial stockholders, officers and directors will therefore not participate in any liquidation distribution from the trust account with respect to such shares. They will, however, participate in any liquidation distribution from the trust account with respect to any shares of common stock acquired in, or following, this offering.
Our stockholders have no redemption, preemptive or other subscription rights and there are no sinking fund or redemption provisions applicable to the shares of common stock, except that public stockholders have the right to sell their shares to us in a tender offer or have their shares of common stock redeemed for cash equal to their pro rata share of the trust account in connection with the consummation of our business combination.
97
Preferred Stock
There are no shares of preferred stock outstanding. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes the issuance of 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock with such designation, rights and preferences as may be determined from time to time by our Board of Directors. No shares of preferred stock are being issued or registered in this offering. Accordingly, our Board of Directors is empowered, without stockholder approval, to issue preferred stock with dividend, liquidation, conversion, voting or other rights which could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of common stock. However, the underwriting agreement prohibits us, prior to a business combination, from issuing preferred stock which participates in any manner in the proceeds of the trust account, or which votes as a class with the common stock on a business combination. We may issue some or all of the preferred stock to effect a business combination. In addition, the preferred stock could be utilized as a method of discouraging, delaying or preventing a change in control of us. Although we do not currently intend to issue any shares of preferred stock, we cannot assure you that we will not do so in the future.
Rights included as part of units
Except in cases where we are not the surviving company in a business combination, each holder of a right will automatically receive one-tenth (1/10) of one share of common stock upon consummation of our initial business combination, even if the holder of a public right converted all shares held by such holder in connection with the initial business combination. In the event we will not be the surviving company upon completion of our initial business combination, each holder of a right will be required to affirmatively convert such holder’s rights in order to receive the one-tenth (1/10) of one share of common stock underlying each right upon consummation of the business combination. No additional consideration will be required to be paid by a holder of rights in order to receive such holder’s additional shares upon consummation of an initial business combination. The shares issuable upon exchange of the rights will be freely tradable (except to the extent held by affiliates of ours). If we enter into a definitive agreement for a business combination in which we will not be the surviving entity, the definitive agreement will provide for the holders of rights to receive the same per share consideration the holders of our common stock will receive in the transaction on an as-converted basis into common stock.
We will not issue fractional shares in connection with an exchange of rights. Fractional shares will either be rounded down to the nearest whole share or otherwise addressed in accordance with applicable law. As a result, you must hold rights in multiples of ten in order to receive shares for all of your rights upon closing of a business combination. If we are unable to complete an initial business combination within the required time period and we liquidate the funds held in the trust account, holders of rights will not receive any of such funds with respect to their rights, nor will they receive any distribution from our assets held outside of the trust account with respect to such rights, and the rights will expire worthless. Further, there are no contractual penalties for failure to deliver securities to the holders of the rights upon consummation of an initial business combination. Additionally, in no event will we be required to net cash settle the rights. Accordingly, the rights may expire worthless.
Dividends
We have not paid any cash dividends on our shares of common stock to date and do not intend to pay cash dividends prior to the completion of a business combination. The payment of cash dividends in the future will be dependent upon our revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements and general financial condition subsequent to completion of a business combination. The payment of any dividends subsequent to a business combination will be within the discretion of our then board of directors. It is the present intention of our Board of Directors to retain all earnings, if any, for use in our business operations and, accordingly, our Board does not anticipate declaring any dividends in the foreseeable future.
Our Transfer Agent and Rights Agent
The transfer agent for our securities is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company1 State Street, 30th Floor, New York, New York 10004.
98
Listing of our Securities
We have applied to have our units listed on NASDAQ under the symbol “IRHOU” and, once the common stock and rights begin separate trading, under the symbols “IRHO” and “IRHOR,” respectively. If approved for listing, we anticipate that our units will be listed on NASDAQ on or promptly after the effective date of the registration statement. Following the date the common stock and rights are eligible to trade separately, we anticipate that the common stock and rights will be listed separately and as a unit on NASDAQ.
Certain Anti-Takeover Provisions of Delaware Law and our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws
Staggered board of directors; board vacancies
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our Board of Directors will be classified into three classes of directors of approximately equal size. As a result, in most circumstances, a person can gain control of our board only by successfully engaging in a proxy contest at two or more annual meetings. Additionally, in certain circumstances, when a vacancy on the Board of Directors arises due to the expansion of our board’s size or due to the resignation, death or removal of a director, our bylaws authorize the Board of Directors (rather than our stockholders) to fill the resulting vacancy, which may make it harder for stockholders to replace directors.
Stockholder action; special meeting of stockholders
Our bylaws provide that stockholders may not take action by written consent, but may only take action at an annual or special meetings of stockholders. Additionally, our bylaws provide that special meetings of our stockholders may be called only by a majority vote of our Board of Directors, by our president or by our Chairman or by our Secretary at the request in writing of stockholders owning a majority of our issued and outstanding capital stock entitled to vote.
Advance notice requirements for stockholder proposals and director nominations
Our bylaws provide that stockholders seeking to bring business before our annual meeting of stockholders, or to nominate candidates for election as directors at our annual meeting of stockholders must provide timely notice of their intent in writing. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice will need to be delivered to our principal executive offices not later than the close of business on the 60th day nor earlier than the close of business on the 90th day prior to the scheduled date of the annual meeting of stockholders. In the event that less than 70 days’ notice or prior public disclosure of the date of the annual meeting of stockholders is given, a stockholder’s notice shall be timely if delivered to our principal executive offices not later than the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of our annual meeting of stockholders is first made or sent by us. Our bylaws also specify certain requirements as to the form and content of a stockholders’ meeting. These provisions may preclude our stockholders from bringing matters before our annual meeting of stockholders or from making nominations for directors at our annual meeting of stockholders.
Supermajority approval requirement
Under our bylaws, subject to certain exceptions and qualifications, the approval of holders representing at least two thirds (2/3rds) of the total voting power of the shares entitled to vote generally in the election of directors will be required for stockholders to adopt, amend or repeal our bylaws and certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.
Authorized but unissued shares
Our authorized but unissued common stock and preferred stock are available for future issuances without stockholder approval and could be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future offerings to raise additional capital, acquisitions and employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued and unreserved common stock and preferred stock could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.
99
Exclusive forum selection
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will require, to the fullest extent permitted by law, that derivative actions brought in our name, actions against directors, officers and employees for breach of fiduciary duty and other similar actions may be brought only in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware, except any action (A) as to which the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten days following such determination), (B) which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery, (C) for which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction or (D) any action arising under the Securities Act. If an action is brought outside of Delaware, the stockholder bringing the suit will be deemed to have consented to service of process on such stockholder’s counsel. Although we believe this provision benefits us by providing increased consistency in the application of Delaware law in the types of lawsuits to which it applies, a court may determine that this provision is unenforceable, and to the extent it is enforceable, the provision may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors and officers, although our stockholders will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder and therefore bring a claim in another appropriate forum. Additionally, we cannot be certain that a court will decide that this provision is either applicable or enforceable, and if a court were to find the choice of forum provision contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions, which could harm our business, operating results and financial condition.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that the exclusive forum provision will be applicable to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. Section 27 of the Exchange Act creates exclusive federal jurisdiction over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. As a result, the exclusive forum provision will not apply to suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction.
Limitation on Liability and Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our directors and officers will be indemnified by us to the fullest extent authorized by Delaware law as it now exists or may in the future be amended. In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our directors will not be personally liable for monetary damages to us for breaches of their fiduciary duty as directors, unless they violated their duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders, acted in bad faith, knowingly or intentionally violated the law, authorized unlawful payments of dividends, unlawful stock purchases or unlawful redemptions, or derived an improper personal benefit from their actions as directors.
We will enter into agreements with our officers and directors to provide contractual indemnification in addition to the indemnification provided for in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Our bylaws also will permit us to secure insurance on behalf of any officer, director or employee for any liability arising out of his or her actions, regardless of whether Delaware law would permit indemnification. We will purchase a policy of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance that insures our directors and officers against the cost of defense, settlement or payment of a judgment in some circumstances and insures us against our obligations to indemnify the directors and officers.
These provisions may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions also may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and officers, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders. Furthermore, a stockholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions. We believe that these provisions, the insurance and the indemnity agreements are necessary to attract and retain talented and experienced directors and officers.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers and controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
100
SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
Immediately after this offering, we will have 25,570,000 shares of common stock outstanding, or 29,320,000 shares if the over-allotment option is exercised in full. Of these shares, the 20,000,000 shares sold in this offering, or 23,000,000 shares if the over-allotment option is exercised in full, will be freely tradable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act, except for any shares purchased by one of our affiliates within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act. All of the remaining shares are restricted securities under Rule 144, in that they were issued in private transactions not involving a public offering. All of those shares will not be transferable except in limited circumstances described elsewhere in this prospectus.
Rule 144
A person who has beneficially owned restricted shares of common stock for at least six months would be entitled to sell their securities provided that (i) such person is not deemed to have been one of our affiliates at the time of, or at any time during the three months preceding, a sale and (ii) we are subject to the Exchange Act periodic reporting requirements for at least three months before the sale. Persons who have beneficially owned restricted shares of common stock for at least six months but who are our affiliates at the time of, or any time during the three months preceding, a sale would be subject to additional restrictions, by which such person would be entitled to sell within any three-month period a number of shares that does not exceed the greater of either of the following:
• 1% of the number of shares of common stock then outstanding, which will equal 255,700 shares immediately after this offering (or 293,200 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full); and
• the average weekly trading volume of the shares of common stock during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a notice on Form 144 with respect to the sale.
Sales under Rule 144 are also limited by manner of sale provisions and notice requirements and to the availability of current public information about us.
Restrictions on the Use of Rule 144 by Shell Companies or Former Shell Companies
Historically, the SEC staff had taken the position that Rule 144 is not available for the resale of securities initially issued by companies that are, or previously were, blank check companies, like us. The SEC has codified and expanded this position in the amendments discussed above by prohibiting the use of Rule 144 for resale of securities issued by any shell companies (other than business combination related shell companies) or any issuer that has been at any time previously a shell company. The SEC has provided an important exception to this prohibition, however, if the following conditions are met:
• the issuer of the securities that was formerly a shell company has ceased to be a shell company;
• the issuer of the securities is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act;
• the issuer of the securities has filed all Exchange Act reports and material required to be filed, as applicable, during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the issuer was required to file such reports and materials), other than Form 8-K reports; and
• at least one year has elapsed from the time that the issuer filed current Form 10 type information with the SEC reflecting its status as an entity that is not a shell company.
As a result, it is likely that pursuant to Rule 144, our initial stockholders will be able to sell their Founders Shares freely without registration one year after we have completed our initial business combination assuming none of them are affiliates of ours at that time.
Registration Rights
The holders of the Founders Shares issued and outstanding on the date of this prospectus, as well as the holders of the private units our initial stockholders, officers, directors or their affiliates may be issued in payment of working capital loans made to us (and all underlying securities), will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to an agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of this offering. The holders of a majority of these securities are entitled to make up to two demands that we register such securities. The holders of a majority of the private units issued
101
to our initial stockholders, officers, directors or their affiliates in payment of working capital loans made to us (or underlying securities) can elect to exercise these registration rights at any time after we consummate a business combination. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, Cantor may only make a demand on one occasion and only during the five-year period beginning on the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to our consummation of a business combination; provided, however, that Cantor may participate in a “piggy-back” registration only during the seven-year period beginning on the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
102
MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following discussion summarizes certain U.S. federal income tax considerations generally applicable to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our units (each consisting of one share of our common stock and one right to receive 1/10 of one share of common stock upon the consummation of our initial business combination) that are purchased in this offering by U.S. Holders (as defined below) and Non-U.S. Holders (as defined below).
Because the components of a unit are generally separable at the option of the holder, the holder of a unit generally should be treated, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as the owner of the underlying share of our common stock and the right components of the unit. As a result, the discussion below with respect to holders of shares of our common stock and rights should also apply to holders of units (as the deemed owners of the underlying common stock and rights that constitute the units).
This discussion is limited to certain U.S. federal income tax considerations to beneficial owners of our securities who are initial purchasers of a unit pursuant to this offering and hold the unit and each component of the unit as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221(a) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) (generally, property held for investment). This discussion assumes that the shares of our common stock and rights will trade separately and that any distributions made (or deemed made) by us on the shares of our common stock and any consideration received (or deemed received) by a holder in consideration for the sale or other disposition of our securities will be in U.S. dollars. This discussion is a summary only and does not consider all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of a unit by a prospective investor in light of its particular circumstances or that is subject to special rules under the U.S. federal income tax laws, including, but not limited to:
• our sponsor, officers, directors or other holders of our founder shares or private units;
• banks and other financial institutions or financial services entities;
• broker-dealers;
• mutual funds;
• retirement plans, individual retirement accounts or other tax-deferred accounts;
• taxpayers that are subject to the mark-to-market tax accounting rules;
• tax-exempt entities;
• S-corporations, partnerships or other flow-through entities and investors therein;
• governments or agencies or instrumentalities thereof;
• insurance companies;
• regulated investment companies;
• real estate investment trusts;
• foreign investment companies;
• controlled foreign corporations;
• passive foreign investment corporations;
• qualified foreign pension funds;
• expatriates or former long-term residents of the United States;
• persons that actually or constructively own five percent or more of our voting shares;
• persons that acquired our securities pursuant to an exercise of employee share options, in connection with employee share incentive plans or otherwise as compensation or in connection with services;
103
• persons required for U.S. federal income tax purposes to conform the timing of income accruals to their financial statements under Section 451 of the Code;
• persons subject to the alternative minimum tax;
• persons that hold our securities as part of a straddle, constructive sale, hedging, conversion or other integrated or similar transaction; or
• persons whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar.
The discussion below is based upon current provisions of the Code, applicable U.S. Treasury regulations promulgated under the Code (“Treasury Regulations”), judicial decisions and administrative rulings of the IRS, all as in effect on the date hereof, and all of which are subject to differing interpretations or change, possibly on a retroactive basis. Any such differing interpretations or change could alter the U.S. federal income tax consequences discussed below. Furthermore, this discussion does not address any aspect of U.S. federal non-income tax laws, such as gift, estate or Medicare contribution tax laws, or state, local or non-U.S. tax laws, or except as discussed herein, any tax reporting obligations of a holder of our securities. This discussion also assumes that any distributions made (or deemed made) by us on our common stock and any consideration received (or deemed received) by a holder in consideration for the sale or other disposition of our securities will be in U.S. dollars.
We have not sought, and will not seek, a ruling from the IRS as to any U.S. federal income tax consequence described herein. The IRS may disagree with the discussion herein, and its determination may be upheld by a court. Moreover, there can be no assurance that future legislation, regulations, administrative rulings or court decisions will not adversely affect the accuracy of the statements in this discussion.
This discussion does not consider the tax treatment of partnerships or other pass-through entities (including branches) or persons who hold our securities through such entities. If a partnership (or other entity or arrangement classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) is the beneficial owner of our securities, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner in the partnership generally will depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partner and the partnership. If you are a partner or a partnership holding our securities, we urge you to consult your own tax advisor.
THIS DISCUSSION IS ONLY A SUMMARY OF CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR UNITS. IT DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY ACTUAL REPRESENTATIONS AS TO ANY TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR UNITS AND WE HAVE NOT OBTAINED ANY OPINION OF COUNSEL WITH RESPECT TO SUCH TAX CONSEQUENCES. EACH PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR IN OUR UNITS IS URGED TO CONSULT ITS OWN TAX ADVISOR WITH RESPECT TO THE PARTICULAR TAX CONSEQUENCES TO SUCH INVESTOR OF THE ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR UNITS, INCLUDING THE APPLICABILITY AND EFFECT OF ANY STATE, LOCAL, AND NON-UNITED STATES TAX LAWS, AS WELL AS U.S. FEDERAL LAWS (INCLUDING ANY NON-INCOME TAX LAWS) AND ANY APPLICABLE TAX TREATIES.
Allocation of Purchase Price and Characterization of a Unit
No statutory, administrative or judicial authority directly addresses the treatment of a unit or instruments similar to a unit for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, therefore, that treatment is not entirely clear. The acquisition of a unit should be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as the acquisition of one share of our common stock and one right entitling the holder to receive one-tenth (1/10) of one share of common stock upon the consummation of our initial business combination, subject to adjustment as described in this prospectus. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, each holder of a unit must allocate the purchase price paid by such holder for such unit between the one share of common stock and the right based on the relative fair market value of each at the time of issuance. Under U.S. federal income tax law, each investor must make their own determination of such value based on all the relevant facts and circumstances. Therefore, we strongly urge each investor to consult their own tax adviser regarding the determination of value for these purposes. The price allocated to each share of common stock and right should be the stockholder’s tax basis in such share or right, as the case may be. Any disposition of a unit should be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a disposition of the share of common stock and right comprising the unit, and the amount realized on
104
the disposition should be allocated between the share of common stock and the right based on their respective relative fair market values (as determined by each such unit holder on all the relevant facts and circumstances) at the time of disposition. The separation of shares of common stock and rights, nor the one right entitling the holder thereof to receive one-tenth (1/10) of one share of common stock upon the consummation of our initial business combination comprising units should not be a taxable event for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
The foregoing treatment of the shares of common stock and rights and a holder’s purchase price allocation are not binding on the IRS or the courts. Because there are no authorities that directly address instruments that are similar to the units, no assurance can be given that the IRS or the courts will agree with the characterization described above or the discussion below. Accordingly, each prospective investor is urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of an investment in a unit (including alternative characterizations of a unit). The balance of this discussion assumes that the characterization of the units (and the components thereof) and any allocation of purchase price of a unit as described above is respected for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Personal Holding Company Status
We could be subject to United States federal income tax at rates in excess of those generally applicable to U.S. corporations on a portion of our income if we are determined to be a personal holding company, or PHC, for United States federal income tax purposes. A U.S. corporation will generally be classified as a PHC for United States federal income tax purposes in a given taxable year if (i) at any time during the last half of such taxable year, five or fewer individuals (without regard to their citizenship or residency and including as individuals for this purpose certain entities such as certain tax-exempt organizations, pension funds, and charitable trusts) own or are deemed to own (pursuant to certain constructive ownership rules) more than 50% of the stock of the corporation by value and (ii) at least 60% of the corporation’s adjusted ordinary gross income, as determined for United States federal income tax purposes, for such taxable year consists of PHC income (which includes, among other things, dividends, interest, certain royalties, annuities and, under certain circumstances, rents).
Depending on the date and size of our initial business combination, it is possible that at least 60% of our adjusted ordinary gross income may consist of PHC income as discussed above. In addition, depending on the concentration of our stock in the hands of individuals, including certain tax-exempt organizations, pension funds, and charitable trusts, it is possible that more than 50% of our stock will be owned or deemed owned (pursuant to the constructive ownership rules) by such persons during the last half of a taxable year. Thus, no assurance can be given that we will not become a PHC following this offering or in the future. If we are or were to become a PHC in a given taxable year, we would be subject to an additional PHC tax, currently 20%, on our undistributed taxable income, subject to certain adjustments.
U.S. Holders
This section is addressed to U.S. Holders of our securities. For purposes of this discussion, you are a “U.S. Holder” if you are a beneficial owner of a security that is:
• an individual citizen or resident of the United States for U.S. federal income tax purposes;
• a corporation, or other entity taxable as a corporation, created or organized in, or under the laws of, the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia; or
• an estate, the income of which is includible in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes regardless of its source;
• or trust, if (i) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary jurisdiction over its administration and one or more United States persons has the authority to control all of its substantial decisions, or (ii) a valid election is in place under applicable Treasury Regulations to treat such trust as a domestic trust.
Taxation of Distributions
If we pay distributions in cash or other property (other than certain distributions of our stock or rights to acquire our stock) to U.S. Holders of our common stock, such distributions will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits will constitute a return of capital that will be applied against and reduce (but not below zero) the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in our shares
105
of our common stock. Any remaining excess will be treated as gain realized on the sale or other disposition of the shares of our common stock and will be treated as described under “U.S. Holders — Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Our Securities” below.
Dividends we pay to a corporate U.S. Holder generally will qualify for the dividends received deduction if certain holding period requirements are met. With certain exceptions (including, but not limited to, dividends treated as investment income for purposes of investment interest deduction limitations), and provided certain holding period requirements are met, dividends we pay to a non-corporate U.S. Holder will generally be taxed as qualified dividend income at the preferential tax rate for long-term capital gains. It is unclear whether the redemption rights with respect to the shares of our common stock described in this prospectus may prevent a U.S. Holder from satisfying the applicable holding period requirements with respect to the dividends received deduction or the preferential tax rate on qualified dividend income, as the case may be. If the holding period requirements are not met, then a corporation may not be able to qualify for the dividends received deduction and would have taxable income equal to the entire dividend amount, and non-corporate holders may be subject to tax on such dividend at regular ordinary income tax rates instead of the preferential rate that applies to qualified dividend income.
Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Our Securities
A U.S. Holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss on a sale or other taxable disposition of our shares of common stock or rights (including on our dissolution and liquidation if we do not complete an initial business combination within the required time period). Any such capital gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder’s holding period for such shares of our common stock or rights exceeds one year. Long-term capital gains recognized by a non-corporate U.S. Holder are currently eligible to be taxed at preferential rates. It is unclear, however, whether certain redemption rights described in this prospectus may suspend the running of the applicable holding period for this purpose. If the running of the holding period for the common stock is suspended, then non-corporate U.S. Holders may not be able to satisfy the one-year holding period requirement for long-term capital gain treatment, in which case any gain on a sale or taxable disposition of the shares would be subject to short-term capital gain treatment and would be taxed at regular ordinary income tax rates. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.
The amount of gain or loss recognized on a sale or other taxable disposition generally will be equal to the difference between (i) the sum of the amount of cash and the fair market value of any property received in such disposition (or, if the shares of our common stock or rights are held as part of units at the time of the disposition, the portion of the amount realized on such disposition that is allocated to the shares of our common stock or rights based upon the relative fair market values at the time of disposition of the shares of our common stock, the rights included in the units) and (ii) the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its shares of our common stock or rights so disposed of. A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its shares of our common stock and rights generally will equal the U.S. Holder’s acquisition cost (that is, the portion of the purchase price of a unit allocated to a share of our common stock or right, as described above under “— Allocation of Purchase Price and Characterization of a Unit”) reduced, in the case of a share of our common stock, by any prior distributions treated as a return of capital.
Redemption of Our Common Stock
In the event that a U.S. Holder’s shares of our common stock are redeemed pursuant to the redemption provisions described in this prospectus under “Description of Securities — Common Stock” or if we purchase a U.S. Holder’s shares of our common stock in an open market transaction (each referred to herein as a “redemption”), the treatment of the redemption for U.S. federal income tax purposes will depend on whether it qualifies as a sale or exchange of the shares of our common stock under Section 302 of the Code. If the redemption qualifies as a sale or exchange of the shares of our common stock under the tests described below, the U.S. Holder will be treated as described under “U.S. Holders — Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Our Securities” above. If the redemption does not qualify as a sale or exchange of the shares of our common stock, the U.S. Holder will be treated as receiving a corporate distribution with the tax consequences described above under “U.S. Holders — Taxation of Distributions.” Whether a redemption qualifies for sale or exchange treatment will depend largely on the total number of our shares treated as held by the U.S. Holder (including any shares constructively owned by the U.S. Holder as described in the following paragraph) relative to all of our shares outstanding both before and after such redemption. The redemption of our common stock generally will be treated as a sale or exchange of the shares of our common
106
stock (rather than as a corporate distribution) if, within the meaning of Section 302 of the Code, such redemption (i) is “substantially disproportionate” with respect to the U.S. Holder, (ii) results in a “complete termination” of the U.S. Holder’s interest in us or (iii) is “not essentially equivalent to a dividend” with respect to the U.S. Holder.
In determining whether any of the foregoing tests are satisfied, a U.S. Holder must take into account not only shares of our stock actually owned by the U.S. Holder, but also shares of our stock that are constructively owned by it. A U.S. Holder may constructively own, in addition to stock owned directly, stock owned by certain related individuals and entities in which the U.S. Holder has an interest or that have an interest in such U.S. Holder, as well as any stock the U.S. Holder has a right to acquire by exercise of an option, which would generally include shares of our common stock which could be acquired pursuant to the conversion of the rights. In order to meet the “substantially disproportionate” test, the percentage of our outstanding voting shares actually and constructively owned by the U.S. Holder immediately following the redemption of shares of our common stock must, among other requirements, be less than 80% of the percentage of our outstanding voting stock actually and constructively owned by the U.S. Holder immediately before the redemption. Prior to our initial business combination, the shares of our common stock may not be treated as voting shares for this purpose and, consequently, this substantially disproportionate test may not be applicable. There will be a complete termination of a U.S. Holder’s interest if either (i) all of our shares actually and constructively owned by the U.S. Holder are redeemed or (ii) all of our shares actually owned by the U.S. Holder are redeemed and the U.S. Holder is eligible to waive, and effectively waives in accordance with specific rules, the attribution of shares owned by certain family members and the U.S. Holder does not constructively own any other shares of our stock. The redemption of the shares of our common stock will not be essentially equivalent to a dividend with respect to a U.S. Holder if it results in a “meaningful reduction” of the U.S. Holder’s proportionate interest in us. Whether the redemption will result in a meaningful reduction in a U.S. Holder’s proportionate interest in us will depend on the particular facts and circumstances. However, the IRS has indicated in a published ruling that even a small reduction in the proportionate interest of a small minority stockholder in a publicly-held corporation who exercises no control over corporate affairs may constitute such a “meaningful reduction.” A U.S. Holder should consult with its own tax advisors as to the tax consequences of a redemption.
If none of the foregoing tests are satisfied, then the redemption will be treated as a corporate distribution and the tax effects will be as described under “U.S. Holders — Taxation of Distributions” above. After the application of those rules, any remaining tax basis of the U.S. Holder in the redeemed shares of our common stock will be added to the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its remaining shares, or, if it has none, to the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in other stock constructively owned by it.
Acquisition of Common Stock Pursuant to Rights
The treatment of the rights to acquire common stock is uncertain. The right may be viewed as a forward contract, derivative security or similar interest in our company (analogous to an option with no exercise price), and thus the holder of the right would not be viewed as owning the common stock issuable pursuant to the rights until such common stock is actually issued. There may be other alternative characterizations of the rights that the IRS may successfully assert, including that the rights are treated as equity in our company at the time the rights are issued.
The tax consequences of an acquisition of our common stock pursuant to rights or the expiration or extinguishment of rights are unclear and will depend on the treatment of any initial business combination. Accordingly, U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of an acquisition of common stock pursuant to rights, the expiration or extinguishment of a right and the consequences of any initial business combination.
Non-U.S. Holders
This section applies to “Non-U.S. Holders.” As used herein, the term “Non-U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of our units, common stocks or rights that is not a U.S. Holder and is not an entity or arrangement classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, but such term generally does not include an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of disposition. If you are such an individual, you may be subject to special rules not described herein and should consult your tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership or sale or other disposition of our securities.
107
Taxation of Distributions
In general, any distributions (including constructive distributions) we make to a Non-U.S. Holder of shares of our common stock, to the extent paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles), will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Provided such dividends are not effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (or, if required pursuant to an applicable income tax treaty, are not attributable to a permanent establishment of fixed base maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder in the United States), we will be required to withhold tax from the gross amount of the dividend at a rate of 30%, unless such Non-U.S. Holder is eligible for a reduced rate of withholding tax under an applicable income tax treaty and provides proper certification of its eligibility for such reduced rate (usually on an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable). In the case of any constructive dividend, it is possible that this tax would be withheld from any amount owed to a Non-U.S. Holder by the applicable withholding agent, including cash distributions on other property or sale proceeds from other property subsequently paid or credited to such holder. Any distribution not constituting a dividend will be treated first as reducing (but not below zero) the Non-U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its shares of our common stock and, to the extent such distribution exceeds the Non-U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis, as gain realized from the sale or other disposition of the shares of our common stock, which will be treated as described under “Non-U.S. Holders — Gain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Our Securities” below. In addition, if we determine that we are or are likely to be classified as a “United States real property holding corporation” (see “Non-U.S. Holders — Gain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Our Securities” below), we may withhold 15% of any distribution that exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits, including a distribution in redemption of shares of our common stock. See also “Non-U.S. Holders — Possible Constructive Distributions” for potential U.S. federal tax consequences with respect to constructive distributions.
Dividends that we pay to a Non-U.S. Holder that are effectively connected with such Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if a tax treaty applies, are attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder in the United States) will not be subject to U.S. withholding tax, provided such Non-U.S. Holder complies with certain certification and disclosure requirements (usually by providing an IRS Form W-8ECI). Instead, the effectively connected dividends will be subject to regular U.S. federal income tax as if the Non-U.S. Holder were a U.S. resident, unless an applicable income tax treaty provides otherwise. A Non-U.S. Holder that is a foreign corporation receiving effectively connected dividends may also be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” imposed at a rate of 30% (or a lower treaty rate).
Gain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Our Securities
Subject to the discussion of FATCA and backup withholding below, a Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax in respect of gain recognized on a sale, taxable exchange or other taxable disposition of shares of our common stock (including upon a dissolution and liquidation if we do not complete an initial business combination within the required time period) or rights, without regard to whether such securities were held as part of a unit, unless:
• the gain is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business by the Non-U.S. Holder within the United States (and, under certain income tax treaties, is attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder in the United States); or
• we are or have been a “United States real property holding corporation” for U.S. federal income tax purposes at any time during the shorter of the five-year period ending on the date of disposition or the period that the Non-U.S. Holder held our common stock, and, in the case where shares of our common stock are regularly traded on an established securities market, the Non-U.S. Holder has owned, directly or constructively, more than 5% of our common stock at any time within the shorter of the five-year period preceding the disposition or such Non-U.S. Holder’s holding period for the shares of our common stock. There can be no assurance that our common stock will be treated as regularly traded on an established securities market for this purpose. These rules may be modified for Non-U.S. Holders of rights. If we are or have been a “United States real property holding corporation” and you own rights, you are urged to consult your own tax advisor regarding the application of these rules.
108
Unless an applicable treaty provides otherwise, gain described in the first bullet point above will generally be subject to tax at the applicable U.S. federal income tax rates as if the Non-U.S. Holder were a U.S. resident. Any gains described in the first bullet point above of a Non-U.S. Holder that is a foreign corporation may also be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” at a 30% rate (or lower treaty rate).
If the second bullet point above applies to a Non-U.S. Holder, gain recognized by such holder on the sale, exchange or other disposition of our common stocks, or rights will generally be subject to tax at applicable U.S. federal income tax rates as if the Non-U.S. Holder were a U.S. resident. In addition, a buyer of our common stocks, or rights from such holder may be required to withhold U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 15% of the amount realized upon such disposition. We cannot determine whether we will be a United States real property holding corporation in the future until we complete an initial business combination. In general, we would be classified as a United States real property holding corporation if the fair market value of our “United States real property interests” equals or exceeds 50% of the sum of the fair market value of our worldwide real property interests plus our other assets used or held for use in a trade or business, as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Redemption of Our Common Stock
The characterization for U.S. federal income tax purposes of the redemption of a Non-U.S. Holder’s shares of our common stock pursuant to the redemption provisions described in the section of this prospectus entitled “Description of Securities — Common Stock” will generally correspond to the U.S. federal income tax characterization of such a redemption of a U.S. Holder’s shares of our common stock, as described under “U.S. Holders — Redemption of Our Common Stock” above, and the consequences of the redemption to the Non-U.S. Holder will be as described above under “Non-U.S. Holders — Taxation of Distributions” and “Non-U.S. Holders — Gain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Our Securities,” as applicable. It is possible that because the applicable withholding agent may not be able to determine the proper characterization of a redemption of a Non-U.S. Holder’s common stock, the withholding agent might treat the redemption as a distribution subject to withholding tax.
Acquisition of Common Stock Pursuant to Rights
The treatment of the rights to acquire common stock is uncertain. The right may be viewed as a forward contract, derivative security or similar interest in our company (analogous to an option with no exercise price), and thus the holder of the right would not be viewed as owning the common stock issuable pursuant to the rights until such common stock is actually issued. There may be other alternative characterizations of the rights that the IRS may successfully assert, including that the rights are treated as equity in our company at the time the rights are issued.
The tax consequences of an acquisition of our common stock pursuant to rights or the expiration or extinguishment of rights are unclear and will depend on the treatment of any initial business combination. Accordingly, Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of an acquisition of common stock pursuant to rights, the expiration or extinguishment of a right and the consequences of any initial business combination.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Dividend payments (including constructive dividends) with respect to our common stock and proceeds from the sale, exchange or redemption of shares of our common stocks or rights may be subject to information reporting to the IRS and possible United States backup withholding. Backup withholding will not apply, however, to payments made to a U.S. Holder who furnishes a correct taxpayer identification number and makes other required certifications, or who is otherwise exempt from backup withholding and establishes such exempt status. Payments made to a Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to backup withholding if the Non-U.S. Holder provides certification of its foreign status, under penalties of perjury, on a duly executed applicable IRS Form W-8 or by otherwise establishing an exemption.
We will withhold all taxes required to be withheld by law from any amounts otherwise payable to any holder of our securities, including tax withholding required by the backup withholding rules. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be credited against a holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, and a holder generally may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by timely filing the appropriate claim for refund with the IRS and furnishing any required information. Holders are urged to consult their own tax advisers regarding the application of backup withholding and the availability of and procedure for obtaining an exemption from backup withholding in their particular circumstances.
109
FATCA Withholding Taxes
Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations and administrative guidance promulgated thereunder (commonly referred to as the “Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act” or “FATCA”) generally impose withholding of 30% in certain circumstances on payments of dividends (including constructive dividends) and, subject to the proposed Treasury Regulations discussed below, on proceeds from sales or other disposition of our securities paid to “foreign financial institutions” (which is broadly defined for this purpose and includes investment vehicles) and certain other non-U.S. entities unless various U.S. information reporting and due diligence requirements (relating to ownership by U.S. persons of interests in or accounts with those entities) have been satisfied or an exemption applies (typically certified as to by the delivery of a properly completed IRS Form W-8). If FATCA withholding is imposed, a beneficial owner that is not a foreign financial institution will be entitled to a refund of any amounts withheld by filing a U.S. federal income tax return (which may entail significant administrative burden). Foreign financial institutions located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States governing FATCA may be subject to different rules. Similarly, dividends and, subject to the proposed Treasury Regulations discussed below, proceeds from sales or other disposition in respect of our units held by an investor that is a non-financial non-U.S. entity that does not qualify under certain exceptions generally will be subject to withholding at a rate of 30%, unless such entity either (i) certifies to us or the applicable withholding agent that such entity does not have any “substantial United States owners” or (ii) provides certain information regarding the entity’s “substantial United States owners,” which will in turn be provided to the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The U.S. Department of the Treasury has proposed regulations which eliminate the federal withholding tax of 30% applicable to the gross proceeds of a sale or other disposition of our securities. Withholding agents may rely on the proposed Treasury Regulations until final regulations are issued. Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the possible effects of FATCA on their investment in our securities.
THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX DISCUSSION SET FORTH ABOVE IS INCLUDED FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY AND MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE DEPENDING UPON A HOLDER’S PARTICULAR SITUATION. HOLDERS ARE URGED TO CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF THE ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR SECURITIES, INCLUDING THE TAX CONSEQUENCES UNDER STATE, LOCAL, ESTATE, NON-U.S. AND OTHER TAX LAWS AND TAX TREATIES AND THE POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF CHANGES IN U.S. OR OTHER TAX LAWS.
110
Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. is acting as representative of the underwriters named below. Subject to the terms and conditions of the underwriting agreement dated [•], 2025, each underwriter named below has severally agreed to purchase, and we have agreed to sell to such underwriter, the number of units set forth opposite the underwriter’s name.
Underwriter |
Number of |
|
Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. |
20,000,000 |
|
Total |
20,000,000 |
We have agreed to reimburse the underwriter for certain of its accountable and out-of-pocket costs for this offering up to an aggregate expense allowance of $75,000.
The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the units included in this offering are subject to approval of legal matters by counsel and to other conditions. The underwriters are obligated to purchase all of the units (other than those covered by the over-allotment option described below) if they purchase any of the units.
The offering of the units by the underwriters is subject to receipt and acceptance and subject to the underwriters’ right to reject any order in whole or in part.
Pricing of the Offering
We have been advised by the underwriters that they propose to offer the units to the public at the initial offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus. The underwriters may allow dealers concessions not in excess of $[•] per unit and the dealers may re-allow a concession not in excess of $[•] per unit to other dealers. After the initial offering of the units, the representative may change the offering price and other selling terms. The offering of the units by the underwriters is subject to receipt and acceptance and subject to the underwriters’ right to reject any order in whole or in part. Sales of any units outside the United States may be made by affiliates of the underwriters.
Over-allotment Option
If the underwriters sell more units than the total number set forth in the table above, we have granted to the underwriters an option, exercisable for 45 days from the date of this prospectus, to purchase up to 3,000,000 additional units at the public offering price less the underwriting discount. The underwriters may exercise this option solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments, if any, in connection with this offering. To the extent the option is exercised, each underwriter must purchase a number of additional units approximately proportionate to that underwriters’ initial purchase commitment. Any units issued or sold under the option will be issued and sold on the same terms and conditions as the other units that are the subject of this offering.
Lock-up
We, our sponsor and our executive officers and directors have agreed that, for a period of 180 days from the date of this prospectus, we and they will not, without the prior written consent of the representative, offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any units, warrants, shares of common stock or any other securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, any units, shares of common stock, founder shares or rights, subject to certain exceptions. The representative in its sole discretion may release any of the securities subject to these lock-up agreements at any time without notice, other than in the case of the officers and directors, which shall be with notice. Our sponsor, officers and directors are also subject to separate transfer restrictions on their founder shares and private units pursuant to the letter agreement described herein.
Our sponsor, officers and directors agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any founder shares until the earlier to occur of (A) 180 days after the completion of our initial business combination or (B) subsequent to our initial business combination, (x) if the last sale price of our shares of common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share sub-divisions, share dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing after our initial business combination, or (y) the date on which we complete a liquidation, merger, stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of our stockholders
111
having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property (except with respect to permitted transferees as described in the section of this prospectus entitled “Principal Stockholders — Restrictions on Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Units”). The private units and the units that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans (including the underlying securities) will not be transferable, assignable or saleable by our sponsor (as applicable) or their permitted transferees until 30 days after the completion of our initial business combination (except with respect to permitted transferees as described herein under the section of this prospectus entitled “Principal Stockholders — Restrictions on Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Units”).
Except in certain limited circumstances, no member of the sponsor (including the non-managing sponsor investors) may transfer all or any portion of its membership interests in the sponsor. For more information, see “Principal Stockholders — Restrictions on Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Units”.
Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. (and/or its designees) has also committed to purchase from us 200,000 private units at $10.00 per unit for an aggregate purchase price of $2,000,000. The private units (including the underlying securities) will not be transferable, assignable or saleable until 30 days after the consummation of our initial business combination (except with respect to permitted transferees as described herein under “Principal Stockholders — Restrictions on Transfers of Founder Shares and Private Units”) and the private units held by Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. will not be exercisable more than five years from the commencement of sales in this offering in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(8). The purchase of the private units will take place on a private placement basis simultaneously with the consummation of this offering. Such private units will be considered underwriting compensation in connection with this offering. Such private units will be subject to lock-up restrictions, as required by FINRA Rule 5110(e)(1) and may not be sold during the offering, or sold, transferred, assigned, pledged, or hypothecated, or be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put, or call transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of such securities by any person for a period of 180 days immediately following the date of effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part or commencement of sales of the offering, except as provided in FINRA Rule 5110(e)(2). Cantor Fitzgerald & Co is entitled under the registration rights agreement to demand and “piggy-back” resale registration rights Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. may not exercise its demand and “piggy-back” registration rights after five and seven years, respectively, after the commencement of sales in this offering and may not exercise its demand rights on more than one occasion.
The Company had initially engaged D. Boral to act as the lead underwriter in connection with this public offering. In May 2025, D. Boral and the Company agreed to terminate such engagement, and in consideration therefore, the sponsor has agreed to transfer 10,000 founder shares to D. Boral in full settlement of any fees incurred by D. Boral in connection with their engagement (the “D. Boral Shares”). The D. Boral Shares will be subject to the same lock-up and transfer restrictions as the other holders of founder shares.
Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our securities. Consequently, the initial public offering price for the units was determined by negotiations between us and the representative. The determination of our per unit offering price was more arbitrary than would typically be the case if we were an operating company. Among the factors considered in determining the initial public offering price were the history and prospects of companies whose principal business is the acquisition of other companies, prior offerings of those companies, our management, our capital structure, and currently prevailing general conditions in equity securities markets, including current market valuations of publicly traded companies considered comparable to our company. We cannot assure you, however, that the price at which the units, shares of common stock or rights will sell in the public market after this offering will not be lower than the initial public offering price or that an active trading market in our units, shares of common stock or rights will develop and continue after this offering.
Listing
We have applied to have our units listed on NASDAQ under the symbol “IRHOU” and, once the common stock and rights begin separate trading, under the symbols “IRHO” and “IRHOR,” respectively. If approved for listing, we anticipate that our units will be listed on NASDAQ on or promptly after the effective date of the registration statement. Following the date the common stock and rights are eligible to trade separately, we anticipate that the common stock and rights will be listed separately and as a unit on NASDAQ.
112
Discounts
The following table shows the underwriting discounts and commissions that we are to pay to the underwriters in connection with this offering. These amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option.
Per Unit |
Total |
|||||||||||
Without |
With |
Without |
With |
|||||||||
Underwriting Discounts and Commissions paid by us |
$ |
0.65 |
$ |
0.65 |
$ |
13,000,000 |
$ |
14,950,000 |
||||
Other(2) |
$ |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
||||
Total |
|
0.65 |
$ |
0.65 |
$ |
13,000,000 |
$ |
14,950,000 |
____________
(1) Includes $0.20 per unit (excluding any units sold pursuant to the underwriters’ option to purchase additional units), or $4,000,000 in the aggregate (whether or not the underwriters’ option to purchase additional units is exercised), payable to the underwriters upon the closing of this offering. Also includes $0.45 per unit on units other than those sold pursuant to the underwriters’ option to purchase additional units and $0.65 per unit on units sold pursuant to the underwriters’ option to purchase additional units, or $9,000,000 in the aggregate or up to $10,950,000 in the aggregate if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full payable to Cantor, Fitzgerald & Co. for deferred underwriting commissions to be placed in a trust account located in the United States and released to the Cantor, Fitzgerald & Co. for its own account only upon the completion of an initial business combination.
(2) Additionally, Cantor (and/or its designees) has also committed to purchase from us 200,000 private units at $10.00 per unit for an aggregate purchase price of $2,000,000. Such private units will be considered underwriting compensation in connection with this offering and, in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110, have been given a value of $0.00 (because the value applied by FINRA to each such private unit in determining underwriting compensation is equal to and offset by the $10.00 per private unit to be paid by Cantor). Such valuation relates solely to such private units for purposes of FINRA Rule 5110 and does not reflect an actual value that may be ascribed to such units in the marketplace.
If we do not complete our initial business combination by the Deadline and subsequently liquidate, the trustee and the underwriters have agreed that (i) they will forfeit any rights or claims to their deferred underwriting discounts and commissions, including any accrued interest thereon, then in the trust account upon liquidation, and (ii) that the deferred underwriting discounts and commissions will be distributed on a pro rata basis, including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account (less taxes payable), to the public stockholders.
None of the non-managing sponsor investors have expressed to us an interest in purchasing any of the units in this offering and neither us nor the representative has had discussions with any non-managing sponsor investors regarding any purchases of units in this offering. Any potential purchase of the non-managing sponsor membership interests would not be contingent upon the participation in this offering or vice-versa. If the non-managing sponsor investors purchase units in the offering, and depending on how many units are purchased by the non-managing sponsor investors, the post-offering trading volume, volatility and liquidity of our securities may be reduced relative to what they would have been had the units been more widely sold to other public investors. We do not expect any potential purchases of units by non-managing sponsor investors to negatively impact our ability to meet Nasdaq listing eligibility requirements. In addition, the underwriter has full discretion to allocate the units to investors and may determine not to sell any units to the non-managing sponsor investors, and in no case would any of the non-managing sponsor investors be sold more than 9.9% of the units to be sold in this offering. The underwriter would receive the same upfront discounts and commissions and deferred underwriting commissions on units purchased by the non-managing sponsor investors, if any, as it will on the other units sold to the public in this offering. In addition, if the non-managing sponsor investors purchase units in the offering, the non-managing sponsor investors would not have any obligation to vote any of their public shares in favor of our initial business combination. Nevertheless, the non-managing sponsor investors would be incentivized to vote any of their public shares, if any, in favor of a business combination due to their indirect ownership through the sponsor of founder shares, shares of common stock and private placement rights issued as part of the private units. In the event that the non-managing sponsor investors purchase any units (either in the offering or after) and vote them in favor of our initial business combination, fewer votes from other public stockholders would be required to approve our initial business combination. However, because the non-managing sponsor investors are not obligated to continue owning any public shares, if any, following the closing of this offering and are not obligated to vote any public shares, if any, in favor of our initial business combination, we cannot assure you as to how such non-managing sponsor investors will vote on any business combination. Any trading decisions made by any of the foregoing entities will be made by them based on market conditions at the time of the proposed sale or redemption. Cantor’s affiliates will not become non-managing sponsor investors or receive any economic or other interest in the sponsor.
113
Stabilization and Other Transactions
The underwriters pursuant to Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, may engage in short sale transactions, stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions or the imposition of penalty bids in connection with this offering. These activities may have the effect of stabilizing or maintaining the market price of the units at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. Establishing short sales positions may involve either “covered” short sales or “naked” short sales.
“Covered” short sales are sales made in an amount not greater than the underwriters’ option to purchase additional units in this offering. The underwriters may close out any covered short position by either exercising the overallotment option or purchasing our units in the open market or from market participants. In determining the source of units to close out the covered short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of units available for purchase in the market as compared to the price at which they may purchase units through the overallotment option.
“Naked” short sales are sales in excess of the option to purchase additional units. The underwriters must close out any naked short position by purchasing units in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the units in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in this offering.
A stabilizing bid is a bid for the purchase of units on behalf of the underwriters for the purpose of fixing or maintaining the price of the units. A syndicate covering transaction is the bid for or the purchase of units on behalf of the underwriters to reduce a short position incurred by the underwriters in connection with the offering. Similar to other purchase transactions, the underwriters’ purchases to cover the syndicate short sales may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our units or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of our units. As a result, the price of our units may be higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the open market. A penalty bid is an arrangement permitting the underwriters to reclaim the selling concession otherwise accruing to a syndicate member in connection with the offering if the units originally sold by such syndicate member are purchased in a syndicate covering transaction and therefore have not been effectively placed by such syndicate member.
Neither we, nor any of the underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of our units. The underwriters are not obligated to engage in these activities and, if commenced, may end any of these activities at any time. These transactions may be effected on the Nasdaq, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.
We estimate that our portion of the total expenses of this offering payable by us will be $[ ], excluding underwriting discounts and commissions. We have agreed to reimburse the underwriters for certain of its out-of-pocket costs for this offering up to an aggregate reimbursement allowance of $[ ], including, but not limited to, legal fees related to the review by FINRA and the expenses of investigations and background checks of our principals, not to exceed $[ ] per person.
We have agreed to indemnify the several underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make because of any of those liabilities.
Market Making
The underwriters have advised us that, following the completion of this offering, they currently intend to make a market in the units as permitted by applicable laws and regulations. However, the underwriters are not obligated to do so, and the underwriters may discontinue any market-making activities at any time without notice in their sole discretion. Accordingly, no assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for the units, that you will be able to sell any of the units held by you at a particular time or that the prices that you receive when you sell will be favorable.
Other Terms
The underwriting agreement provides that following the completion of this offering, the obligations of the underwriters with respect to this offering will be deemed to be satisfied and the underwriters are not bound by any commitment or obligation to offer or sell to the public any of our securities or of any target business in an initial business combination or otherwise solicit holders of our securities or any target business in an initial business combination to approve the business combination.
114
We are not under any contractual obligation to engage any of the underwriters to provide any services for us after this offering, and have no present intent to do so. Upon consummation of this offering, the funds will be deposited into a U.S. based trust account with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company acting as trustee. Additionally, any of the underwriters may introduce us to potential target businesses or assist us in raising additional capital in the future. If any of the underwriters provide services to us after this offering, we may pay such underwriter fair and reasonable fees that would be determined at that time in an arm’s length negotiation; provided that no agreement will be entered into with any of the underwriters and no fees for such services will be paid to any of the underwriters prior to the date that is 60 days from the date of this prospectus, unless such payment would not be deemed underwriters’ compensation in connection with this offering and we may pay the underwriters of this offering or any entity with which they are affiliated a finder’s fee or other compensation for services rendered to us in connection with the completion of a business combination.
Some of the underwriters and their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include sales and trading, commercial and investment banking, advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, market making, brokerage and other financial and non-financial activities and services. Some of the underwriters and their affiliates have engaged in, and may in the future engage in, investment banking and other commercial dealings in the ordinary course of business with us or our affiliates, including in connection with acting in an advisory capacity or as a potential financing source in conjunction with our potential acquisition of a company. They have received, or may in the future receive, customary fees and commissions for these transactions.
In the ordinary course of their various business activities, some of the underwriters and their respective affiliates, officers, directors and employees may purchase, sell or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade securities, derivatives, loans, commodities, currencies, credit default swaps and other financial instruments for their own account and for the accounts of their customers, and such investment and trading activities may involve or relate to assets, securities and/or instruments of the issuer (directly, as collateral securing other obligations or otherwise) and/or persons and entities with relationships with the issuer. Some of the underwriters and their respective affiliates may also communicate independent investment recommendations, market color or trading ideas and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such assets, securities or instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they should acquire, long and/or short positions in such assets, securities and instruments.
Selling Restrictions
Canada
This prospectus constitutes an “exempt offering document” as defined in and for the purposes of applicable Canadian securities laws. No prospectus has been filed with any securities commission or similar regulatory authority in Canada in connection with the offer and sale of the securities. No securities commission or similar regulatory authority in Canada has reviewed or in any way passed upon this prospectus or on the merits of the securities and any representation to the contrary is an offence.
Canadian investors are advised that this prospectus has been prepared in reliance on section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33 – 105 Underwriting Conflicts (“NI 33 – 105”). Pursuant to section 3A.3 of NI 33 – 105, this prospectus is exempt from the requirement that the issuer and the underwriter(s) provide investors with certain conflicts of interest disclosure pertaining to “connected issuer” and/or “related issuer” relationships that may exist between the issuer and the underwriter(s) as would otherwise be required pursuant to subsection 2.1(1) of NI 33 – 105.
Resale Restrictions
The offer and sale of the securities in Canada is being made on a private placement basis only and is exempt from the requirement that the issuer prepares and files a prospectus under applicable Canadian securities laws. Any resale of the securities acquired by a Canadian investor in this offering must be made in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws, which may vary depending on the relevant jurisdiction, and which may require resales to be made in accordance with Canadian prospectus requirements, pursuant to a statutory exemption from the prospectus requirements, in a transaction exempt from the prospectus requirements or otherwise under a discretionary exemption from the prospectus requirements granted by the applicable local Canadian securities regulatory authority. These resale restrictions may under certain circumstances apply to resales of the securities outside of Canada.
115
Representations of Purchasers
Each Canadian investor who purchases the securities will be deemed to have represented to the issuer and the underwriter(s) that the investor (i) is purchasing the securities as principal, or is deemed to be purchasing as principal in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws, for investment only and not with a view to resale or redistribution; (ii) is an “accredited investor” as such term is defined in section 1.1 of National Instrument 45 – 106 Prospectus Exemptions (“NI 45 – 106”) or, in Ontario, as such term is defined in section 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario); and (iii) is a “permitted client” as such term is defined in section 1.1 of National Instrument 31 – 103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations.
Taxation and Eligibility for Investment
Any discussion of taxation and related matters contained in this prospectus does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all of the tax considerations that may be relevant to a Canadian investor when deciding to purchase the securities and, in particular, does not address any Canadian tax considerations. No representation or warranty is hereby made as to the tax consequences to a resident, or deemed resident, of Canada of an investment in the securities or with respect to the eligibility of the securities for investment by such investor under relevant Canadian federal and provincial legislation and regulations.
Rights of Action for Damages or Rescission
Securities legislation in certain of the Canadian jurisdictions provides certain purchasers of securities pursuant to an offering memorandum (such as this prospectus), including where the distribution involves an “eligible foreign security” as such term is defined in Ontario Securities Commission Rule 45 – 501 Ontario Prospectus and Registration Exemptions and in Multilateral Instrument 45 – 107 Listing Representation and Statutory Rights of Action Disclosure Exemptions, as applicable, with a remedy for damages or rescission, or both, in addition to any other rights they may have at law, where the offering memorandum, or other offering document that constitutes an offering memorandum, and any amendment thereto, contains a “misrepresentation” as defined under applicable Canadian securities laws. These remedies, or notice with respect to these remedies, must be exercised or delivered, as the case may be, by the purchaser within the time limits prescribed under, and are subject to limitations and defences under, applicable Canadian securities legislation. In addition, these remedies are in addition to and without derogation from any other right or remedy available at law to the investor.
Language of Documents
Upon receipt of this document, each Canadian investor hereby confirms that it has expressly requested that all documents evidencing or relating in any way to the sale of the securities described herein (including for greater certainty any purchase confirmation or any notice) be drawn up in the English language only. Par la réception de ce document, chaque investisseur Canadien confirme par les présentes qu’il a expressément exigé que tous les documents faisant foi ou se rapportant de quelque manière que ce soit à la vente des valeurs mobilières décrites aux présentes (incluant, pour plus de certitude, toute confirmation d’achat ou tout avis) soient rédigés en anglais seulement.
Australia
This document does not constitute a prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document under the Australia’s Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (the “Corporations Act”) of Australia. This document has not been lodged with the Australian Securities & Investments Commission and is only directed to the categories of exempt persons set out below. Accordingly, if you receive this document in Australia:
You confirm and warrant that you are either:
• a “sophisticated investor” under section 708(8)(a) or (b) of the Corporations Act;
• a “sophisticated investor” under section 708(8)(c) or (d) of the Corporations Act and that you have provided an accountant’s certificate to the company which complies with the requirements of section 708(8)(c)(i) or (ii) of the Corporations Act and related regulations before the offer has been made; or
• a “professional investor” within the meaning of section 708(11)(a) or (b) of the Corporations Act.
116
To the extent that you are unable to confirm or warrant that you are an exempt sophisticated investor or professional investor under the Corporations Act any offer made to you under this document is void and incapable of acceptance.
You warrant and agree that you will not offer any of the shares issued to you pursuant to this document for resale in Australia within 12 months of those securities being issued unless any such resale offer is exempt from the requirement to issue a disclosure document under section 708 of the Corporations Act.
European Economic Area
In relation to each member state of the European Economic Area (each a “Member State”), no securities have been offered or will be offered pursuant to the offer described herein in that Member State prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the securities which has been approved by the competent authority in that Member State or, where appropriate, approved in another Member State and notified to the competent authority in that Member State, all in accordance with the Prospectus Regulation, except that the securities may be offered to the public in that Member State at any time:
(i) to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined under Article 2 of the Prospectus Regulation;
(ii) to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined under Article 2 of the Prospectus Regulation), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the underwriters for any such offer; or
(iii) in any other circumstances falling within Article 1(4) of the Prospectus Regulation,
provided that no such offer of securities shall require the issuer or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Regulation or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the Prospectus Regulation.
Each person in a Member State who acquires any securities in the offer or to whom any offer is made will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed to and with the issuer and the underwriters that it is a qualified investor within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation.
In the case of any securities being offered to a financial intermediary as that term is used in Article 5(1) of the Prospectus Regulation, each such financial intermediary will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed to and with the issuer and the underwriters that the securities acquired by it in the offer have not been acquired on a non-discretionary basis on behalf of, nor have they been acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in circumstances which may give rise to an offer to the public other than their offer or resale in a Member State to qualified investors, in circumstances in which the prior consent of the underwriters has been obtained to each such proposed offer or resale. Neither the issuer nor the underwriters have authorised, nor do they authorise, the making of any offer of securities through any financial intermediary, other than offers made by the underwriters which constitute the final placement of securities contemplated in this document.
The issuer and the underwriters and their affiliates will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing representations, acknowledgements and agreements.
For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer to the public” in relation to any securities in any Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for any securities, and the expression “Prospectus Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.
In Member States, this document is being distributed only to, and is directed only at, persons who are “qualified investors” within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation (“Qualified Investors”). This document must not be acted on or relied on in any Member State by persons who are not Qualified Investors. Any investment or investment activity to which this document relates is available in any Member State only to Qualified Investors and will be engaged in only with such persons.
Hong Kong
No securities have been, may be or will be offered or sold in Hong Kong, by means of any document, other than to persons whose ordinary business is to buy or sell shares or debentures, whether as principal or agent; or to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) of Hong Kong (the “SFO”) and any rules made thereunder; or in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” as defined in
117
the Companies (Winding UP and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32) of Hong Kong (the “C(WUMP)O”), or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the C(WUMP)O. No document, invitation or advertisement relating to the securities has been issued or may be issued or will be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public of Hong Kong (except if permitted under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to securities which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” as defined in the SFO and any rules made thereunder.
This document has not been and will not be registered with the Registrar of Companies in Hong Kong. Accordingly, this document may not be issued, circulated or distributed in Hong Kong, and the securities may not be offered for subscription to members of the public in Hong Kong. Each person acquiring the securities will be required, and is deemed by the acquisition of the securities, to confirm that he is aware of the restriction on offers of the securities described in this document and the relevant offering documents and that he is not acquiring, and has not been offered any securities in circumstances that contravene any such restrictions.
Japan
The offering has not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act of Japan (Act No. 25 of 1948 of Japan, as amended) (the “FIEA”), and the Initial Purchaser will not offer or sell any securities, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan (which term as used herein means, unless otherwise provided herein, any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan), or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to a resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the FIEA and any other applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines of Japan.
Singapore
This document has not been and will not be lodged or registered with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this document and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or the invitation for subscription or purchase of the securities may not be issued, circulated or distributed, nor may the securities be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to any person in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the “SFA”), (ii) to a relevant person as defined under Section 275(2) of the SFA, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A) of the SFA, and in accordance with the conditions, specified in Section 275 of the SFA and where (where applicable) Regulation 3 of the Securities and Futures (Classes of Investors) Regulations 2018, or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of any other applicable provision of the SFA. In the event that you are not an investor falling within any of the categories set out above, please return this document immediately. You may not forward or circulate this document to any other person in Singapore.
No offer is made to you with a view to the securities being subsequently offered for sale to any other party. There are on-sale restrictions that may be applicable to investors who acquire securities. As such, investors are advised to acquaint themselves with the provisions of the SFA relating to resale restrictions and comply accordingly.
Where the securities are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is:
• a corporation (which is not an accredited investor as defined under Section 4A of the SFA) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or
• a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary is an accredited investor,
securities or securities-based derivatives contracts (each term as defined in Section 2(1) of the SFA) of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferable within six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the securities under Section 275 of the SFA except:
• to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant person defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA, or to any person pursuant to an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) or Section 276(4)(i)(B) of the SFA;
118
• where no consideration is given for the transfer;
• where the transfer is by operation of law;
• as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA; or
• as specified in Regulation 37A of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Securities and Securities-based Derivatives Contracts) Regulations 2018 of Singapore.
Switzerland
The securities may not be publicly offered in Switzerland and will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, or SIX, or on any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. This document has been prepared without regard to the disclosure standards for issuance prospectuses under art. 652a or art. 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or the disclosure standards for listing prospectuses under art. 27 ff. of the SIX Listing Rules or the listing rules of any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the securities or the offering may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.
Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the offering, the issuer or the securities have been or will be filed with or approved by any Swiss regulatory authority. In particular, this document will not be filed with, and the offer of securities will not be supervised by, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA, or FINMA, and the offer of securities has not been and will not be authorized under the Swiss Federal Act on Collective Investment Schemes, or CISA. The investor protection afforded to acquirers of interests in collective investment schemes under the CISA does not extend to acquirers of securities.
Israel
This document does not constitute a prospectus under the Israeli Securities Law, 5728-1968, or the Securities Law, and has not been filed with or approved by the Israel Securities Authority. In the State of Israel, this document is being distributed only to, and is directed only at, and any offer of the shares is directed only at, investors listed in the first addendum, or the Addendum, to the Israeli Securities Law, consisting primarily of joint investment in trust funds, provident funds, insurance companies, banks, portfolio managers, investment advisors, members of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, underwriters, venture capital funds, entities with equity in excess of NIS 50 million and “qualified individuals”, each as defined in the Addendum (as it may be amended from time to time), collectively referred to as qualified investors (in each case purchasing for their own account or, where permitted under the Addendum, for the accounts of their clients who are investors listed in the Addendum). Qualified investors will be required to submit written confirmation that they fall within the scope of the Addendum, are aware of the meaning of same and agree to it.
United Kingdom
In relation to the United Kingdom, no securities have been offered or will be offered pursuant to the offer described herein to the public in the United Kingdom prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the securities which has been approved by the UK Financial Conduct Authority, except that the securities may be offered to the public in the United Kingdom at any time:
(i) to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined under Article 2 of the UK Prospectus Regulation;
(ii) to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined under Article 2 of the UK Prospectus Regulation), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the underwriters for any such offer; or
(iii) in any other circumstances falling within Section 86 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended) (the “FSMA”),
provided that no such offer of the securities shall require the issuer or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Section 85 of the FSMA or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the UK Prospectus Regulation.
119
Each person in the United Kingdom who acquires any securities in the offer or to whom any offer is made will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed to and with the issuer and the underwriters that it is a qualified investor within the meaning of the UK Prospectus Regulation.
In the case of any securities being offered to a financial intermediary as that term is used in Article 5(1) of the UK Prospectus Regulation, each such financial intermediary will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed to and with the issuer and the underwriters that the securities acquired by it in the offer have not been acquired on a non-discretionary basis on behalf of, nor have they been acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in circumstances which may give rise to an offer to the public other than their offer or resale in the United Kingdom to qualified investors, in circumstances in which the prior consent of the underwriters has been obtained to each such proposed offer or resale. Neither the issuer nor the underwriters have authorised, nor do they authorise, the making of any offer of securities through any financial intermediary, other than offers made by the underwriters which constitute the final placement of securities contemplated in this document.
The issuer and the underwriters and their affiliates will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing representations, acknowledgements and agreements.
For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer to the public” in relation to the securities in the United Kingdom means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for any securities and the expression “UK Prospectus Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of United Kingdom law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.
In the United Kingdom, this document is being distributed only to, and is directed only at, persons who are “qualified investors” within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the UK Prospectus Regulation who are also: (i) persons who fall within the definition of “investment professionals” in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the “Order”); (ii) persons falling within Article 49(2) of the Order; or (iii) persons to whom it may otherwise lawfully be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). This document must not be acted on or relied on in the United Kingdom by persons who are not relevant persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this document relates is available in the United Kingdom only to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with such persons.
Any invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the FSMA) may only be communicated or caused to be communicated in connection with the issue or sale of the securities in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply. All applicable provisions of the FSMA and the Order must be complied with in respect of anything done by any person in relation to the securities in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.
Cayman Islands
No offer or invitation, whether directly or indirectly, is being or may be made to the public in the Cayman Islands to subscribe for any of our securities.
120
Loeb & Loeb LLP is acting as our counsel in connection with the registration of our securities under the Securities Act, and as such, will pass upon the validity of the securities offered in this offering. Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP advised the underwriters in connection with the offering of the securities.
The financial statements of Iron Horse Acquisitions Corp. II at November 30, 2024 and for the period from November 26, 2024 (inception) through November 30, 2024 included in this prospectus have been audited by MaloneBailey, LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report, thereon (which contains an explanatory paragraph relating to substantial doubt about the ability of Iron Horse Acquisitions Corp. II to continue as a going concern, as described in Note 1 to the financial statements), appearing elsewhere in this prospectus, and are included in reliance on such report given upon such firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act with respect to the securities we are offering by this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. For further information about us and our securities, you should refer to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed with the registration statement. Whenever we make reference in this prospectus to any of our contracts, agreements or other documents, the references are materially complete but may not include a description of all aspects of such contracts, agreements or other documents, and you should refer to the exhibits attached to the registration statement for copies of the actual contract, agreement or other document.
Upon effectiveness of this offering, we will be subject to the information requirements of the Exchange Act and will file annual, quarterly and current event reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You can read our SEC filings, including the registration statement, over the Internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
121
IRON HORSE ACQUISITIONS CORP. II
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
PAGE |
||
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID:206) |
F-2 |
|
Financial Statements: |
||
Balance Sheets as of February 28, 2025 (unaudited) and November 30, 2024 |
F-3 |
|
F-4 |
||
F-5 |
||
F-6 |
||
F-7 – F-15 |
F-1
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of
Iron Horse Acquisitions Corp. II
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of Iron Horse Acquisitions Corp. II (the “Company”) as of November 30, 2024, and the related statements of operations, stockholder’s deficit, and cash flows for the period from November 26, 2024 (inception) through November 30, 2024, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of November 30, 2024, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the period from November 26, 2024 (inception) through November 30, 2024, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Going Concern Matter
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, the Company has suffered losses from operations and has a net capital deficiency that raises substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 1. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audit provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ MaloneBailey, LLP
www.malonebailey.com
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2024.
Houston, Texas
May 23, 2025
F-2
IRON HORSE ACQUISITIONS CORP. II
BALANCE SHEETS
As of |
As of |
|||||||
ASSETS |
|
|
|
|
||||
Cash |
$ |
17,097 |
|
$ |
— |
|
||
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS |
|
17,097 |
|
|
— |
|
||
Deferred offering costs |
|
128,534 |
|
|
15,000 |
|
||
TOTAL ASSETS |
$ |
145,631 |
|
$ |
15,000 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|||||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S DEFICIT |
|
|
|
|
||||
CURRENT LIABILITIES |
|
|
|
|
||||
Accrued expenses |
$ |
22,475 |
|
$ |
1,275 |
|
||
Accrued offering costs |
|
15,000 |
|
|
— |
|
||
Promissory note – related party |
|
157,101 |
|
|
15,000 |
|
||
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES |
|
194,576 |
|
|
16,275 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Commitments and contingencies (Note 5) |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
STOCKHOLDER’S DEFICIT |
|
|
|
|
||||
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
||
Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized, 5,750,000 shares issued and outstanding as of February 28, 2025 and November 30, 2024(1)(2) |
|
575 |
|
|
575 |
|
||
Stock subscription receivable |
|
— |
|
|
(25,000 |
) |
||
Additional paid-in capital |
|
24,425 |
|
|
24,425 |
|
||
Accumulated deficit |
|
(73,945 |
) |
|
(1,275 |
) |
||
TOTAL STOCKHOLDER’S DEFICIT |
|
(48,945 |
) |
|
(1,275 |
) |
||
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S DEFICIT |
$ |
145,631 |
|
$ |
15,000 |
|
____________
(1) This number includes an aggregate of 750,000 shares of common stock subject to forfeiture by the initial stockholder to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised in full. (Note 6)
(2) On May 8, 2025, through a stock recapitalization, the Company surrendered 6,571,429 shares of common stock, as a result of which the Sponsor has purchased and holds an aggregate of 5,750,000 shares of common stock. All share and per-share data have been retrospectively presented.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited financial statements.
F-3
IRON HORSE ACQUISITIONS CORP. II
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
For the |
For the |
|||||||
General, formation and operational costs |
$ |
72,670 |
|
$ |
1,275 |
|
||
Net loss |
$ |
(72,670 |
) |
$ |
(1,275 |
) |
||
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted(1)(2) |
|
5,000,000 |
|
|
5,000,000 |
|
||
Basic and diluted net loss per common stock |
$ |
(0.01 |
) |
$ |
(0.00 |
) |
____________
(1) Excludes an aggregate of 750,000 shares of common stock subject to forfeiture by the initial stockholder to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised in full. (Note 6)
(2) On May 8, 2025, through a stock recapitalization, the Company surrendered 6,571,429 shares of common stock, as a result of which the Sponsor has purchased and holds an aggregate of 5,750,000 shares of common stock. All share and per-share data have been retrospectively presented.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited financial statements.
F-4
IRON HORSE ACQUISITIONS CORP. II
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDER’S DEFICIT
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED FEBRUARY 28, 2025 (Unaudited)
|
Stock |
Additional |
Accumulated |
Total |
||||||||||||||||
Shares |
Amount |
|||||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 1, 2024 |
5,750,000 |
$ |
575 |
$ |
(25,000 |
) |
$ |
24,425 |
$ |
(1,275 |
) |
$ |
(1,275 |
) |
||||||
Payment of stock subscription receivable |
— |
|
— |
|
25,000 |
|
|
— |
|
— |
|
|
25,000 |
|
||||||
Net loss |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
(72,670 |
) |
|
(72,670 |
) |
||||||
Balance at February 28, 2025 |
5,750,000 |
$ |
575 |
$ |
— |
|
$ |
24,425 |
$ |
(73,945 |
) |
$ |
(48,945 |
) |
FOR THE PERIOD FROM NOVEMBER 26, 2024 (INCEPTION) THROUGH NOVEMBER 30, 2024
|
Stock |
Additional |
Accumulated |
Total |
||||||||||||||||
Shares |
Amount |
|||||||||||||||||||
Balance at November 26, 2024 (Inception) |
— |
$ |
— |
$ |
— |
|
$ |
— |
$ |
— |
|
$ |
— |
|
||||||
Common stock issued to initial stockholder(1) |
5,750,000 |
|
575 |
|
(25,000 |
) |
|
24,425 |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
||||||
Net loss |
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
(1,275 |
) |
|
(1,275 |
) |
||||||
Balance at November 30, 2024 |
5,750,000 |
$ |
575 |
$ |
(25,000 |
) |
$ |
24,425 |
$ |
(1,275 |
) |
$ |
(1,275 |
) |
____________
(1) This number includes an aggregate of 750,000 shares of common stock subject to forfeiture by the initial stockholder to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised in full. (Note 6)
(2) On May 8, 2025, through a stock recapitalization, the Company surrendered 6,571,429 shares of common stock, as a result of which the Sponsor has purchased and holds an aggregate of 5,750,000 shares of common stock. All share and per-share data have been retrospectively presented.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited financial statements.
F-5
IRON HORSE ACQUISITIONS CORP. II
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the |
For the |
|||||||
Cash flow from operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
||||
Net loss |
$ |
(72,670 |
) |
$ |
(1,275 |
) |
||
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
||||
Changes in current assets and liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
||||
Accrued expenses |
|
21,200 |
|
|
1,275 |
|
||
Net cash used in operating activities |
|
(51,470 |
) |
|
— |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Cash flow from financing activities: |
|
|
|
|
||||
Proceeds from issuance of common stock to Sponsor |
|
25,000 |
|
|
— |
|
||
Proceeds from promissory note – related party |
|
142,101 |
|
|
— |
|
||
Payment of offering costs |
|
(98,534 |
) |
|
— |
|
||
Net cash provided by financing activities |
|
68,567 |
|
|
— |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net Change in Cash |
|
17,097 |
|
|
— |
|
||
Cash at beginning of period |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
||
Cash at end of period |
$ |
17,097 |
|
$ |
— |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash financing activities: |
|
|
|
|
||||
Offering costs included in accrued offering costs |
$ |
15,000 |
|
$ |
— |
|
||
Payment of offering costs by the Sponsor |
$ |
— |
|
$ |
15,000 |
|
||
Common stock issued in exchange for subscription stock receivable |
$ |
— |
|
$ |
25,000 |
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited financial statements.
F-6
IRON HORSE ACQUISITIONS CORP. II
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FEBRUARY 28, 2025 (Unaudited)
Note 1 — Organization, Plan of Business Operations and Going Concern Consideration
Iron Horse Acquisitions Corp. II (the “Company”) was incorporated in Delaware on November 26, 2024 as a blank check company for the purpose of entering into a merger, stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination, one or more businesses or entities (a “Business Combination”). The Company’s efforts to identify a prospective target business will not be limited to a particular industry or geographic region although it intends to initially focus on target companies within the media and entertainment industry with a primary focus on the United States, and in particular on identifying attractive targets among content studios and film production, family entertainment, animation, music, gaming, e-sports, talent management, and talent-facing brands and businesses.
As of February 28, 2025, the Company had not yet commenced any operations. All activity from November 26, 2024 (inception) through February 28, 2025 relates to the Company’s formation and the proposed public offering described below. The Company has selected November 30 as its fiscal year-end.
The Company’s ability to commence operations is contingent upon obtaining adequate financial resources through a proposed public offering of up to 20,000,000 units at $10.00 per unit (or 23,000,000 units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full) (“Units”), which is discussed in Note 3 (“Proposed Public Offering”). Simultaneously with the consummation of the Proposed Public Offering, Bengochea SPAC Sponsors II LLC (the “Sponsor”) and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., the representative of the underwriters, will commit that it and/or its designees will purchase 570,000 private placement units (“Private Placement Units”) at a price of $10.00 per unit for an aggregate purchase price of $5,700,000 (whether or not if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full). Of those 570,000 Private Placement Units, our sponsor has agreed to purchase 370,000 units and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. has agreed to purchase 200,000 Private Placement Units. All of the proceeds the Company receives from the sale of Private Placement Units will be used to fund operating expenses prior to a potential merger transaction and will not be placed in the trust account described below. The Company’s management has broad discretion with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds of the sale of Private Placement Units, although substantially all of the net proceeds are intended to be applied generally toward consummating a Business Combination. The Company intends to apply to have the Units listed on the Nasdaq Global Market (“NASDAQ”). Pursuant to the NASDAQ listing rules, the Company’s initial Business Combination must be with a target business or businesses whose collective fair market value is at least equal to 80% of the balance in the trust account at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for such Business Combination (net of taxes payable and deferred underwriting commissions), although this may entail simultaneous acquisitions of several target businesses. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to effect a Business Combination successfully.
Upon the closing of the Proposed Public Offering, management has agreed that certain of the proceeds from the Units sold in the Proposed Public Offering, will be held in a United States-based trust account (“Trust Account”) and held as cash items or invested in United States government treasury bills, bonds or notes, 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 until the earlier of (i) the consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination (ii) the redemption of any shares of common stock included in the Units being sold in the Proposed Public Offering that have been properly tendered in connection with a stockholder vote to amend the Company’s certificate of incorporation to modify the substance or timing of its obligation to redeem 100% of such shares of common stock if it does not complete the Initial Business Combination within 24 months from the closing of the Proposed Public Offering; and (iii) the Company’s failure to consummate a Business Combination within the prescribed time. If the Company is unable to consummate an initial business combination within such time period, the Company will redeem 100% of its outstanding public shares for a pro rata portion of the funds held in the trust account, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to the Company for taxes (and less up to $100,000 of interest which can be used for liquidation expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, subject to applicable law and as further described herein, and then seek to dissolve and liquidate. Placing funds in the Trust Account may not protect those funds from third party claims against the Company. Although the Company will seek to have all vendors, service providers, prospective target businesses or other entities it engages, execute agreements with the Company waiving any claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the Trust Account, there is no guarantee that such persons will execute such agreements.
F-7
IRON HORSE ACQUISITIONS CORP. II
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FEBRUARY 28, 2025 (Unaudited)
Note 1 — Organization, Plan of Business Operations and Going Concern Consideration (cont.)
The remaining net proceeds (not held in the Trust Account) may be used to pay for business, legal and accounting due diligence on prospective acquisitions and continuing general and administrative expenses. Additionally, certain interest earned on the Trust Account balance may be released to the Company to pay the Company’s tax obligations.
The Company, after signing a definitive agreement for the acquisition of a target business, is required to provide stockholders who acquired shares of common stock sold as part of the units in this offering (“Public Shares”) in the Proposed Public Offering (“Public Stockholders”) with the opportunity to redeem their Public Shares for a pro rata share of the Trust Account. The holders of the Founder Shares will agree to vote any shares they then hold in favor of any proposed Business Combination and will waive any redemption rights with respect to these shares pursuant to letter agreements to be executed prior to the Proposed Public Offering.
In connection with any proposed Business Combination, the Company will seek stockholder approval of an initial Business Combination at a meeting called for such purpose at which Public Stockholders may seek to redeem their Public Shares, regardless of whether they vote for or against the proposed Business Combination. Alternatively, the Company may conduct a tender offer and allow redemptions in connection therewith. If the Company seeks stockholder approval of an initial Business Combination, any Public Stockholder voting either for or against such proposed Business Combination or not voting at all will be entitled to demand that his Public Shares be redeemed for a full pro rata portion of the amount then in the Trust Account (initially $10.00 per share, plus any pro rata interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company or necessary to pay its taxes). Holders of rights sold as part of the Units will not be entitled to vote on the Proposed Business Combination and will have no redemption or liquidation rights with respect to the shares of common stock underlying such rights.
If the Company is unable to complete its initial Business Combination and expends all of the net proceeds from the sale of the Private Placement Units not deposited in the Trust Account, without taking into account any interest earned on the Trust Account, the Company expects that the initial per-share redemption price for common stock will be $10.00. The proceeds deposited in the Trust Account could, however, become subject to claims of the Company’s creditors that are in preference to the claims of the Company’s stockholders. In addition, if the Company is forced to file a bankruptcy case or an involuntary bankruptcy case is filed against it that is not dismissed, the proceeds held in the Trust Account could be subject to applicable bankruptcy law, and may be included in its bankruptcy estate and subject to the claims of third parties with priority over the claims of the Company’s common stockholders. Therefore, the actual per-share redemption price may be less than approximately $10.00.
Going Concern Consideration
As of February 28, 2025, the Company had cash of $17,097 and a working capital deficit of $177,479 (excluding deferred offering costs). As of November 30, 2024, the Company had no cash and a working capital deficit of $16,275 (excluding deferred offering costs). The Company has incurred and expects to continue to incur significant costs in pursuit of its financing and acquisition plans. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued. Management plans to address this uncertainty through a Proposed Public Offering as discussed in Note 3. There is no assurance that the Company’s plans to raise capital or to consummate a Business Combination will be successful within the Combination Period. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Risks and Uncertainties
The United States and global markets are experiencing volatility and disruption following the geopolitical instability resulting from the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Israel-Hamas conflict. In response to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (“NATO”) deployed additional military forces to eastern Europe, and the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union and other countries have announced various sanctions and restrictive actions against Russia, Belarus and related individuals and entities, including the removal of certain financial institutions from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) payment system. Certain countries, including the United States, have also provided and may continue to
F-8
IRON HORSE ACQUISITIONS CORP. II
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FEBRUARY 28, 2025 (Unaudited)
Note 1 — Organization, Plan of Business Operations and Going Concern Consideration (cont.)
provide military aid or other assistance to Ukraine and to Israel, increasing geopolitical tensions among a number of nations. The invasion of Ukraine by Russia and the Israel-Hamas conflict and the resulting measures that have been taken, and could be taken in the future, by NATO, the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Israel and its neighboring states and other countries have created global security concerns that could have a lasting impact on regional and global economies. Although the length and impact of the ongoing conflicts are highly unpredictable, they could lead to market disruptions, including significant volatility in commodity prices, credit and capital markets, as well as supply chain interruptions and increased cyber-attacks against U.S. companies. Additionally, any resulting sanctions could adversely affect the global economy and financial markets and lead to instability and lack of liquidity in capital markets.
Any of the above-mentioned factors, or any other negative impact on the global economy, capital markets or other geopolitical conditions resulting from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Israel-Hamas conflict and subsequent sanctions or related actions, could adversely affect the Company’s search for an initial Business Combination and any target business with which the Company may ultimately consummate an initial Business Combination.
Note 2 — Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The accompanying unaudited financial statements as of February 28, 2025 has been prepared in accordance with US GAAP and the rules of the SEC. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of a normal accruals), considered for a fair presentation have been included. The interim results for the three months ended February 28, 2025 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending November 30, 2025 or for any future periods.
Emerging Growth Company
The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the “Securities Act”), as modified by the Jumpstart our Business Startups Act of 2012, (the “JOBS Act”), and it may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
Further, section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable. The Company has elected not to opt out of such extended transition period which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of the Company’s financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accountant standards used.
F-9
IRON HORSE ACQUISITIONS CORP. II
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FEBRUARY 28, 2025 (Unaudited)
Note 2 — Significant Accounting Policies (cont.)
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Making estimates requires management to exercise significant judgment. It is at least reasonably possible that the estimate of the effect of a condition, situation or set of circumstances that existed at the date of the financial statements, which management considered in formulating its estimate, could change in the near-term due to one or more future confirming events. Accordingly, the actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all short-term investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. As of February 28, 2025 (unaudited) and November 30, 2024, there was $17,097 and $0 in cash and no cash equivalents, respectively.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities, which qualify as financial instruments under ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,” approximates the carrying amounts represented in the accompanying balance sheet, primarily due to their short-term nature.
Income Taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes under ASC 740 Income Taxes (“ASC 740”). ASC 740 requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for both the expected impact of differences between the financial statements and tax basis of assets and liabilities and for the expected future tax benefit to be derived from tax loss and tax credit carry forwards. ASC 740 additionally requires a valuation allowance to be established when it is more likely than not that all or a portion of deferred tax assets will not be realized. Deferred tax assets were deemed to be de minimus at February 28, 2025 (unaudited) and November 30, 2024.
ASC 740 also clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements and prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement process for financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. ASC 740 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. The Company is required to file income tax returns in the United States (federal) and in various state and local jurisdictions. Based on the Company’s evaluation, it has been concluded that there are no significant uncertain tax positions requiring recognition in the Company’s financial statements. Since the Company was incorporated on November 26, 2024, the evaluation was performed for the upcoming 2025 tax year, which will be the only period subject to examination. The Company believes that its income tax positions and deductions would be sustained on audit and does not anticipate any adjustments that would result in a material change to its financial position.
The Company’s policy for recording interest and penalties associated with audits is to record such expense as a component of income tax expense. There were no amounts accrued for penalties or interest as of February 28, 2025 (unaudited) and November 30, 2024. Management is currently unaware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviations from its position.
The provision for income taxes was deemed to be de minimis for the for the three months ended February 28, 2025 (unaudited) and for the period from November 26, 2024 (inception) through November 30, 2024.
F-10
IRON HORSE ACQUISITIONS CORP. II
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FEBRUARY 28, 2025 (Unaudited)
Note 2 — Significant Accounting Policies (cont.)
Net Loss per Common stock
Net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period, excluding shares of common stock subject to forfeiture. Weighted average shares were reduced for the effect of an aggregate of 750,000 shares of common stock that are subject to forfeiture if the over-allotment option is not exercised by the underwriters (see Note 6). At February 28, 2025 (unaudited) and November 30, 2024, the Company did not have any dilutive securities and other contracts that could, potentially, be exercised or converted into common stock and then share in the earnings of the Company. As a result, diluted loss per share is the same as basic loss per share for the period presented.
Deferred Offering Costs
The Company complies with the requirements of the ASC 340-10-S99 and SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) Topic 5A — “Expenses of Offering”. Deferred offering costs consist of underwriting, legal, accounting and other expenses incurred through the balance sheet date that are directly related to the Proposed Public Offering and that will be charged to stockholders’ equity upon the completion of the Proposed Public Offering. Should the Proposed Public Offering prove to be unsuccessful, these deferred costs, as well as additional expenses to be incurred, will be charged to operations.
Redeemable Share Classification
The Company’s common stock that will be sold as part of the Units in the Proposed Public Offering (“public common stock”) contain a redemption feature which allows for the redemption of such public shares in connection with the Company’s liquidation, or if there is a stockholder vote or tender offer in connection with the Company’s initial business combination. In accordance with ASC 480-10-S99, the Company classifies public common stock subject to redemption outside of permanent equity as the redemption provisions are not solely within the control of the Company. The public common stock sold as part of the Units in the Proposed Public Offering will be issued with other freestanding instruments (i.e., Public Rights) and as such, the initial carrying value of public common stock classified as temporary equity will be the allocated proceeds determined in accordance with ASC 470-20. The public common stock are subject to ASC 480-10-S99 and are currently not redeemable as the redemption is contingent upon the occurrence of events mentioned above. According to ASC 480-10-S99-15, no subsequent adjustment is needed if it is not probable that the instrument will become redeemable.
Derivative Financial Instruments
The Company evaluates its financial instruments to determine if such instruments are derivatives or contain features that qualify as embedded derivatives in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 815, “Derivatives and Hedging”. Derivative instruments are initially recorded at fair value on the grant date and re-valued at each reporting date, with changes in the fair value reported in the statement of operations. The classification of derivative instruments, including whether such instruments should be recorded as liabilities or as equity, is evaluated at the end of each reporting period. Derivative assets and liabilities are classified in the balance sheet as current or non-current based on whether or not net-cash settlement or conversion of the instruments could be required within 12 months of the balance sheet date.
The over-allotment option is deemed to be a freestanding financial instrument indexed on the contingently redeemable shares and will be accounted for as a liability pursuant to ASC 480.
Share Rights
The Company will account for the Public and Private Placement Rights to be issued in connection with the Proposed Public Offering and the private placement in accordance with the guidance contained in FASB ASC Topic 815, “Derivatives and Hedging”. Accordingly, the Company evaluated and classified the rights under equity treatment at their assigned value.
F-11
IRON HORSE ACQUISITIONS CORP. II
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FEBRUARY 28, 2025 (Unaudited)
Note 2 — Significant Accounting Policies (cont.)
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In November 2023, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2023-07, “Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures.” The amendments in this ASU require disclosures, on an annual and interim basis, of significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”), as well as the aggregate amount of other segment items included in the reported measure of segment profit or loss. The ASU requires that a public entity disclose the title and position of the CODM and an explanation of how the CODM uses the reported measure(s) of segment profit or loss in assessing segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources. Public entities will be required to provide all annual disclosures currently required by Topic 280 in interim periods, and entities with a single reportable segment are required to provide all the disclosures required by the amendments in this ASU and existing segment disclosures in Topic 280. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2023-07 on December 1, 2024.
Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards if currently adopted would have a material effect on the accompanying financial statements.
Note 3 — Proposed Public Offering
The Proposed Public Offering calls for the Company to offer for public sale up to 20,000,000 Units at a proposed offering price of $10.00 per Unit. In addition, the Company has granted the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 3,000,000 Units at a price of $10.00 per Unit, solely to cover over-allotments, if any. Each Unit consists of one share of the Company’s common stock, $0.0001 par value, and one right to one-tenth (1/10) of one share of common stock upon the consummation of the Company’s initial business combination, so you must hold rights in multiples of 10 in order to receive shares for all of your rights upon closing of a combination.
Note 4 — Private Placement
The Sponsor and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., will commit to purchase 570,000 Private Placement Units (whether or not if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) at $10.00 per unit, for an aggregate purchase price of $5,700,000 from the Company. Of those 570,000 Private Placement Units, our sponsor has agreed to purchase 370,000 units and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. has agreed to purchase 200,000 Private Placement Units. These purchases will take place simultaneously with the consummation of the Proposed Public Offering. All of the proceeds received from the sale of the Private Placement Units will be used to fund operating costs of the Company in advance of a Business Combination and will not be placed in the Trust Account. The Private Placement Units will be identical to the units sold as a part of the Units being offered in the Proposed Public Offering.
Note 5 — Commitments and Contingencies
Registration Rights
The holders of the Founders Shares issued and outstanding, as well as the holders of the private placement units, including those to be issued upon conversion of the rights, and any rights the initial stockholders, officers, directors or their affiliates may be issued in payment of working capital loans made to the Company (and all underlying securities), will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to an agreement to be signed prior to or on the effective date of the Proposed Public Offering. The holders of a majority of these securities are entitled to make up to two demands that the Company register such securities. The holders of the majority of the Founders Shares can elect to exercise these registration rights at any time commencing three months prior to the date on which these shares of common stock are to be released from escrow. The holders of a majority of the public and private rights issued to our initial stockholders, officers, directors or their affiliates in payment of working capital loans made to the Company (or underlying securities) can elect to exercise these registration rights at any time after the Company consummates a Business Combination. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the underwriter may only make a demand on one
F-12
IRON HORSE ACQUISITIONS CORP. II
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FEBRUARY 28, 2025 (Unaudited)
Note 5 — Commitments and Contingencies (cont.)
occasion and only during the five-year period beginning on the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to our consummation of a business combination; provided, however, that the underwriter may participate in a “piggy-back” registration only during the seven-year period beginning on the effective date of the Proposed Public Offering. The Company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.
Underwriting Agreement
The Company has granted the underwriters a 45-day option from the date of Proposed Public Offering to purchase up to 3,000,000 additional Units to cover over-allotments, if any, at the Proposed Public Offering price less the underwriting discounts and commissions.
The underwriter will be entitled to a cash underwriting discount of 2.0% of the gross proceeds of the Proposed Public Offering, or $4,000,000 (whether or not if the underwriter’s over-allotment is exercised in full), payable upon the closing of the Proposed Public Offering.
Additionally, the underwriter will be entitled to a deferred underwriting discount of 4.5% of gross proceeds, or $9,000,000 in the aggregate (or $10,950,000 in the aggregate if the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full). The deferred underwriting discount will become payable to the underwriter from the amounts held in the Trust Account solely in the event the Company completes its Initial Business Combination.
Note 6 — Related Party Transactions
Founder’s Shares
On November 29, 2024, the Company issued an aggregate of 12,321,429 shares of common stock (the “Founder Shares”) for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000. As of November 30, 2024, the $25,000 had not been received for the issuance of the Founder Shares and it is presented as a subscription receivable on the equity statement. Subsequently on December 27, 2024, the Company received the $25,000 for the Founder Shares. On May 8, 2025, through a share recapitalization, the Company surrendered 6,571,429 shares of common stock, as a result of which the Sponsor has purchased and holds an aggregate of 5,750,000 shares of common stock. All share and per share data have been retrospectively presented. The Founder Shares include an aggregate of up to 750,000 shares subject to forfeiture by the holders to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment is not exercised in full or in part, so that the holders will collectively own 20% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares after the Proposed Public Offering (assuming the initial stockholders do not purchase any Public Shares in the Proposed Public Offering. The holders of the Founder Shares will agree not to transfer, assign or sell any of the Founder Shares (except to certain permitted transferees) until (i) 180 days after the completion of a Business and (ii) if, subsequent to a Business Combination, the Company completes a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their common stock for cash, securities or other property.
Promissory Note — Related Party
On November 29, 2024, as amended on May 15, 2025, the Company entered into a promissory note with the Sponsor in which the Sponsor may loan the Company up to $300,000. The promissory note is non-interest bearing, and due the earlier of October 31, 2025 or the date with the Company consummates the Proposed Public Offering. As of February 28, 2025 (unaudited) and November 30, 2024, the Company owes $157,101 and $15,000, respectively, under the promissory note.
Working Capital Loans
In order to finance transaction costs in connection with a Business Combination, the Initial Stockholders, the Sponsor, the Company’s officers and directors or their affiliates may, but are not obligated to, loan the Company funds from time to time or at any time, as may be required (“Working Capital Loans”). Each Working Capital Loan would be evidenced
F-13
IRON HORSE ACQUISITIONS CORP. II
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FEBRUARY 28, 2025 (Unaudited)
Note 6 — Related Party Transactions (cont.)
by a promissory note. The notes would either be paid upon consummation of our initial business combination, without interest, or, at holder’s discretion, if there are excess proceeds, upon consummation of this offering. In the event that the initial Business Combination does not close, we may use a portion of the working capital held outside the Trust Account to repay such loaned amounts, but no proceeds from our Trust Account would be used for such repayment. These loans would be repaid at completion of the initial Business Combination. As of February 28, 2025 (unaudited) and November 30, 2024, no Working Capital Loans were outstanding.
Note 7 — Stockholders’ Equity
Preferred Stock
The Company is authorized to issue 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock with a par value of $0.0001 per share with such designation, rights and preferences as may be determined from time to time by the Company’s board of directors. As of February 28, 2025 (unaudited) and November 30, 2024, there are no shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding.
Common Stock
The Company is authorized to issue 50,000,000 shares of common stock with a par value of $0.0001 per share. As of February 28, 2025 (unaudited) and November 30, 2024, 5,750,000 shares of common stock were issued and outstanding. The issued and outstanding shares includes 750,000 of which are subject to forfeiture to the extent that the underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised in full so that the holders of the Founder Shares will represent approximately 20% of the issued and outstanding common stock after the Proposed Public Offering (assuming they do not purchase any units in this offering). All of these shares will be placed into an escrow account on the closing of the Proposed Public Offering. Subject to certain limited exceptions, these shares will not be transferred, assigned, sold, or released from escrow for a period ending on the 180-day anniversary of the date of the consummation of the initial business combination, or earlier if, subsequent to the initial business combination, the Company consummates a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property.
Rights
Each holder of a right will receive one-tenth (1/10) of one share of common stock upon consummation of a Business Combination, even if the holder of such right redeemed all shares held by it in connection with a Business Combination. No fractional shares will be issued upon exchange of the rights. No additional consideration will be required to be paid by a holder of rights in order to receive its additional shares upon consummation of a Business Combination as the consideration related thereto has been included in the unit purchase price paid for by investors in the Proposed Public Offering. If the Company enters into a definitive agreement for a Business Combination in which the Company will not be the surviving entity, the definitive agreement will provide for the holders of rights to receive the same per share consideration the holders of the shares of common stock will receive in the transaction on an as-converted into common stock basis and each holder of a right will be required to affirmatively convert its rights in order to receive one-tenth (1/10) of one share underlying each right (without paying additional consideration).
Additionally, in no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the rights. If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period and the Company liquidates the funds held in the Trust Account, holders of rights will not receive any of such funds with respect to their rights, nor will they receive any distribution from the Company’s assets held outside of the Trust Account with respect to such rights. Accordingly, the rights may expire worthless.
F-14
IRON HORSE ACQUISITIONS CORP. II
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FEBRUARY 28, 2025 (Unaudited)
Note 8 — Segment Information
ASC Topic 280, “Segment Reporting,” establishes standards for companies to report in their financial statement information about operating segments, products, services, geographic areas, and major customers. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise for which separate financial information is available that is regularly evaluated by the Company’s CODM, or group, in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance.
The Company’s CODM has been identified as the Chief Financial Officer (“CODM”), who reviews the operating results for the Company as a whole to make decisions about allocating resources and assessing financial performance. Accordingly, management has determined that the Company only has one operating segment.
The CODM assesses performance for the single segment and decides how to allocate resources based on net income or loss that also is reported on the statement of operations as net income or loss. The measure of segment assets is reported on the balance sheet as total assets. When evaluating the Company’s performance and making key decisions regarding resource allocation the CODM reviews several key metrics, which include the following:
For the |
For the |
|||||
General, formation and operational costs |
$ |
72,670 |
$ |
1,275 |
General, formation and operational costs are reviewed and monitored by the CODM to manage and forecast cash to ensure enough capital is available to complete a Proposed Public Offering and eventually a Business Combination within the business combination period. The CODM also reviews general, formation and operational costs to manage, maintain and enforce all contractual agreements to ensure costs are aligned with all agreements and budget. General, formation and operational costs, as reported on the statement of operations, are the significant segment expenses provided to the CODM on a regular basis.
All other segment items included in net income or loss are reported on the statement of operations and described within their respective disclosures.
Note 9 — Subsequent Events
The Company evaluated subsequent events and transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date up to the date the financial statements were issued. Based on this review, other than as noted below, the Company did not identify any subsequent events that would have required adjustment or disclosure in the financial statements.
On May 15, 2025, the Company amended the promissory note to extend the date of maturity to October 31, 2025.
The Company had initially engaged D. Boral Capital LLC (“D. Boral”) to act as the lead underwriter in connection with this public offering. On May 19 2025, D. Boral and the Company agreed to terminate such engagement, and in consideration therefore, the sponsor has agreed to transfer 10,000 founder shares to D. Boral in full settlement of any fees incurred by D. Boral in connection with their engagement (the “D. Boral Shares”). The D. Boral Shares will be subject to the same lock-up and transfer restrictions as the other holders of founder shares.
F-15
20,000,000 Units
Iron Horse Acquisitions Corp. II
_______________________________
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS
_______________________________
Book-Running Manager
Cantor
Until , 2025 (25 days after the date of this prospectus), all dealers that buy, sell or trade our common stock, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the dealers’ obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
ITEM 13. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.
The estimated expenses payable by us in connection with the offering described in this registration statement (other than the underwriting discount and commissions) will be as follows:
Legal fees and expenses |
$ |
275,000 |
|
Printing and engraving expenses |
|
40,000 |
|
Trustee fees and expenses |
|
25,000 |
|
Accounting fees and expenses |
|
85,000 |
|
SEC/FINRA expenses |
|
98,534 |
|
Travel and road show expenses |
|
15,000 |
|
Nasdaq listing fees |
|
85,000 |
|
Miscellaneous |
|
76,466 |
|
Total offering expenses (other than underwriting commissions) |
$ |
700,000 |
ITEM 14. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
Our certificate of incorporation provides that all directors, officers, employees and agents of the registrant shall be entitled to be indemnified by us to the fullest extent permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law concerning indemnification of officers, directors, employees and agents is set forth below.
“Section 145. Indemnification of officers, directors, employees and agents; insurance.
(a) A corporation shall have power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that the person’s conduct was unlawful.
(b) A corporation shall have power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which
II-1
such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
(c) To the extent that a present or former director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections (a) and (b) of this section, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.
(d) Any indemnification under subsections (a) and (b) of this section (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the present or former director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because the person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of this section. Such determination shall be made, with respect to a person who is a director or officer at the time of such determination, (1) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (2) by a committee of such directors designated by majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or (3) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (4) by the stockholders.
(e) Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an officer or director in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as authorized in this section. Such expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by former directors and officers or other employees and agents may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the corporation deems appropriate.
(f) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, the other subsections of this section shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office.
(g) A corporation shall have power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under this section.
(h) For purposes of this section, references to “the corporation” shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under this section with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as such person would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.
(i) For purposes of this section, references to “other enterprises” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to any employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the corporation” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the corporation” as referred to in this section.
II-2
(j) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this section shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
(k) The Court of Chancery is hereby vested with exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine all actions for advancement of expenses or indemnification brought under this section or under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise. The Court of Chancery may summarily determine a corporation’s obligation to advance expenses (including attorneys’ fees).”
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers, and controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been advised that, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person in a successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, we will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to the court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
Paragraph B of Article Eighth of our certificate of incorporation provides:
“The Corporation, to the full extent permitted by Section 145 of the GCL, as amended from time to time, shall indemnify all persons whom it may indemnify pursuant thereto. Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an officer or director in defending any civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative action, suit or proceeding for which such officer or director may be entitled to indemnification hereunder shall be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as authorized hereby.”
Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this Registration Statement, we have agreed to indemnify the Underwriter and the Underwriter has agreed to indemnify us against certain civil liabilities that may be incurred in connection with this offering, including certain liabilities under the Securities Act.
We will enter into indemnification agreements with each of our officers and directors a form of which is to be filed as an exhibit to this Registration Statement. These agreements will require us to indemnify these individuals to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law against liabilities that may arise by reason of their service to us, and to advance expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified.
ITEM 15. RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES.
(a) During the past three years, we sold the following shares of common stock without registration under the Securities Act:
Stockholders |
Number of |
|
Bengochea SPAC Sponsors II LLC |
5,750,000 |
Such shares were issued in connection with our organization pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act as the shares were sold to an accredited investor. The shares issued were sold for an aggregate offering price of $25,000 at an average purchase price of approximately $0.004 per share.
The Company’s sponsor and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. have also committed that it and/or its designees will purchase 570,000 private units (whether or not the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full) for $10.00 per private unit or $5,700,000 (whether or not the underwriter’s over-allotment option is exercised in full), of which the sponsor has agreed to purchase 370,000 units and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. has agreed to purchase 200,000 units. This purchase will take place on a private placement basis simultaneously with the consummation of the initial public offering. These issuances will be made pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
No underwriting discounts or commissions were paid with respect to such sales.
II-3
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.
Exhibit No. |
Description |
|
1.1+ |
||
3.1+ |
||
3.2+ |
||
3.3+ |
||
4.1+ |
||
4.2+ |
||
4.3+ |
||
4.4+ |
Form of Rights Agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company and the Registrant. |
|
5.1* |
||
10.1+ |
Form of Letter Agreement from each of the Registrant’s officers, directors and initial stockholders. |
|
10.2* |
||
10.3.1+ |
||
10.3.2+ |
||
10.4+ |
||
10.5.1+ |
Form of Subscription Agreement for private units by initial stockholders. |
|
10.5.2+ |
||
10.6+ |
||
10.7+ |
Subscription Agreement between the Registrant and Bengochea SPAC Sponsors II LLC Founder Shares. |
|
14+ |
||
23.1+ |
||
23.2* |
||
23.3+ |
||
23.4+ |
||
23.5+ |
||
24+ |
Power of Attorney (included on signature page of this Registration Statement). |
|
99.1+ |
||
99.2+ |
||
99.3+ |
||
107+ |
____________
+ Previously filed.
* Filed herewith.
** To be filed.
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS.
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
i. To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
ii. To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;
II-4
iii. To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) That for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933 in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
(b) The undersigned hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriter at the closing specified in the underwriting agreements, certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriter to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
(d) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:
(1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.
(2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
II-5
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in New York, New York, on the 3rd day of July, 2025.
IRON HORSE ACQUISITIONS CORP. II |
||||
By: |
/s/ Jose Bengochea |
|||
Name: |
Jose A. Bengochea |
|||
Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Jose Bengochea his/her true and lawful attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign any and all amendments including pre- and post-effective amendments to this registration statement, any subsequent registration statement for the same offering which may be filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and pre- or post-effective amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact or his substitute, each acting alone, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Name |
Position |
Date |
||
/s/ Jose Bengochea |
Chief Executive Officer |
July 3, 2025 |
||
Jose Bengochea |
(Principal Executive Officer) and Chairman of the Board |
|||
/s/ William Caragol |
Chief Financial Officer and Director |
July 3, 2025 |
||
William Caragol |
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
|||
/s/ Tarron Hecox |
Director |
July 3, 2025 |
||
Tarron Hecox |
||||
/s/ Melissa Escobar |
Director |
July 3, 2025 |
||
Melissa Escobar |
||||
/s/ Constantino Mendieta |
Director |
July 3, 2025 |
||
Dr. Constantino Mendieta |
II-6