Item 1. Business
Introduction
We are a blank check company
incorporated in the British Virgin Islands on December 12, 2014 as a business company with limited liability. This means that our
shareholders have no additional liability for the company’s liabilities over and above the amount paid for their shares.
We were formed for the purpose of entering into an initial business combination with one or more target businesses, which we refer
to in this report as the initial business combination. Our efforts to identify a prospective target business will not be limited
to a particular industry or geographic region, although we intend to focus our search on target businesses and assets in the metals
and mining industry, with an emphasis on gold and other precious metals.
We are led by our management
team of Thomas S. Kaplan, our Chairman, and Eric N. Vincent, our Chief Executive Officer. Messrs. Kaplan and Vincent are officers
of our sponsor and TEG, a privately held global natural resources investment management company that manages the assets of Mr.
Kaplan and other institutional investors. TEG is the investment advisor to Electrum Strategic Opportunities Fund L.P., or ESOF,
the majority owner of the sponsor, and will assist Messrs. Kaplan and Vincent in the sourcing, evaluation and execution of investment
opportunities.
Over the course of their
careers, Messrs. Kaplan and Vincent have developed a broad international network of contacts and corporate relationships that we
believe will serve as a useful source of investment opportunities. We will seek to capitalize on the global network and investing
and operating experience of our management team to identify, acquire and operate one or more businesses or assets in the metals
and mining industry within or outside of the United States, although we may pursue a business combination outside of this industry.
In the event that we elect to pursue an investment outside of metals and mining, our management’s expertise related to that
industry may not be directly applicable to its evaluation or operation, and the information contained herein regarding this industry
might not be relevant to an understanding of the business or asset that we elect to acquire.
We believe that our management
team is well positioned to take advantage of investment opportunities and that TEG’s deep domain expertise and broad global
network will allow us to identify, evaluate and consummate a business combination. Notably, we believe that the current market
environment, which has forced many metal and mining companies into a state of distress, has significantly increased the number
of investment opportunities in the sector. However, there is no assurance that we will complete an initial business combination
nor is there any guarantee that such initial business combination will be successful. The members of our management team are not
required to devote any significant amount of time to our business and are concurrently involved with other businesses. There is
no guarantee that our current officers and directors will continue in their respective roles, or in any other role, after our initial
business combination, and their expertise may only be of benefit to us until our initial business combination is completed, if
at all.
The registration statements
on Form S-1 (Nos. 333-203599 and 333-204866), which we refer to collectively as our “registration statement,” for our
initial public offering were declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on June 10, 2015.
On June 16, 2015, we consummated our initial public offering and sold 20,000,000 units, including 2,500,000 units issued pursuant
to the partial exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option. Each unit consists of one ordinary share and one warrant
to purchase one-half of one ordinary share at a price of $5.75 per half share, subject to adjustment as described in our registration
statement. Warrants may be exercised only for a whole number of ordinary shares. Each warrant will become exercisable 30 days after
the completion of our initial business combination, and will expire five years after the completion of our initial business combination,
or earlier upon redemption. In connection with the closing of our initial public offering, the underwriters notified us that they
would not be exercising the remainder of their over-allotment option. As a result, our initial shareholders forfeited an aggregate
of 31,250 ordinary shares so that the initial shareholders continued to collectively own 20.0% of our issued and outstanding ordinary
shares after the offering.
Simultaneously with the
consummation of our initial public offering, our sponsor and an entity controlled by Dwight W. Anderson, one of our directors,
purchased an aggregate of 14,050,000 private placement warrants at a price of $0.50 per warrant in a private placement. We received
net proceeds of approximately $201,175,000 from our initial public offering and sale of the private placement warrants, net of
the non-deferred portion of the underwriting commissions and underwriter advisory fees of $5,250,000 and offering costs and other
expenses of approximately $600,000. Of those net proceeds, a total of $6,750,000 is attributable to deferred underwriting discounts
and underwriter advisory fees, which have been deferred until the consummation of our initial business combination. $200,000,000
of the net proceeds were deposited in a trust account. Except for a portion of the interest earned on the funds held in the trust
account that may be released to us to pay any income or other tax obligations, none of the funds held in the trust account will
be released until the earlier of the completion of our initial business combination and the redemption of 100% of our public shares
if we are unable to consummate a business combination by February 5, 2018, or June 5, 2018, if our shareholders approve amending
our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association at the meeting of our shareholders scheduled to occur on February
2, 2018 (such deadline to consummate a business combination, the “Business Combination Deadline”). If we do not complete
a business combination by the Business Combination Deadline, we will distribute the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust
account pro rata to our public shareholders by way of redemption and cease all operations except for the purposes of winding up
of our affairs.
On June 5, 2017, our shareholders
approved a proposal to extend the Business Combination Deadline until October 8, 2017 (the “First Extension”). In connection
with the First Extension, our sponsor agreed to contribute to us as a loan $0.025 for each public share that is not redeemed, for
each calendar month (commencing on June 10, 2017 and on the 10th day of each subsequent month), or portion thereof, that is needed
by us to complete a business combination from June 10, 2017 until October 8, 2017. Our sponsor agreed to continue to make this
contribution through February 5, 2018 in connection with our shareholders’ approval of a proposal at a special meeting held
on October 5, 2017 to extend the Business Combination Deadline until February 5, 2018 (the “Second Extension”). We
have filed a definitive proxy statement with respect to a meeting of our shareholders scheduled to occur on February 2, 2018, to
vote on, among other things, an amendment (the “Extension Amendment”) to our memorandum and articles of association
to extend the Business Combination Deadline (the “Extension”) for an additional four months, from February 5, 2018
to June 5, 2018 (the “Extended Date”). Our sponsor has agreed to contribute to us as a loan $0.035 for each public
share that is not redeemed in connection with the shareholder vote to approve the Extension, for each calendar month, or portion
thereof, that is needed by us to complete a business combination. In connection with the First Extension, 3,937,943 of our ordinary
shares were redeemed, and in connection with the Second Extension, 3,031,985 of our ordinary shares were redeemed. Our public shareholders
have the opportunity to redeem their ordinary shares in connection with the proposed Extension Amendment, as described in our proxy
statement relating to the meeting of shareholders to be held on February 2, 2018.
Business Strategy
We believe that current
market conditions in the metals and mining industry, particularly with gold and other precious metals, should present the Company
with attractive acquisition opportunities. We intend to focus primarily on acquiring companies or assets valued between $150 million
and $800 million of enterprise value. We believe the metals and mining industry represents an attractive sector to search for target
businesses for the following reasons:
Capital Constraints
. The
exploration, development and production of mining assets require substantial funding. As a result of trends in the mining industry,
including the declines in precious metals prices from their peak in 2011, declining grades, rising costs, unmet guidance, and resource
nationalism, many mining companies are experiencing difficulty attracting the significant capital needed to permit the exploration,
development or production of their assets.
Distressed Sales
. Mining
companies may find themselves overleveraged and with the need to dispose of assets or sell controlling interests to raise proceeds
to repay indebtedness.
Historically Low Valuations.
Gold
mining company valuations have fallen sharply from peak levels. The VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF (GDX) was trading 65% below
its September 2011 peak as of December 31, 2017, and the VanEck Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF (GDX-J) had declined by 81% from
its December 2010 peak, data from Bloomberg indicates.
We believe that these factors
may cause mining companies to seek a merger partner or to dispose of assets that may represent attractive acquisition opportunities.
We believe that our capital resources, together with the industry, transactional and operational experience of our management team,
should position us to take advantage of these opportunities. Additionally, we believe our management team’s capabilities,
including access to geologists, engineers and mining industry professionals with substantial industry experience, should provide
us a competitive advantage in identifying and evaluating attractive opportunities and completing transactions through the ability
to act quickly and efficiently. These criteria are not intended to be exhaustive. Any evaluation relating to the merits of a particular
initial business combination may be based, to the extent relevant, on these general guidelines as well as other considerations,
factors and criteria that our management may deem relevant.
We intend to implement
our business through disciplined valuation analyses and a rigorous due diligence and acquisition process that includes the following
elements:
Identifying opportunities
. We
believe that the relationships and industry experience of our management team should enable us to identify attractive acquisition
opportunities. We intend to utilize a research-intensive, analytical process to source investment opportunities. Our management
team believes its reputation as a trusted strategic partner with meaningful operational, geological and technical expertise creates
opportunities to invest in businesses that are not as easily identified by traditional financial buyers.
Executing proficiently
. We
believe that the due diligence capabilities available to our management team, including geologists, engineers and experienced transactional
professionals, should provide us the ability to evaluate the technical and geological merits of potential investments, and complete
acquisition opportunities proficiently.
Improving operations
and strategies
. We believe that the industry and operational experience of our management team and its broad network
of industry relationships should enable us to improve the strategic and operational performance of the assets and businesses that
we acquire.
Engaging in corporate
development
. We believe that the industry experience of our management team should enable us to recruit highly qualified
executives to manage the assets and businesses we acquire.
Value maximization
. We
believe that the industry and transactional experience of our management team should enable us to identify opportunities to maximize
the value of the assets and businesses we acquire, including through dispositions, capital transactions and joint ventures. Additionally,
we believe that our management team will be viewed as a value-added partner to target companies by providing strategic, technical
and financial advice, including reinterpretation of geological data, lending TEG’s deep domain expertise to effect operational
improvement, introducing the target company to new institutional investors, and attracting equity research coverage.
Competitive Strengths
We believe our competitive
strengths to be the following:
Status as a public company.
We
believe our structure will make us an attractive business combination partner to target businesses. As an existing public company,
we offer a target business an alternative to the traditional initial public offering through a merger or other business combination.
In this situation, the owners of the target business would exchange their shares of stock in the target business for shares of
our stock or for a combination of shares of our stock and cash, allowing us to tailor the consideration to the specific needs of
the sellers. We believe target businesses might find this method a more certain and cost effective method to becoming a public
company than the typical initial public offering. In a typical initial public offering, there are additional expenses incurred
in marketing, roadshow and public reporting efforts that will likely not be present to the same extent in connection with a business
combination with us. Furthermore, once the business combination is consummated, the target business will have effectively become
public, whereas an initial public offering is always subject to the underwriters’ ability to complete the offering, as well
as general market conditions, that could prevent the offering from occurring. Once public, we believe the target business would
then have greater access to capital and an additional means of providing management incentives consistent with shareholders’
interests than it would have as a privately-held company. Being public can offer further benefits by augmenting a company’s
profile among potential new customers and vendors and aid in attracting talented employees.
While we believe that our
status as a public company will make us an attractive business partner, some potential target businesses may view the inherent
limitations in our status as a blank check company as a deterrent and may prefer to effect a business combination with a more established
entity or with a private company.
Financial position.
With
funds held in trust available for our initial business combination in the amount of approximately $133.7 million as of November
30, 2017, we offer a target business a variety of options such as providing the owners of a target business with shares in a public
company and a public means to sell such shares, providing cash for stock, and providing capital for the potential growth and expansion
of its operations or strengthening its balance sheet by reducing its debt ratio. Because we are able to consummate our initial
business combination using our cash, debt or equity securities, or a combination of the foregoing, we have the flexibility to use
the most efficient combination that will allow us to tailor the consideration to be paid to the target business to fit its needs
and desires. However, we have not taken any steps to secure third party financing and it may not be available to us.
Management Operating
and Investing Experience.
Over the course of their careers, the members of our management team have developed a
broad international network of contacts and corporate relationships which we believe will serve as a useful source of investment
opportunities. We will seek to capitalize on the global network and investing and operating experience of our management team to
identify, acquire and operate one or more businesses or assets in the mining industry, although we may pursue a business combination
outside of the mining industry. Our executive officers are officers of our sponsor and TEG, a privately held global natural resources
investment management company that manages the assets of Mr. Kaplan and other institutional investors. Mr. Kaplan has applied his
deep understanding of historical precedents to the natural resources markets and established his reputation as one of the thought
leaders within the precious metals sector. Over the last two decades, Mr. Kaplan has assembled a team of natural resources and
investment professionals to pursue investments across the industry.
TEG has demonstrated an
ability to transact successfully in the natural resources sector globally, generating significant returns by investing in high-quality
exploration and development opportunities that they believed would outperform the markets. Over the last 20 years, Mr. Kaplan and
the TEG management team have made multiple successful investments through various commodity cycles across a wide spectrum of the
natural resources industry, including in gold, silver, platinum, copper, gas and hydrocarbons.
Assistance from TEG.
In addition to Mr. Kaplan and Mr. Vincent, we expect TEG employees and consultants to help identify target businesses and assist
with the due diligence and the transaction execution for us in connection with a business combination. None of these individuals
are required to commit any specified amount of time to our affairs. TEG is the investment advisor to ESOF, which is the majority
owner of the sponsor.
Effecting Our Initial Business Combination
General
We are not presently engaged
in, and we will not engage in, any substantive commercial business unless and until we consummate a business combination. We intend
to utilize cash derived from the proceeds of our initial public offering and the private placement of private warrants, our shares,
debt or a combination of these in effecting our initial business combination. Although substantially all of the net proceeds of
our initial public offering and the private placement of private warrants are intended to be applied generally toward effecting
a business combination as described in this report, the proceeds are not otherwise being designated for any more specific purposes.
Accordingly, investors in our securities are investing without first having an opportunity to evaluate the specific merits or risks
of any one or more business combinations. Our initial business combination may involve the acquisition of, or merger with, a company
which does not need substantial additional capital but which desires to establish a public trading market for its shares, while
avoiding what it may deem to be adverse consequences of undertaking a public offering itself. These include time delays, significant
expense, loss of voting control and compliance with various Federal and state securities laws. In the alternative, we may seek
to consummate a business combination with a company that may be financially unstable or in its early stages of development or growth.
While we may seek to effect simultaneous business combinations with more than one target business, we will probably have the ability,
as a result of our limited resources, to effect only a single business combination.
Sources of Target Businesses
We anticipate that target
business candidates will be brought to our attention from various unaffiliated sources, including investment bankers, venture capital
funds, private equity funds, leveraged buyout funds, management buyout funds and other members of the financial community. Target
businesses may be brought to our attention by such unaffiliated sources as a result of being solicited by us through calls or mailings.
These sources may also introduce us to target businesses in which they think we may be interested on an unsolicited basis, since
many of these sources will have read our registration statement and the other reports we file with the SEC and know what types
of businesses we are targeting. Our officers and directors, as well as their affiliates, may also bring to our attention target
business candidates that they become aware of through their business contacts as a result of formal or informal inquiries or discussions
they may have, as well as attending trade shows or conventions. We may also engage professional firms or other individuals that
specialize in business acquisitions in the future, in which event we may pay a finder’s fee, consulting fee or other compensation
to be determined in an arm’s length negotiation based on the terms of the transaction. 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 sponsor. However,
we are not restricted from entering into any such transactions and may do so if (1) such transaction is approved by a majority
of our disinterested and independent directors (if we have any at that time) and (2) we obtain an opinion from an independent investment
banking firm that the business combination is fair to our unaffiliated shareholders from a financial point of view. As of the date
of this report, there are no affiliated entities that we would consider as a business combination target.
Selection of a Target Business and Structuring
of Our Initial Business Combination
Subject to the limitation
that a target business have a fair market value of at least 80% of the balance in the trust account at the time of the execution
of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination, as described below in more detail, our management will have virtually
unrestricted flexibility in identifying and selecting a prospective target business. Except for the general criteria and guidelines
set forth above under the caption “Business Strategy,” we have not established any specific attributes or criteria
(financial or otherwise) for prospective target businesses. Furthermore, we do not have any specific requirements with respect
to the value of a prospective target business as compared to our net assets or the funds held in the trust account.
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.
The time and costs required
to select and evaluate a target business and to structure and complete our initial business combination remain to be determined.
Any costs incurred with respect to the identification and evaluation of a prospective target business with which a business combination
is not ultimately completed will result in a loss to us and reduce the amount of capital available to otherwise complete a business
combination.
Fair Market Value of Target Business
Pursuant to Nasdaq listing
rules, the target business or businesses that we acquire must collectively have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the
balance of the funds in the trust account at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination,
although we may acquire a target business whose fair market value significantly exceeds 80% of the trust account balance. We currently
anticipate structuring a business combination to acquire 100% of the equity interests or assets of the target business or businesses.
We may, however, structure a business combination where we merge directly with the target business or where we acquire less than
100% of such interests or assets of the target business in order to meet certain objectives of the target management team or shareholders
or for other reasons, but we will only complete such business combination if the post-transaction company owns or acquires 50%
or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient
for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. Even if the post-transaction parent
company owns or acquires 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our shareholders prior to the business combination
may collectively own a minority interest in the post-transaction company, depending on valuations ascribed to the target and us
in the business combination transaction. For example, we could pursue a transaction in which we or a newly formed public holding
company issue a substantial number of new shares in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock of a target. In this case,
we would acquire a 100% controlling interest in the target. However, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new
shares, our shareholders immediately prior to our initial business combination could own less than a majority of the outstanding
shares of the public parent company 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% trust account balance test. In order to consummate
such an acquisition, we may issue a significant amount of our debt or equity securities to the sellers of such businesses and/or
seek to raise additional funds through a public or private offering of debt or equity securities. Since we have no specific business
combination under consideration, we have not entered into any such fund raising arrangement and have no current intention of doing
so. The fair market value of the target will be determined by our board of directors based upon one or more standards generally
accepted by the financial community (such as actual and potential sales, earnings, cash flow and/or book value). If our board is
not able to independently determine that the target business has a sufficient fair market value, we will obtain an opinion from
an unaffiliated, independent investment banking firm, or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation opinions on
the type of target business we are seeking to acquire, with respect to the satisfaction of such criteria. We will not be required
to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm, or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation
opinions on the type of target business we are seeking to acquire, as to the fair market value if our board of directors independently
determines that the target business complies with the 80% threshold.
Lack of Business Diversification
We expect to complete only
a single business combination, although this process may entail the simultaneous acquisitions of several operating businesses.
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 our initial business combination
with only a single entity, our lack of diversification may:
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subject us to negative 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 our initial business combination;
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result in our dependency upon the successful development, construction and operation of a single
mining asset; and
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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.
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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’s
Management Team
Although we intend to scrutinize
the management team of a prospective target business when evaluating the desirability of effecting our initial business combination,
our assessment of the target business’ management team may not prove to be correct. In addition, the future management team
may not 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 our initial business combination remains to be determined. While
it is possible that some of our key personnel will remain associated in senior management or advisory positions with us following
our initial business combination, it is unlikely that they will devote their full time efforts to our affairs subsequent to our
initial business combination. Moreover, they would only be able to remain with the company after the consummation of our initial
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 our initial
business combination will not be the determining factor in our decision as to whether or not we will proceed with any potential
business combination. Additionally, our officers and directors may not have significant experience or knowledge relating to the
operations of the particular target business.
Following our initial business
combination, we may seek to recruit additional managers to supplement the incumbent management of the target business. We may not
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.
Shareholders May Not Have the Ability to
Approve an Initial Business Combination
In connection with any
proposed business combination, we will either (1) seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination at a meeting called
for such purpose at which shareholders may seek to redeem their public shares, regardless of whether they vote for or against the
proposed business combination, into their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes
payable), or (2) provide our shareholders with the opportunity to sell their public shares to us by means of a tender offer (and
thereby avoid the need for a shareholder vote) for an amount equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit
in the trust account (net of taxes payable), in each case based on the number of public shares outstanding and subject to the limitations
described herein. If we determine to engage in a tender offer, such tender offer will be structured so that each shareholder 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 shareholder approval of a proposed business combination or will allow shareholders to sell their shares to us in a tender
offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors such as the timing of the transaction
and whether the terms of the transaction would otherwise require us to seek shareholder approval. Unlike other blank check companies
which require shareholder votes and conduct proxy solicitations in conjunction with their initial business combinations and related
redemptions of public shares for cash upon consummation of such initial business combination even when a vote is not required by
law, we will have the flexibility to avoid such shareholder vote and allow our shareholders to sell their shares pursuant to Rule
13e-4 and Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act which regulate issuer tender offers. In that case, we will file tender offer documents
with the SEC which will contain substantially the same financial and other information about the initial business combination as
is required under the SEC’s proxy rules. We will consummate our initial business combination only if we have net tangible
assets of at least $5,000,001 upon such consummation and, solely if we seek shareholder approval, a majority of the outstanding
ordinary shares voted are voted in favor of the business combination.
We chose our net tangible
asset threshold of $5,000,001 to ensure that we would avoid being subject to Rule 419 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended. However, if we seek to consummate an initial business combination with a target business that imposes any type of working
capital closing condition or requires us to have a minimum amount of funds available from the trust account upon consummation of
such initial business combination, our net tangible asset threshold may limit our ability to consummate such initial business combination
(as we may be required to have a lesser number of shares redeemed or sold to us) and may force us to seek third party financing
which may not be available on terms acceptable to us or at all. As a result, we may not be able to consummate such initial business
combination and we may not be able to locate another suitable target within the applicable time period, if at all. Public shareholders
may therefore have to wait until the Business Combination Deadline in order to be able to receive a pro rata share of the trust
account.
Our sponsor and our officers
and directors have agreed (1) to vote any ordinary shares owned by them in favor of any proposed business combination, (2) not
to redeem any ordinary shares in connection with a shareholder vote to approve a proposed initial business combination and (3)
not sell any ordinary shares in any tender in connection with a proposed initial business combination.
None of our officers, directors,
sponsor or their affiliates has indicated any intention to purchase units or ordinary shares 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 shareholders vote, or indicate
an intention to vote, against such proposed business combination, our officers, directors, sponsor or their affiliates could make
such purchases in the open market or in private transactions in order to influence the vote. Notwithstanding the foregoing, our
officers, directors, sponsor and their affiliates will not make purchases of ordinary shares 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.
Redemption Rights
At any meeting called to
approve an initial business combination, any public shareholder, whether voting for or against such proposed business combination,
will be entitled to demand that his ordinary 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 us to pay our taxes or for working capital). Alternatively, we may provide our public shareholders with the opportunity to sell
their ordinary shares to us through a tender offer (and thereby avoid the need for a shareholder vote) for an amount equal to their
pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account.
Notwithstanding the foregoing,
a public shareholder, together with any affiliate of his or any other person with whom he is acting in concert or as a “group”
(as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) will be restricted from seeking redemption rights with respect to 20% or more
of the ordinary shares sold in our initial public offering. Accordingly, if you purchase more than 20% of the ordinary shares sold
in our initial public offering and our proposed business combination is approved, you will not be able to seek redemption rights
with respect to the full amount of your shares and may be forced to hold such additional ordinary shares or sell them in the open
market. Such a public shareholder would still be entitled to vote against a proposed business combination with respect to all ordinary
shares owned by him or his affiliates. We believe this restriction will prevent shareholders from accumulating large blocks of
shares before the vote held to approve a proposed business combination and attempt to use the redemption right as a means to force
us or our management to purchase their shares at a substantial premium to the then current market price.
Our sponsor, as well as
our officers and directors, will not have redemption rights with respect to any ordinary shares owned by them, directly or indirectly,
whether acquired prior to our initial public offering or, except in the case of our liquidation if we do not complete a business
combination as described below, purchased by them in our initial public offering or in the aftermarket.
We may also require public
shareholders who wish to redeem, whether they are a record holder or hold their shares in “street name,” to either
tender their certificates to our transfer agent at any time through the vote on the business combination or to deliver their shares
to the transfer agent electronically using Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian) System, at the
holder’s option.
There is a nominal cost
associated with the above-referenced delivery process and the act of certificating the shares or delivering them through the DWAC
System. The transfer agent will typically charge the tendering broker $45.00 and it would be up to the broker whether or not to
pass this cost on to the holder. However, this fee would be incurred regardless of whether or not we require holders to deliver
their shares prior to the vote on the business combination in order to exercise redemption rights. This is because a holder would
need to deliver shares to exercise redemption rights regardless of the timing of when such delivery must be effectuated. However,
in the event we require shareholders to exercise redemption rights prior to the consummation of the proposed business combination
and the proposed business combination is not consummated, this may result in an increased cost to shareholders.
Any request to redeem such
shares once made, may be withdrawn at any time up to the vote on the proposed business combination. Furthermore, if a holder of
a public share delivered his certificate in connection with an election of their redemption and subsequently decides prior to the
applicable date not to elect to exercise such rights, he may simply request that the transfer agent return the certificate (physically
or electronically).
If the initial business
combination is not approved or completed for any reason, then our public shareholders who elected to exercise their redemption
rights would not be entitled to redeem their shares for the applicable pro rata share of the trust account. In such case, we will
promptly return any certificates delivered by public holders who elected to have their shares redeemed.
Liquidation if No Business Combination
If we do not complete a
business combination by the Business Combination Deadline, we will, as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business
days thereafter, distribute the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account pro rata to our public shareholders by way
of redemption and cease all operations except for the purposes of winding up of our affairs. This redemption of public shareholders
from the trust account shall be done automatically by function of our memorandum and articles of association and prior to any voluntary
winding up, although at all times subject to the Companies Act.
Following the redemption
of public shares, we intend to enter “voluntary liquidation” which is the statutory process for formally closing and
dissolving a company under the laws of the British Virgin Islands. Given that we intend to enter voluntary liquidation following
the redemption of public shareholders from the trust account, we do not expect that the voluntary liquidation process will cause
any delay to the payment of redemption proceeds from our trust account. In connection with such a voluntary liquidation, the liquidator
would give notice to creditors inviting them to submit their claims for payment, by notifying known creditors (if any) who have
not submitted claims and by placing a public advertisement in at least one newspaper published in the British Virgin Islands newspaper
and in at least one newspaper circulating in the location where the company has its principal place of business, and taking any
other steps he considers appropriate to identify the company’s creditors, after which our remaining assets would be distributed.
As soon as the affairs of the company are fully wound-up, the liquidator must complete his statement of account and make a notificational
filing with the Registrar. We would be dissolved once the Registrar issues a Certificate of Dissolution.
Our sponsor has agreed
to waive its redemption rights with respect to its insider shares if we fail to consummate our initial business combination within
the applicable period from the closing of our initial public offering.
However, if our sponsor,
or any of our officers, directors or affiliates acquire public shares after our initial public offering, they will be entitled
to redemption rights with respect to such public shares if we fail to consummate our initial business combination within the required
time period. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless
in the event we do not consummate our initial business combination by the Business Combination Deadline. We will pay the costs
of our liquidation from our remaining assets outside of the trust account. However, the liquidator may determine that he or it
requires additional time to evaluate creditors’ claims (particularly if there is uncertainty over the validity or extent
of the claims of any creditors). Also, a creditor or shareholder may file a petition with the BVI court which, if successful, may
result in our liquidation being subject to the supervision of that court. Such events might delay distribution of some or all of
our remaining assets.
Additionally, in any liquidation
proceedings of the company under British Virgin Islands law, the funds held in our trust account may be included in our estate
and subject to the claims of third parties with priority over the claims of our shareholders. To the extent any such claims deplete
the trust account we may not be able to return to our public shareholders the liquidation amounts payable to them.
If we were to expend all
of the net proceeds of our initial public offering, other than the proceeds deposited in the trust account, and without taking
into account interest earned on the trust account, the per-share redemption amount received by shareholders upon our dissolution
would be $10.00. The proceeds deposited in the trust account could, however, become subject to the claims of our creditors, which
would have higher priority than the claims of our public shareholders. The actual per-share redemption amount received by shareholders
may be less than $10.00, plus interest (net of any taxes payable).
Although we seek to have
all vendors, service providers, prospective target businesses or other entities with which we do business execute agreements with
us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies held in the trust account for the benefit of our
public shareholders, there is no guarantee that they will execute such agreements or even if they execute such agreements that
they would be prevented from bringing claims against the trust account including but not limited to fraudulent inducement, breach
of fiduciary responsibility or other similar claims, as well as claims challenging the enforceability of the waiver, in each case
in order to gain an advantage with respect to a claim against our assets, including the funds held in the trust account. If any
third party refuses to execute an agreement waiving such claims to the monies held in the trust account, our management will perform
an analysis of the alternatives available to it and will only enter into an agreement with a third party that has not executed
a waiver if management believes that such third party’s engagement would be significantly more beneficial to us than any
alternative. Examples of possible instances where we may engage a third party that refuses to execute a waiver include the engagement
of a third party consultant whose particular expertise or skills are believed by management to be significantly superior to those
of other consultants that would agree to execute a waiver or in cases where management is unable to find a service provider willing
to execute a waiver. In addition, there is no guarantee that such entities will agree to waive any claims they may have in the
future as a result of, or arising out of, any negotiations, contracts or agreements with us and will not seek recourse against
the trust account for any reason. In order to protect the amounts held in the trust account, ESOF agreed that it will be liable
to us, if and to the extent any claims by a vendor for services rendered or products sold to us, or a prospective target business
with which we have discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amounts in the trust account to below $10.00 per
share (whether or not the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), except as to any claims by a third party
who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the trust account and except as to any claims under our indemnity
of the underwriters of our initial public offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
In the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, ESOF will not be responsible to the extent
of any liability for such third party claims. However, ESOF may not be able to satisfy those obligations. None of our officers
or directors will indemnify us for claims by third parties including, without limitation, claims by vendors and prospective target
businesses. We have not independently verified whether ESOF has sufficient funds to satisfy its indemnity obligations. We believe
the likelihood of ESOF having to indemnify the trust account is limited because we will endeavor to have all vendors and prospective
target businesses as well as other entities execute agreements with us waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind
in or to monies held in the trust account.
In the event that the proceeds
in the trust account are reduced below $10.00 per share and ESOF asserts that it is unable to satisfy any applicable obligations
or that it has no indemnification obligations related to a particular claim, our independent directors would determine whether
to take legal action against ESOF to enforce its indemnification obligations. While we currently expect that our independent directors
would take legal action on our behalf against ESOF to enforce its indemnification obligations to us, it is possible that our independent
directors in exercising their business judgment may choose not to do so in any particular instance. Accordingly, due to claims
of creditors, the actual value of the per-share redemption price may be less than $10.00 per share.
We seek to reduce the possibility
that ESOF will have to indemnify the trust account due to claims of creditors by endeavoring to have all vendors, service providers,
prospective target businesses or other entities with which we do business execute agreements with us waiving any right, title,
interest or claim of any kind in or to monies held in the trust account. ESOF will also not be liable as to any claims under our
indemnity of the underwriters of our initial public offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities
Act. We will have access to up to the remaining portion, if any, of any founds outside of the trust account, and the interest income
earned on the balance of the trust account (net of taxes payable) with which to pay any such potential claims (including costs
and expenses incurred in connection with our liquidation, currently estimated to be no more than approximately $20,000). In the
event that we liquidate and it is subsequently determined that the reserve for claims and liabilities is insufficient, shareholders
who received funds from our trust account could be liable for claims made by creditors.
If we are deemed insolvent
for the purposes of the Insolvency Act (i.e. (i) we fail to comply with the requirements of a statutory demand that has not been
set aside under section 157 of the Insolvency Act; (ii) execution or other process issued on a judgment, decree or order of a British
Virgin Islands Court in favor of a creditor of the company is returned wholly or partly unsatisfied; or (iii) either the value
of the company’s liabilities exceeds its assets, or the company is unable to pay its debts as they fall due), then there
are very limited circumstances where prior payments made to shareholders or other parties may be deemed to be a “voidable
transaction” for the purposes of the Insolvency Act. A voidable transaction would include, for these purposes, payments made
as “unfair preferences” or “transactions at an undervalue”. A liquidator appointed over an insolvent company
who considers that a particular transaction or payment is a voidable transaction under the Insolvency Act could apply to the British
Virgin Islands Courts for an order setting aside that payment or transaction in whole or in part.
Additionally, if we enter
insolvent liquidation under the Insolvency Act, the funds held in our trust account will likely be included in our estate and subject
to the claims of third parties with priority over the claims of our shareholders. To the extent any insolvency claims deplete the
trust account you may not be able to return to our public shareholders the liquidation amounts due them.
Our public shareholders
will be entitled to receive funds from the trust account only in the event of a redemption to public shareholders prior to any
winding up in the event we do not consummate our initial business combination or our liquidation or if they redeem their shares
in connection with an initial business combination that we consummate. In no other circumstances shall a shareholder have any right
or interest of any kind to or in the trust account. In the event we seek shareholder approval in connection with our initial business
combination, a shareholder’s voting in connection with the business combination alone will not result in a shareholder’s
redeeming its shares to us for an applicable pro rata share of the trust account. Such shareholder must have also exercised its
redemption rights described above.
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 our initial public 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:
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our obligation to seek shareholder approval of our initial business combination or engage in a
tender offer may delay the completion of a transaction;
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our obligation to redeem ordinary shares held by our public shareholders may reduce the resources
available to us for our initial business combination;
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our outstanding warrants, and the potential future dilution they represent;
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our obligation to either repay or issue private warrants upon conversion of up to $1,000,000 of
working capital loans that may be made to us by our sponsor, officers, directors or their affiliates, and our obligation to repay
loans made to us by our sponsor in connection with the extensions of our Business Combination Deadline; and
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our obligation to register the resale of the insider shares, as well as the private warrants (and
underlying securities) and any securities issued to our sponsor, officers, directors or their affiliates upon conversion of working
capital loans.
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Any of these factors may
place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating our initial business combination. Our management believes, however,
that our status as a public entity and potential access to the United States public equity markets may give us a competitive advantage
over privately-held entities having a similar business objective as ours in acquiring a target business with significant growth
potential on favorable terms.
If we succeed in effecting
our initial business combination, there will be, in all likelihood, intense competition from competitors of the target business.
Subsequent to our initial business combination, we may not have the resources or ability to compete effectively.
Employees
We have two executive officers,
neither of whom is paid a salary by us. 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 to acquire has been located, management will 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 do not intend to have any full time employees
prior to the consummation of our initial business combination.
Periodic Reporting and Audited Financial
Statements
We have registered our
units, ordinary shares and warrants under the Exchange Act and have reporting obligations, including the requirement that we file
annual, quarterly and current reports with the SEC. These filings are available to the public via the Internet at the SEC’s
website located at http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document that we file with the SEC at the SEC’s public
reference room located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. For more information, please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.
You may request a copy of our filings with the SEC (excluding exhibits) at no cost by writing or telephoning us at the following
address or telephone number:
Electrum Special Acquisition
Corp.
c/o The Electrum Group
LLC
700 Madison Avenue, 5
th
Floor
New York, NY 10065
Tel: (646) 365-1600
We will provide shareholders
with audited financial statements of the prospective target business as part of any proxy solicitation materials or tender offer
documents sent to shareholders to assist them in assessing the target business. These financial statements will need to be prepared
in accordance with or reconciled to U.S. GAAP or IFRS as issued by the IASB. To the extent we furnish our shareholders with financial
statements prepared in accordance with IFRS, such financial statements will need to be audited in accordance with U.S. GAAP at
the time of the consummation of the business combination. A particular target business identified by us as a potential acquisition
candidate may not 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 are required to evaluate
our internal control procedures for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2017 as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Only in the
event we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer or an accelerated filer will we be required to have our internal control procedures
audited. A target company may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding adequacy of their internal
controls. The development of the internal controls of any such entity to achieve compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may increase
the time and costs necessary to complete any such acquisition.
We are an emerging growth
company as defined in the JOBS Act and will remain such for up to five years. However, if our non-convertible debt issued within
a three-year period or our total revenues exceed $1.17 billion or the market value of our ordinary shares 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 have elected, under Section 107(b) of the JOBS Act,
to take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or
the Securities Act, for complying with new or revised accounting standards.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Ownership of our securities
involves a high degree of risk. If any of the following events occur, our business, financial condition and operating results may
be materially adversely affected. In that event, the trading price of our securities could decline and a holder of our securities
could lose all or part of its investment. This report also contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.
Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a result of specific factors,
including the risks described below.
Risks Associated with Our Business
We are a recently-formed blank check
company with no operating history and, accordingly, you have no basis on which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business
objective.
We are a recently-formed
blank check company with no operating results to date. Since we do not have an operating history, you have no basis upon which
to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective, which is to acquire an operating business. We will not generate any
revenues until, at the earliest, after the consummation of our initial business combination.
Our public shareholders may not be afforded
an opportunity to vote on our proposed business combination.
We will either (1) seek
shareholder approval of our initial business combination at a meeting called for such purpose at which public shareholders may
seek to require us to redeem their public shares, regardless of whether they vote for or against the proposed business combination,
for their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account (net of taxes payable), or (2) provide our
public shareholders with the opportunity to sell their public shares to us by means of a tender offer (and thereby avoid the need
for a shareholder vote) for an amount equal to their pro rata share of the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account
(net of taxes payable), in each case based on the number of public shares outstanding and subject to the limitations described
elsewhere in this report. 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 shareholder approval of a proposed business combination or will allow shareholders to sell their shares to us in a tender
offer will be made by us, solely in our discretion, and will be based on a variety of factors such as the timing of the transaction
and whether the terms of the transaction would otherwise require us to seek shareholder approval. For instance, Nasdaq rules currently
allow us to engage in a tender offer in lieu of a shareholder meeting but would still require us to obtain shareholder 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 shareholder approval of such business combination instead of conducting a tender offer.
Our security holders are not entitled
to protections normally afforded to investors of blank check companies.
Since the net proceeds
of our initial public offering are intended to be used to complete our initial business combination with a target business that
has not been identified, we may be deemed to be a “blank check” company under the U.S. securities laws. However, since
we had net tangible assets in excess of $5,000,001 upon the consummation of our initial public offering and filed a current report
on Form 8-K, including an audited balance sheet demonstrating this fact, we are exempt from rules promulgated by the SEC to protect
investors of blank check companies such as Rule 419. Accordingly, our security holders are not afforded the benefits or protections
of those rules which would, for example, completely restrict the transferability of our securities, require us to complete our
initial business combination within 18 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 were immediately tradable
upon the consummation of our initial public offering, we will be entitled to withdraw interest income earned on the funds held
in the trust account prior to the completion of our initial business combination and we will have a longer period of time to complete
such a business combination than we would if we were subject to such rule.
We may issue shares of our stock to complete
our initial business combination, which would reduce the equity interest of our shareholders and could cause a change in control
of our ownership.
Our memorandum and articles
of association authorize the issuance of an unlimited amount of both ordinary shares of no par value and preferred shares of no
par value. Although we have no commitment as of the date of this report, we may issue a substantial number of additional ordinary
or preferred shares, or a combination of ordinary and preferred shares, to complete our initial business combination. The issuance
of additional ordinary and/or preferred shares:
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may significantly reduce the equity interest of our existing shareholders;
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may subordinate the rights of holders of ordinary shares if we issue preferred shares with rights
senior to those afforded to our ordinary shares;
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may cause a change in control if a substantial number of ordinary shares are issued, which may
affect, among other things, our ability to use our net operating loss carry forwards, if any, and could result in the resignation
or removal of our present officers and directors; and
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may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our units, ordinary shares and/or warrants.
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We may incur significant indebtedness
in order to consummate our initial business combination.
If we find it necessary
to incur significant indebtedness in connection with our initial business combination, it could result in:
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default and foreclosure on our assets if our operating revenues after our initial business combination
are insufficient to repay our debt obligations;
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acceleration of our obligations to repay the indebtedness even if we make all principal and interest
payments when due if we breach certain covenants that require the maintenance of certain financial ratios or reserves without a
waiver or renegotiation of that covenant;
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our immediate payment of all principal and accrued interest, if any, if the debt security is payable
on demand; and
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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.
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The funds held in the trust account may
not earn significant interest and, as a result, we may be limited to the funds held outside of the trust account to fund our search
for target businesses, to pay our tax obligations and to complete our initial business combination.
Of the net proceeds of
our initial public offering, only approximately $1,000,000 was initially available to us outside the trust account to fund our
working capital requirements. We will depend on sufficient interest being earned on the proceeds held in the trust account to pay
any tax obligations that we may owe. Interest rates on permissible investments for us have been less than 1% over the last several
years. Accordingly, if we do not earn a sufficient amount of interest on the funds held in the trust account and use all of the
funds held outside of the trust account, we may not have sufficient funds available with which to structure, negotiate or close
our initial business combination. In such event, we would need to borrow funds from our sponsor, officers or directors to operate
or may be forced to liquidate. Our sponsor, officers and directors are under no obligation to loan us any funds. If we are unable
to obtain the funds necessary, we may be forced to cease searching for a target business and may be unable to complete our initial
business combination.
If we liquidate, distributions, or part
of them, may be delayed while the liquidator determines the extent of potential creditor claims.
Pursuant to, among other
documents, our memorandum and articles of association, if we do not complete our initial business combination by the Business Combination
Deadline, this will trigger an automatic redemption of our ordinary shares using the available funds in the trust account pursuant
to our memorandum and articles of association, resulting in our repayment of available funds in the trust account. Thereafter,
we will proceed to commence a voluntary liquidation and thereby a formal dissolution of the company. In connection with such a
voluntary liquidation, the liquidator would give notice to our creditors inviting them to submit their claims for payment, by notifying
known creditors (if any) who have not submitted claims and by placing a public advertisement in at least one newspaper published
in the British Virgin Islands and in at least one newspaper circulating in the location where the company has its principal place
of business, and taking any other steps the liquidator considers appropriate, after which our remaining assets would be distributed.
As soon as our affairs
are fully wound-up, if we were to liquidate, the liquidator must complete his statement of account and will then notify the Registrar
of Corporate Affairs in the British Virgin Islands, or the Registrar, that the liquidation has been completed. However, the liquidator
may determine that he or she requires additional time to evaluate creditors’ claims (particularly if there is uncertainty
over the validity or extent of the claims of any creditors). Also, a creditor or shareholder may file a petition with the British
Virgin Islands Court, which, if successful, may result in our liquidation being subject to the supervision of that court. Such
events might delay distribution of some or all of our remaining assets.
In any liquidation proceedings
of the company under British Virgin Islands law, the funds held in our trust account may be included in our estate and subject
to the claims of third parties with priority over the claims of our shareholders. To the extent any such claims deplete the trust
account we may not be able to return to our public shareholders the redemption amounts payable to them.
If we do not maintain a current and effective
prospectus relating to the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants, public holders will only be able to exercise
such warrants on a “cashless basis.”
If we do not maintain a
current and effective prospectus relating to the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the public warrants at the time that
holders wish to exercise such warrants, they will only be able to exercise them on a “cashless basis.” As a result,
the number of ordinary shares that holders will receive upon exercise of the public warrants will be fewer than it would have been
had such holders exercised their warrants for cash. Under the terms of the warrant agreement, we have agreed to use our best efforts
to maintain a current and effective prospectus relating to the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants until the
expiration of the warrants. However, we cannot assure you that we will be able to do so. If we are unable to do so, the potential
“upside” of the holder’s investment in our company may be reduced. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the private
warrants and any other warrants that may be issued to our officers, directors, sponsor or their affiliates as described elsewhere
in this report may be exercisable for unregistered ordinary shares for cash even if the prospectus relating to the ordinary shares
issuable upon exercise of the warrants is not current and effective.
An investor will be able to exercise
a warrant only if the issuance of ordinary shares upon such exercise has been registered or qualified or is deemed exempt under
the securities laws of the state of residence of the holder of the warrants.
No public warrants will
be exercisable for cash and we will not be obligated to issue ordinary shares unless the shares issuable upon such exercise have
been registered or qualified or deemed to be exempt under the securities laws of the state of residence of the holder of the warrants.
At the time that the warrants become exercisable, we expect to continue to be listed on a national securities exchange, which would
provide an exemption from registration in every state. Accordingly, we believe holders in every state will be able to exercise
their warrants as long as our prospectus relating to the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants is current. However,
we cannot assure you of this fact. If the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants are not qualified or exempt from
qualification in the jurisdictions in which the holders of the warrants reside, the warrants may be deprived of any value, the
market for the warrants may be limited and they may expire worthless if they cannot be sold.
We may amend the terms of the warrants
in a way that may be adverse to holders with the approval by the holders of 65% of the then outstanding warrants.
Our warrants are issued
in registered form under a warrant agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent, and us.
The warrant agreement provides that the terms of the warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder to cure any ambiguity
or correct any defective provision. The warrant agreement requires the approval by the holders of 65% of the then outstanding warrants
(including the private warrants) in order to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders. Our
sponsor and its designees own approximately 45% of the outstanding warrants. Therefore, we would only need approval from holders
of approximately 20% of the outstanding public warrants to amend the terms of the warrants.
Since we are not limited to a particular
industry or target business with which to complete our initial business combination, we are unable to currently ascertain the merits
or risks of the industry or business in which we may ultimately operate.
Although we intend to focus
our search on target businesses in the metals and mining industry, we may consummate our initial business combination with a company
in any industry we choose and are not limited to any particular industry or type of business. 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 our initial 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 our initial 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 may not properly ascertain or assess all of the significant risk
factors. An investment in our securities may not ultimately prove to be more favorable to our security holders than a direct investment,
if an opportunity were available, in a target business.
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. Our officers and directors may not have enough
experience or sufficient knowledge relating to the jurisdiction of the target or its industry to make an informed decision regarding
our initial business combination.
The requirement that the target business
or businesses that we acquire must collectively have a fair market value equal to at least 80% of the balance of the funds in the
trust account at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business combination may limit the type and
number of companies that we may complete such a business combination with.
Pursuant to the Nasdaq
listing rules, the target business or businesses that we acquire must collectively have a fair market value equal to at least 80%
of the balance of the funds in the trust account at the time of the execution of a definitive agreement for our initial business
combination. This restriction may limit the type and number of companies that we may complete a business combination with. If we
are unable to locate a target business or businesses that satisfy this fair market value test, we may be forced to liquidate and
you will only be entitled to receive your pro rata portion of the funds in the trust account.
Our management may not be able to maintain
control of a target business after our initial business combination. We cannot provide assurance that, upon loss of control of
a target business, new management will possess the skills, qualifications or abilities necessary to profitably operate such business.
We may structure a business
combination so that the post-transaction company in which our public shareholders own shares will own less than 100% of the equity
interests or assets of a target business, but we will only complete such business combination if the post-transaction company,
in which our public shareholders own shares, acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise
acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for us not to be required to register as an investment company under the
Investment Company Act. We will not consider any transaction that does not meet such criteria. Even if the post-transaction company,
in which our public shareholders own shares, owns 50% or more of the voting securities of the target, our shareholders prior to
the business combination may collectively own a minority interest in the post business combination 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 ordinary shares in exchange for all of the outstanding capital stock of a target. In this case, we
would acquire a 100% interest in the target. However, as a result of the issuance of a substantial number of new ordinary shares,
our shareholders immediately prior to such transaction could own less than a majority of our outstanding ordinary shares subsequent
to such transaction. In addition, other minority shareholders may subsequently combine their holdings resulting in a single person
or group obtaining a larger share of our stock than we initially acquired. Accordingly, this may make it more likely that our management
will not be able to maintain our control of the target business.
Our ability to successfully effect our
initial business combination and to be successful thereafter will be totally dependent upon the efforts of our key personnel, some
of whom may join us following our initial business combination. While we intend to closely scrutinize any individuals we engage
after our initial business combination, our assessment of these individuals may not prove to be correct.
Our ability to successfully
effect our initial 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. None of our
officers are required to commit any specified amount of time to our affairs and, accordingly, they will have conflicts of interest
in allocating management time among various business activities, including identifying potential business combinations and performing
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 our initial business combination, however, remains to be determined. Although some of our key personnel may serve in senior
management or advisory positions following our initial 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 our initial
business combination, our assessment of these individuals may not prove to be correct. These individuals may be unfamiliar with
the requirements of operating a public company which could cause us to have to expend time and resources helping them become familiar
with such requirements. This could be expensive and time-consuming and could lead to various regulatory issues which may adversely
affect our operations.
Our key personnel may negotiate employment
or consulting agreements with a target business in connection with a particular business combination. These agreements may provide
for them to receive compensation following our initial business combination and as a result, may cause them to have conflicts
of interest in determining whether a particular business combination is the most advantageous.
Our key personnel will
be able to remain with the company after the consummation of our initial 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.
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 consummate our initial business combination.
Our officers and directors
are not required to commit their full time to our affairs, which could create a conflict of interest when allocating their time
between our operations and their other commitments. We presently expect each of our 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. All of our officers and directors are engaged in several other business endeavors
and are not obligated to devote any specific number of hours to our affairs. If our officers’ and directors’ other
business affairs require them to devote more substantial amounts of time to such affairs, it could limit their ability to devote
time to our affairs and could have a negative impact on our ability to consummate our initial business combination. These conflicts
may not be resolved in our favor.
Our officers and directors or their affiliates
have pre-existing fiduciary and contractual obligations and, accordingly, may have conflicts of interest in determining to which
entity a particular business opportunity should be presented.
Our officers and directors
or their affiliates have pre-existing fiduciary and contractual obligations to other companies, including companies that are engaged
in business activities similar to those intended to be conducted by us. Accordingly, they may participate in transactions and have
obligations that may be in conflict or competition with our consummation of our initial 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.
The shares beneficially owned by our
sponsor, officers and directors will not participate in liquidation distributions and, therefore, our officers and directors may
have a conflict of interest in determining whether a particular target business is appropriate for our initial business combination.
Our sponsor and our officers
and directors have waived their right to redeem their insider shares or any other ordinary shares acquired in our initial public
offering or thereafter, or to receive distributions with respect to their insider shares upon our liquidation if we are unable
to consummate our initial business combination. Accordingly, the insider shares will be worthless if we do not consummate our initial
business combination. The private warrants and any other warrants they acquire will also be worthless if we do not consummate an
initial business combination. The personal and financial interests of our sponsor, officers and directors may influence their motivation
in timely identifying and selecting a target business and completing a business combination. Consequently, our directors’
and officers’ discretion in identifying and selecting a suitable target business may result in a conflict of interest when
determining whether the terms, conditions and timing of a particular business combination are appropriate and in our shareholders’
best interest.
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.
Our securities are currently
listed on Nasdaq, a national securities exchange. As previously announced, on December 4, 2017, we received a written notice (the
“Notice”) from the Listing Qualifications Department of Nasdaq indicating that we are not in compliance with Listing
Rule 5620(a) (the “Annual Meeting Rule”), which requires us to hold an annual meeting of shareholders no later than
one year after the end of our fiscal year-end. We have submitted a plan to regain compliance with the Annual Meeting Rule. If Nasdaq
accepts our plan, Nasdaq may grant us an extension of up to 180 calendar days from the fiscal year-end, or until May 29, 2018,
to regain compliance with the Annual Meeting Rule. If Nasdaq does not accept our plan, the Company will have the opportunity to
appeal the decision in front of a Nasdaq Hearings Panel. We cannot assure you that Nasdaq will accept our plan and grant us an
extension to regain compliance. Furthermore, in the future we may fail to meet other listing standards of Nasdaq, which generally
require that we meet certain requirements relating to shareholders’ equity, market capitalization, aggregate market value
of publicly held shares and distribution. Generally, we must maintain a minimum amount in shareholders’ equity (generally
$2,500,000) and a minimum number of holders of our securities (generally 300 round-lot holders). Additionally, in connection with
our initial business combination, we will be required to demonstrate compliance with Nasdaq’s initial listing requirements,
which are more rigorous than Nasdaq’s continued listing requirements, in order to continue to maintain the listing of our
securities on Nasdaq. We may not be able to meet those initial listing requirements at that time.
If Nasdaq delists our securities
from trading on its exchange, we could face significant material adverse consequences, including:
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a limited availability of market quotations for our securities;
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reduced liquidity with respect to our securities;
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a determination that our shares are a “penny stock,” which will require brokers trading
in our shares to adhere to more stringent rules, possibly resulting in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading
market for our shares;
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a limited amount of news and analyst coverage for our company; and
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a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future.
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We may only be able to complete one business
combination with the proceeds of our initial public offering, which will cause us to be solely dependent on a single business which
may have a limited number of products, services or potential sources of revenue.
It is likely we will consummate
our initial 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:
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solely dependent upon the performance of a single business;
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dependent upon the successful development, construction and operation of a single mining asset;
or
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dependent upon the development or market acceptance of a single or limited number of products,
processes or services.
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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 our initial business combination.
Alternatively, if we determine
to simultaneously acquire several businesses and such businesses are owned by different sellers, we will need for each of such
sellers to agree that our purchase of its business is contingent on the simultaneous closings of the other business combinations,
which may make it more difficult for us, and delay our ability, to complete the business combination. With multiple business combinations,
we could also face additional risks, including additional burdens and costs with respect to possible multiple negotiations and
due diligence investigations (if there are multiple sellers) and the additional risks associated with the subsequent assimilation
of the operations and services or products of the acquired companies in a single operating business. If we are unable to adequately
address these risks, it could negatively impact our profitability and results of operations.
The ability of our public shareholders
to exercise their redemption rights or sell their 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 initial business
combination requires us to use substantially all of our cash to pay the purchase price, because we will not know how many public
shareholders may exercise redemption rights or seek to sell their 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 sale, or we may need to arrange third party financing to
help fund our initial business combination. In the event that the acquisition involves the issuance of our shares as consideration,
we may be required to issue a higher percentage of our shares to make up for a shortfall in funds. Raising additional funds to
cover any shortfall may involve dilutive equity financing or incurring indebtedness at higher than desirable levels. This may limit
our ability to effectuate the most attractive business combination available to us.
We may be unable to consummate an initial
business combination if a target business requires that we have a certain amount of cash at closing, in which case public shareholders
may have to remain shareholders of our company and wait until our redemption of the public shares to receive a pro rata share of
the trust account or attempt to sell their shares in the open market.
A potential target may
make it a closing condition to our initial business combination that we have a certain amount of cash in excess of the $5,000,001
of net tangible assets we are required to have pursuant to our organizational documents available at the time of closing. If the
number of our public shareholders electing to exercise their redemption rights has the effect of reducing the amount of money available
to us to consummate an initial business combination below such minimum amount required by the target business and we are not able
to locate an alternative source of funding, we will not be able to consummate such initial business combination and we may not
be able to locate another suitable target within the applicable time period, if at all. In that case, public shareholders may have
to remain shareholders of our company and wait until the Business Combination Deadline, or attempt to sell their shares in the
open market prior to such time, in which case they may receive less than a pro rata share of the trust account for their shares.
If we hold a shareholder meeting to approve
any initial business combination, we will offer each public shareholder the option to vote in favor of the proposed business combination
and still seek redemption of his, her or its shares. We are also offering each public shareholder the right to seek redemption
of his, her or its shares in connection with the Extension Amendment.
In connection with any
meeting held to approve an initial business combination, we will offer each public shareholder (but not our initial shareholders)
the right to have his, her or its ordinary shares redeemed for cash (subject to the limitations described elsewhere in this report)
regardless of whether such shareholder votes for or against such proposed business combination. We are also offering each public
shareholder the right to seek redemption of his, her or its shares in connection with the Extension Amendment. We will consummate
our initial business combination only if we have net tangible assets of at least $5,000,001 upon such consummation and, solely
if we seek shareholder approval, a majority of the outstanding ordinary shares voted are voted in favor of the business combination.
Accordingly, public shareholders owning a substantial majority of the shares sold in our initial public may exercise their redemption
rights and we could still consummate a proposed business combination so long as a majority of shares voted at the meeting to approve
any initial business combination are voted in favor of the proposed business combination. This threshold and the ability to seek
redemption while voting in favor of a proposed business combination may make it more likely that we will consummate our initial
business combination.
Public shareholders that fail to vote
either in favor of or against a proposed business combination will not be able to have their shares redeemed for cash.
If we hold a meeting to
approve a proposed business combination, public shareholders must vote either in favor of or against a proposed business combination
in order to have their shares redeemed to cash. If a public shareholder fails to vote in favor of or against a proposed business
combination, whether that shareholder abstains from the vote or simply does not vote, that shareholder would not be able to have
his, her or its ordinary shares so redeemed for cash.
Public shareholders, together with any
affiliates of theirs or any other person with whom they are acting in concert or as a “group,” will be restricted from
seeking redemption rights with respect to more than 20% of the ordinary shares sold in our initial public offering.
In connection with any
meeting held to approve an initial business combination, we will offer each public shareholder (but not our initial shareholders)
the right to have his, her or its ordinary shares redeemed for cash. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a public shareholder, together
with any affiliate of his or any other person with whom he is acting in concert or as a “group” will be restricted
from seeking redemption rights with respect to more than 20% of the ordinary shares sold in our initial public offering. Generally,
in this context, a shareholder will be deemed to be acting in concert or as a group with another shareholder when such shareholders
agree to act together for the purpose of acquiring, voting, holding or disposing of our equity securities. Accordingly, if you
purchase more than 20% of the ordinary shares sold in our initial public offering and our proposed business combination is approved,
you will not be able to seek redemption rights with respect to the full amount of your shares and may be forced to hold such additional
shares or sell them in the open market. The value of such additional ordinary shares may not appreciate over time following our
initial business combination, and the market price of our ordinary shares may not exceed the per-share redemption price.
In connection with any shareholder meeting
called to approve a proposed initial business combination or an extension to our Business Combination Deadline, we may require
public shareholders who wish to redeem their ordinary shares 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
shareholder meeting called to approve a proposed initial business combination or an extension to our Business Combination Deadline,
each public shareholder will have the right, regardless of whether he is voting for or against such proposed business combination,
to demand that we redeem his ordinary shares for his pro rata portion of the cash held in the trust account. We may require public
shareholders who wish to redeem their ordinary shares in connection with a proposed business combination to either tender their
certificates to our transfer agent at any time prior to the vote taken at the shareholder meeting relating to such business combination
or to deliver their shares to the transfer agent electronically using the Depository Trust Company’s DWAC (Deposit/Withdrawal
At Custodian) System. In order to obtain a physical stock certificate, a shareholder’s broker and/or clearing broker, DTC
and our transfer agent will need to act to facilitate this request. It is our understanding that shareholders should generally
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, this may not be the case. Accordingly,
if it takes longer than we anticipate for shareholders to deliver their shares, shareholders 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 shareholder
meeting called to approve a proposed business combination, we require public shareholders who wish to redeem their ordinary shares
to comply with the delivery requirements for redemption, such redeeming shareholders may be unable to sell their securities when
they wish to in the event that the proposed business combination is not approved.
If we require public shareholders
who wish to redeem their ordinary shares to comply with specific delivery requirements for redemption described above and such
proposed business combination is not consummated, we will promptly return such certificates to the tendering public shareholders.
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 may decline during this
time and you may not be able to sell your securities when you wish to, even while other shareholders that did not seek redemption
may be able to sell their securities.
Because of our 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 private
equity 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 our initial public offering, our ability to compete in acquiring certain sizable target businesses will
be limited by our available financial resources. This inherent competitive limitation gives others an advantage in pursuing the
acquisition of certain target businesses. Furthermore, seeking shareholder approval of our initial business combination may delay
the consummation of a transaction. Additionally, the insider shares and our outstanding warrants, and the future dilution they
represent, may not be viewed favorably by certain target businesses. Any of the foregoing may place us at a competitive disadvantage
in successfully negotiating our initial business combination.
Our ability to consummate an attractive
business combination may be impacted by the market for initial public offerings.
Our efforts to identify
a prospective target business will not be limited to any particular industry or geographic region, although it is very likely that
our target will want to be a public reporting company. If the market for initial public offerings is limited, we believe there
will be a greater number of attractive target businesses open to being acquired by us as a means to achieve publicly held status.
Alternatively, if the market for initial public offerings is robust, we believe that there will be fewer attractive target businesses
amenable to being acquired by us to become a public reporting company. Accordingly, during periods with strong public offering
markets, it may be more difficult for us to complete an initial business combination.
We may be unable to obtain additional
financing, if required, to complete our initial 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 our initial public offering will be sufficient to allow us to consummate a business combination, because we
have not yet identified any prospective target business, the capital requirements for any particular transaction remain to be determined.
If the net proceeds of our initial public 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 for cash a significant
number of ordinary shares, 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 sponsor is required to
provide any financing to us in connection with or after our initial business combination.
Our initial shareholders control a substantial
interest in us and thus may influence certain actions requiring a shareholder vote.
Our initial shareholders
collectively own approximately 25% of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares. None of our sponsor, officers, directors or their
affiliates has indicated any intention to purchase any units or shares from persons in the open market or in private transactions.
However, our sponsor, officers, directors 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 connection with any vote for a proposed business combination,
our sponsor, as well as all of our officers and directors, have agreed to vote the ordinary shares owned by them immediately before
our initial public offering as well as any ordinary shares acquired in our initial public offering or in the aftermarket in favor
of such proposed 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. It is unlikely that there will be an annual meeting of shareholders to elect new directors prior to the consummation
of our initial 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 there is an annual meeting, as a consequence of our “staggered” board of directors, fewer than half of the board
of directors will be considered for election and our sponsor, because of its ownership position, will have considerable influence
regarding the outcome. Accordingly, our sponsor will continue to exert control at least until the consummation of our initial business
combination.
Our outstanding warrants may have an
adverse effect on the market price of ordinary shares and make it more difficult to effect a business combination.
We issued warrants to purchase
10,000,000 ordinary shares as part of the units sold in our initial public offering and issued private warrants to purchase 7,025,000
ordinary shares. We may also issue additional warrants to our sponsor, officers, directors or their affiliates upon redemption
of promissory notes issued to such entities or individuals for loans made to supplement our working capital requirements, as described
elsewhere in this report. To the extent we issue ordinary shares to effect a business combination, the potential for the issuance
of a substantial number of additional shares upon exercise of these warrants could make us a less attractive acquisition vehicle
in the eyes of a target business. Such securities, when exercised, will increase the number of issued and outstanding ordinary
shares and reduce the value of the shares issued to complete the business combination. Accordingly, our warrants may make it more
difficult to effectuate a business combination or increase the cost of acquiring the target business. Additionally, the sale, or
even the possibility of sale, of the shares underlying the warrants could have an adverse effect on the market price for our securities
or on our ability to obtain future financing. If and to the extent these warrants are exercised, you may experience dilution to
your holdings.
We may redeem the warrants at a time
that is not beneficial to public investors.
We may call the public
warrants for redemption at any time after the redemption criteria described elsewhere in this report have been satisfied. If we
call the public warrants for redemption, public shareholders may be forced to accept a nominal redemption price or sell or exercise
the warrants when they may not wish to do so.
Our management’s ability to require
holders of our warrants to exercise such warrants on a cashless basis will cause holders to receive fewer ordinary shares upon
their exercise of the warrants than they would have received had they been able to exercise their warrants for cash.
If we call our public warrants
for redemption after the redemption criteria described elsewhere in this report have been satisfied, our management will have the
option to require any holder that wishes to exercise its warrant (including any warrants held by our sponsor, officers, directors
or their permitted transferees) to do so on a “cashless basis.” If our management chooses to require holders to exercise
their warrants on a cashless basis, the number of ordinary shares received by a holder upon exercise will be fewer than it would
have been had such holder exercised his warrant for cash. This will have the effect of reducing the potential “upside”
of the holder’s investment in our company.
Because each warrant is exercisable for
only one-half of one ordinary share, the units may be worth less than units of other blank check companies.
Each warrant is exercisable
for one-half of one ordinary share. Warrants may be exercised only for a whole number of ordinary shares. No fractional shares
will be issued upon exercise of the warrants. This is different from other offerings similar to ours whose units include one ordinary
share and one warrant to purchase one whole share. We have established the components of the units in this way in order to reduce
the dilutive effect of the warrants upon completion of a business combination since the warrants will be exercisable in the aggregate
for half of the number of shares compared to units that each contain a warrant to purchase one whole share, thus making us, we
believe, a more attractive merger partner for target businesses. Nevertheless, this unit structure may cause our units to be worth
less than if it included a warrant to purchase one whole share.
If our security holders exercise their
registration rights, it may have an adverse effect on the market price of our ordinary shares and the existence of these rights
may make it more difficult to effect our initial business combination.
The holders of the insider
shares are entitled to demand that we register the resale of the insider shares and the holders of the private warrants are entitled
to demand that we register the resale of the private warrants (and underlying securities) and any securities our sponsor, officers,
directors or their affiliates may be issued in payment of working capital loans made to us. 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 our initial 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 ordinary shares.
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 our initial business combination.
A company that, among other
things, is or holds itself out as being engaged primarily, or proposes to engage primarily, in the business of investing, reinvesting,
owning, trading or holding certain types of securities would be deemed an investment company under the Investment Company Act of
1940. 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 of 1940. To this end, the proceeds held in the trust account may be invested by the trustee only in United States government
treasury bills, notes or bonds having a maturity of 180 days or less or in money market funds meeting the applicable conditions
under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and that invest solely in U.S. treasuries. 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 of 1940.
If we are nevertheless
deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, we may be subject to certain restrictions that may
make it more difficult for us to complete our initial business combination, including:
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restrictions on the nature of our investments; and
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restrictions on the issuance of securities.
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In addition, we may have
imposed upon us certain burdensome requirements, including:
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registration as an investment company;
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adoption of a specific form of corporate structure; and
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reporting, record keeping, voting, proxy, compliance policies and procedures and disclosure requirements
and other rules and regulations.
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Compliance with these additional regulatory
burdens would require additional expense for which we have not allotted.
We are not subject to the supervision
of the Financial Services Commission of the British Virgin Islands and so our shareholders are not protected by any regulatory
inspections in the British Virgin Islands.
We are not an entity subject
to any regulatory supervision in the British Virgin Islands by the Financial Services Commission. As a result, shareholders are
not protected by any regulatory supervision or inspections by any regulatory agency in the British Virgin Islands and we are not
required to observe any restrictions in respect of our conduct save as disclosed in the prospectus from our initial public offering
or our memorandum and articles of association.
If we are unable to consummate our initial
business combination, our public shareholders may be forced to wait up to 24 months before redemption from our trust account.
If we are unable to consummate
our initial business combination by the Business Combination Deadline, we will, as promptly as reasonably possible but not more
than ten business days thereafter, distribute the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, pro rata to our public
shareholders by way of redemption and cease all operations except for the purposes of winding up of our affairs by way of a voluntary
liquidation, as further described herein. Any redemption of public shareholders from the trust account shall be effected automatically
by function of our memorandum and articles of association prior to our commencing any voluntary liquidation. If we are required
to liquidate prior to distributing the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account pro rata to our public shareholders,
then such winding up, liquidation and distribution must comply with the applicable provisions of the Companies Act. In that case,
investors may be forced to wait beyond the Business Combination Deadline before the redemption proceeds of our trust account become
available to them, and they receive the return of their pro rata portion of the proceeds from our trust account. We have no obligation
to return funds to investors prior to the date of our redemption or liquidation unless we consummate our initial business combination
prior thereto and only then in cases where investors have sought to redeem their ordinary shares. Only upon our redemption or any
liquidation will public shareholders be entitled to distributions if we are unable to complete our initial business combination.
If we are deemed to be insolvent, distributions,
or part of them, may be delayed while the insolvency liquidator determines the extent of potential creditor claims. In these circumstances,
prior payments made by the company may be deemed “voidable transactions.”
If we do not complete our
initial business combination by the Business Combination Deadline, this will trigger an automatic redemption of public shareholders
from the trust account pursuant to our memorandum and articles of association.
However, if at any time
we are deemed insolvent for the purposes of the Insolvency Act (i.e. (i) we fail to comply with the requirements of a statutory
demand that has not been set aside under section 157 of the Insolvency Act; (ii) execution or other process issued on a judgment,
decree or order of a British Virgin Islands Court in favor of a creditor of the company is returned wholly or partly unsatisfied;
or (iii) either the value of the company’s liabilities exceeds its assets, or the company is unable to pay its debts as they
fall due), we are required to immediately enter insolvent liquidation. In these circumstances, a liquidator will be appointed who
will give notice to our creditors inviting them to submit their claims for payment, by notifying known creditors (if any) who have
not submitted claims and by placing a public advertisement in at least one newspaper published in the British Virgin Islands newspaper
and in at least one newspaper circulating in the location where the company has its principal place of business, and taking any
other steps he considers appropriate, after which our assets would be distributed. Following the process of insolvent liquidation,
the liquidator will complete its final report and accounts and will then notify the Registrar. The liquidator may determine that
he requires additional time to evaluate creditors’ claims (particularly if there is uncertainty over the validity or extent
of the claims of any creditors). Also, a creditor or shareholder may file a petition with the British Virgin Islands Court which,
if successful, may result in our liquidation being subject to the supervision of that court. Such events might delay distribution
of some or all of our assets to our public shareholders. In such liquidation proceedings, the funds held in our trust account may
be included in our estate and subject to the claims of third parties with priority over the claims of our shareholders. To the
extent any such claims deplete the trust account we cannot assure you we will be able to return to our public shareholders the
amounts otherwise payable to them.
If we are deemed insolvent,
then there are also limited circumstances where prior payments made to shareholders or other parties may be deemed to be a “voidable
transaction” for the purposes of the Insolvency Act. A voidable transaction would be, for these purposes, payments made as
“unfair preferences” or “transactions at an undervalue.” Where a payment was a risk of being a voidable
transaction, a liquidator appointed over an insolvent company could apply to the British Virgin Islands Court for an order, inter
alia, for the transaction to be set aside as a voidable transaction in whole or in part.
Our initial shareholders
have waived their right to participate in any liquidation distribution with respect to the initial shares. We will pay the costs
of our liquidation and distribution of the trust account from our remaining assets outside of the trust account. In addition, ESOF
has agreed that it will be liable to us for all claims of creditors to the extent that we fail to obtain executed waivers from
such entities in order to protect the amounts held in trust, except as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of
our initial public offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. However, we cannot assure
you that the liquidator will not determine that he or she requires additional time to evaluate creditors’ claims (particularly
if there is uncertainty over the validity or extent of the claims of any creditors). We also cannot assure you that a creditor
or shareholder will not file a petition with the British Virgin Islands Court which, if successful, may result in our liquidation
being subject to the supervision of that court. Such events might delay distribution of some or all of our assets to our public
shareholders.
If we are deemed to be insolvent, distributions
made to public shareholders, or part of them, from our trust account may be subject to claw back in certain circumstances.
If we do not complete our
initial business combination by the Business Combination Deadline, and instead distribute the aggregate amount then on deposit
in the trust account pro rata to our public shareholders by way of redemption, it will be necessary for our directors to pass a
board resolution approving the redemption of those ordinary shares and the payment of the proceeds to public shareholders. Such
board resolutions are required to confirm that we satisfy the solvency test prescribed by the Companies Act (namely that our assets
exceed our liabilities; and that we are able to pay our debts as they fall due). If, after the redemption proceeds are paid to
public shareholders, it transpires that our financial position at the time was such that it did not satisfy the solvency test,
the Companies Act provides a mechanism by which those proceeds could be recovered from public shareholders. However, the Companies
Act also provides for circumstances where such proceeds could not be subject to claw back, namely where (a) the public shareholders
received the proceeds in good faith and without knowledge of our failure to satisfy the solvency test; (b) a public shareholder
altered its position in reliance of the validity of the payment of the proceeds; or (c) it would be unfair to require repayment
of the proceeds in full or at all.
The requirement that we complete our
initial business combination by the Business Combination Deadline may give potential target businesses leverage over us in negotiating
our initial business combination.
We have until the Business
Combination Deadline to complete our 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 Business Combination Deadline.
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 officers, directors or sponsor. In all other instances, we will have no obligation to obtain an opinion. Accordingly,
investors will be relying solely on the judgment of our board of directors in approving a proposed business combination.
We may not be required to obtain an opinion
from an independent investment banking firm as to the fair market value of the target business we are seeking to acquire.
We will not be required
to obtain an opinion from an independent investment banking firm, or another independent entity that commonly renders valuation
opinions on the type of target business we are seeking to acquire, as to the fair market value of such target business if our board
of directors independently determines that the target business complies with the 80% threshold. Accordingly, investors will be
relying solely on the judgment of our board of directors in valuing such target business or businesses, and our board of directors
may not properly value such target business or businesses.
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 qualify as a passive foreign investment
company, or PFIC, which could result in adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. investors.
If we are determined to be a PFIC for any taxable
year (or portion thereof) that is included in the holding period of a U.S. Holder of our ordinary shares or rights, the U.S. Holder
may be subject to increased U.S. federal income tax liability and may be subject to additional reporting requirements. We were
determined to be a PFIC for the taxable years ended November 30, 2015 and November 30, 2016. Our actual PFIC status for any taxable
year, however, will not be determinable until after the end of such taxable year. The “qualified electing fund” election
would be unavailable with respect to our warrants in all cases. We urge U.S. investors to consult their own tax advisors regarding
the possible application of the PFIC rules
An investor may be subject to adverse
U.S. federal income tax consequences in the event the Internal Revenue Service, or the IRS, were to disagree with the U.S. federal
income tax consequences described herein or in our registration statement.
We have not sought a ruling
from the IRS as to any U.S. federal income tax consequences described herein or in our registration statement. The IRS may disagree
with the descriptions of U.S. federal income tax consequences contained herein or in our registration statement, and its determination
may be upheld by a court. Any such determination could subject an investor or our company to adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences
that would be different than those described herein or in our registration statement. 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
ordinary shares and units, including the applicability and effect of state, local or non-U.S. tax laws, as well as U.S. federal
tax laws.
After our initial business combination,
it is likely that a majority of our directors and officers will live outside the United States and all of our assets will be located
outside the United States; therefore investors may not be able to enforce federal securities laws or their other legal rights.
It is likely that after
our initial business combination, a majority of our directors and officers will reside outside of the United States and all of
our assets will be located outside of the United States. As a result, it may be difficult, or in some cases not possible, for investors
in the United States to enforce their legal rights, to effect service of process upon all of our directors or officers or to enforce
judgments of United States courts predicated upon civil liabilities and criminal penalties on our directors and officers under
United States laws.
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, or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, requires that we evaluate and report on our system of internal controls and may require
that we have such system of internal controls audited. If we fail to maintain the adequacy of our internal controls, we could be
subject to regulatory scrutiny, civil or criminal penalties and/or shareholder litigation. Any inability to provide reliable financial
reports could harm our business. 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.
We are an “emerging growth company”
and we cannot be certain if the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies will make our securities
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 $1.17 billion, or the market value of
our ordinary shares 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 being required, unless we lose our emerging growth company status, to comply with the auditor attestation requirements
of section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, we have reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic
reports and proxy statements, and we are exempt from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation
and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. Additionally, as an emerging growth company,
we have elected to delay the adoption of new or revised accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and
private companies until those standards apply to private companies. As such, our financial statements may not be comparable to
companies that comply with public company effective dates. We cannot predict if investors will find our ordinary shares less attractive
because we may rely on these provisions. If some investors find our ordinary shares less attractive as a result, there may be a
less active trading market for our shares and our share price may be more volatile.
Further, Section 102(b)(1)
of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards
until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not
have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting
standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements
that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such an election to opt out is irrevocable. We have elected not to opt out
of such extended transition period which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates
for public or private companies, we, as an emerging growth company, will not adopt the new or revised standard until the time private
companies are required to adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of our financial statements with another
public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended
transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accountant standards used.
We may re-incorporate in another jurisdiction
in connection with our initial business combination, and the laws of such jurisdiction will likely govern all of our material agreements
and we may not be able to enforce our legal rights.
In connection with our
initial business combination, we may relocate the home jurisdiction of our business from the British Virgin Islands to another
jurisdiction. If we determine to do this, the laws of such jurisdiction would likely govern all of our material agreements. 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 or the British Virgin Islands. 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. Any such reincorporation and the international
nature of our business will likely subject us to foreign regulation.
You may face difficulties in protecting
your interests, and your ability to protect your rights through the U.S. federal courts may be limited, because we are incorporated
under British Virgin Islands law.
We are a company incorporated
under the laws of the British Virgin Islands. As a result, it may be difficult for investors to enforce judgments obtained in the
United States courts against our directors or officers.
Our corporate affairs are
governed by our memorandum and articles of association, the Companies Act and the common law of the British Virgin Islands. The
rights of shareholders to take action against the directors, actions by minority shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities
of our directors to us under British Virgin Islands law are governed by the Companies Act and the common law of the British Virgin
Islands. The common law of the British Virgin Islands is derived from English common law, and whilst the decisions of the English
courts are of persuasive authority, they are not binding on a court in the British Virgin Islands. The rights of our shareholders
and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors under British Virgin Islands law may not be as clearly established as they
would be under statutes or judicial precedent in some jurisdictions in the United States. In particular, the British Virgin Islands
has a less developed body of securities laws as compared to the United States, and some states, such as Delaware, have more fully
developed and judicially interpreted bodies of corporate law. In addition, while statutory provisions do exist in British Virgin
Islands law for derivative actions to be brought in certain circumstances, shareholders in BVI companies may not have standing
to initiate a shareholder derivative action in a federal court of the United States. The circumstances in which any such action
may be brought, and the procedures and defenses that may be available in respect to any such action, may result in the rights of
shareholders of a BVI company being more limited than those of shareholders of a company organized in the United States. Accordingly,
shareholders may have fewer alternatives available to them if they believe that corporate wrongdoing has occurred.
The British Virgin Islands Courts are also
unlikely:
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to recognize or enforce against us judgments of courts of the United States based on certain civil
liability provisions of U.S. securities laws where that liability is in respect of penalties, taxes, fines or similar fiscal or
revenue obligations of the company; and
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to impose liabilities against us, in original actions brought in the British Virgin Islands, based
on certain civil liability provisions of U.S. securities laws that are penal in nature.
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There is no statutory recognition
in the British Virgin Islands of judgments obtained in the United States, although the courts of the British Virgin Islands will
in certain circumstances recognize such a foreign judgment and treat it as a cause of action in itself which may be sued upon as
a debt at common law so that no retrial of the issues would be necessary provided that:
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the U.S. court issuing the judgment had jurisdiction in the matter and the company either submitted
to such jurisdiction or was resident or carrying on business within such jurisdiction and was duly served with process;
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the judgment is final and for a liquidated sum;
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the judgment given by the U.S. court was not in respect of penalties, taxes, fines or similar fiscal
or revenue obligations of the company;
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in obtaining judgment there was no fraud on the part of the person in whose favor judgment was
given or on the part of the court;
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recognition or enforcement of the judgment would not be contrary to public policy in the British
Virgin Islands; and
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the proceedings pursuant to which judgment was obtained were not contrary to natural justice.
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In appropriate circumstances, a British Virgin
Islands Court may give effect in the British Virgin Islands to other kinds of final foreign judgments such as declaratory orders,
orders for performance of contracts and injunctions.
As a result of all of the
above, public shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of actions taken by management or
controlling shareholders than they would as public shareholders of a U.S. company. For a discussion of certain differences between
the provisions of the Companies Act, remedies available to shareholders and the laws applicable to companies incorporated in the
United States and their shareholders, see “British Virgin Islands Company Considerations.”
The provisions of our memorandum and
articles of association relating to the rights and obligations attaching to our ordinary shares may be amended prior to the consummation
of our initial business combination with the approval of the holders of 65% (or 50% if for the purposes of approving, or in conjunction
with, the consummation of our initial business combination) of our outstanding ordinary shares attending and voting on such amendment
at the relevant meeting, which is a lower amendment threshold than that of many blank check companies. It may be easier for us,
therefore, to amend our memorandum and articles of association to facilitate the consummation of our initial business combination
that a significant number of our shareholders may not support.
Many blank check companies
have a provision in their charter which prohibits the amendment of certain of its provisions, including those which relate to a
company’s pre-business combination activity, without approval by a certain percentage of the company’s shareholders.
Typically, amendment of these provisions requires approval by between 90% and 100% of the company’s public shareholders.
Our memorandum and articles of association provide that, prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, the provisions
related to pre-business combination activity and the rights and obligations attaching to the ordinary shares may be amended if
approved by holders of 65% (or 50% if approved in connection with our initial business combination) of our outstanding ordinary
shares attending and voting on such amendment. Prior to our initial business combination, if we seek to amend any provisions of
our memorandum and articles of association relating to shareholders’ rights or pre-business combination activity, we will
provide dissenting public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares in connection with any such vote on any
proposed amendments to our memorandum and articles of association. Other provisions of our memorandum and articles of association
may be amended prior to the consummation of our initial business combination if approved by a majority of the votes of shareholders
attending and voting on such amendment or by resolution of the directors. Following the consummation of our initial business combination,
the rights and obligations attaching to our ordinary shares and other provisions of our memorandum and articles of association
may be amended if approved by a majority of the votes of shareholders attending and voting on such amendment or by resolution of
the directors. Our initial shareholders, which beneficially own approximately 25% of our ordinary shares, will participate in any
vote to amend our memorandum and articles of association and will have the discretion to vote in any manner they choose. As a result,
we may be able to amend the provisions of our memorandum and articles of association which govern our pre-business combination
and the rights and obligations attaching to the ordinary shares more easily that many blank check companies, and this may increase
our ability to consummate an initial business combination with which you do not agree.
Our memorandum and articles of association
permit the board of directors by resolution to amend our memorandum and articles of association, including to create additional
classes of securities, including shares with rights, preferences, designations and limitations as they determine which may have
an anti-takeover effect.
Our memorandum and articles
of association permits the board of directors by resolution to amend the memorandum and articles of association including to designate
rights, preferences, designations and limitations attaching to the preferred shares as they determine in their discretion, without
shareholder approval with respect the terms or the issuance. If issued, the rights, preferences, designations and limitations of
the preferred shares would be set by the board of directors and could operate to the disadvantage of the outstanding ordinary shares
the holders of which would not have any pre-emption rights in respect of such an issue of preferred shares. Such terms could include,
among others, preferences as to dividends and distributions on liquidation, or could be used to prevent possible corporate takeovers.
We may issue some or all of such preferred shares in connection with our initial business combination. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
we and our directors and officers have agreed not to propose any amendment to our memorandum and articles of association that would
affect the substance and timing of our obligation to redeem our public shares if we are unable to consummate our initial business
combination by the Business Combination Deadline unless we provide dissenting public shareholders with the opportunity to redeem
their public shares in connection with any such vote.
Because we must furnish our shareholders
with target business financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles or international
financial reporting standards as issued by the IASB, we will not be able to complete our initial 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 shareholders with financial statements
prepared in accordance with IFRS, such financial statements will 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.
There is currently a limited market for
our securities and an active market for our securities may not develop, which would adversely affect the liquidity and price of
our securities.
Although our securities
are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, there is currently a limited market for our securities. The price of our securities may
vary significantly due to one or more potential business combinations and general market or economic conditions. Although listed
on the Nasdaq Capital Market, an active trading market for our securities may never develop or, if developed, it may not be sustained.
Additionally, if our securities become delisted from the Nasdaq Capital Market for any reason, and are quoted on the OTC Bulletin
Board, the liquidity and price of our securities may be more limited than if we were listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market or another
national exchange. You may be unable to sell your securities unless a market can be established and sustained.
Target businesses in the natural resources
sector are subject to special considerations and risks.
Business combinations with
companies with operations in the metals and mining industry entail special considerations and risks. If we are successful in completing
a business combination with a target business with operations in this industry, certain events may cause a decline in the prices
of certain natural resources, and a corresponding decline in the value of a target business’s assets, which could adversely
affect our ability to identify an initial business combination or the operation and profitability of our post-combination business.
Such events include:
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Distress Sales
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The possibility of large-scale distress sales of certain natural
resources, such as gold and/or precious metals resources equities, in times of crisis could have a negative impact on the target
business. For example, the 2008 financial credit crisis resulted in significantly depressed prices of precious metals resources
as well as precious metals resources equities largely due to forced sales and deleveraging from institutional investors such as
hedge funds and pension funds. Although the price of gold rapidly recovered, there is no assurance that this would occur in the
future. Crises in the future may impair natural resources’ price performance which could, in turn, adversely affect an investment
in the target business.
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Large sales by the official sector: A significant portion of the aggregate world holdings
of many precious metals is owned by governments, central banks and related institutions. Should these institutions decide to sell
in amounts large enough to cause a decline in the price of precious metals, the value of the target business’s assets could
be adversely affected.
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A significant increase in hedging activity by producers: Should there be an increase
in the level of hedge activity of producing companies, it could cause a decline in world prices, adversely affecting the target
business.
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A significant change in the attitude of speculators and investors towards certain natural resources: Should
the speculative community take a negative view towards one or more natural resources, it could cause a decline in world prices,
negatively impacting the performance of the target business.
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Rising interest rates and low cost of borrowing precious metals: A combination of rising
interest rates and a continuation of the current low cost of borrowing precious metals could improve the economics of selling precious
metals forward. This could result in an increase in hedging by precious metals mining companies and short selling by speculative
interests, which could negatively affect the price of precious metals. Under such circumstances, the value of the target business’s
assets could be similarly affected.
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We may seek a target business involved
in natural resources exploration and development, which involves a high degree of risk and could negatively impact the operations
and profitability of our post-combination business.
We will seek investments
in companies that may engage in natural resources exploration and development, with a focus on precious and base metals, many of
which have no net revenues and little or no gross income. Resource exploration and development involves a high degree of risk and
requires significant capital investment over a number of years. Few properties that are explored are ultimately developed into
producing mines. There is no assurance that any exploration activities will result in discoveries of resources. There is also no
assurance that if discovered, the resources would be economical for commercial purposes. Discovery of natural resources, although
significantly influenced by the technical skill of the personnel involved, is dependent upon a number of factors. As a result,
it is possible that we may lose some or all of the value of assets that we invest in such target business. Companies that engage
in resource exploration and development also are likely to require additional funding to complete their exploration and development
activities. Each time a company goes to the markets for funding, it will dilute the target business’s investment in that
company.
Regulatory and legal risks specific to
natural resources investing
Natural resources investments
may become subject to regulation by governments and agencies of the localities in which they operate. New and existing regulations,
changing governmental and regulatory schemes and the burdens of regulatory compliance all may have a material negative impact on
our ability to identify a business combination target. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that government action, new legislation
or regulation, including changes to existing laws and regulations, will not have a material negative impact our investment in a
target business if such changes occur after we consummate our initial business combination.
Risks Associated with Acquiring and Operating
a Business outside of the United States
If we effect our initial business combination
with a company located outside of the United States, we would be subject to a variety of additional risks that may negatively impact
our operations.
If we effect our initial
business combination with a company located outside of the United States, we would be subject to any special considerations or
risks associated with companies operating in the target business’s home jurisdiction, including any of the following:
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laws governing the manner in which future business combinations may be effected;
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exchange listing and/or delisting requirements;
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tariffs and trade barriers;
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regulations related to customs and import/export matters;
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tax issues, such as tax law changes and variations in tax laws as compared to the United States;
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currency fluctuations and exchange controls;
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challenges in collecting accounts receivable;
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cultural and language differences;
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employment regulations;
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crime, strikes, riots, civil disturbances, terrorist attacks and wars; and
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deterioration of political relations with the United States.
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We may not be able to adequately address these
additional risks. If we were unable to do so, our operations might suffer.
Because of the costs and difficulties
inherent in managing cross-border business operations, our results of operations may be negatively impacted.
Managing a business, operations,
personnel or assets in another country is challenging and costly. Any management that we may have (whether based abroad or in the
U.S.) may be inexperienced in cross-border business practices and unaware of significant differences in accounting rules, legal
regimes and labor practices. Even with a seasoned and experienced management team, the costs and difficulties inherent in managing
cross-border business operations, personnel and assets can be significant (and much higher than in a purely domestic business)
and may negatively impact our financial and operational performance.
If social unrest, acts of terrorism,
regime changes, changes in laws and regulations, political upheaval, or policy changes or enactments occur in a country in which
we may operate after we effect our initial business combination, it may result in a negative impact on our business.
Political events in another
country may significantly affect our business, assets or operations. Social unrest, acts of terrorism, regime changes, changes
in laws and regulations, political upheaval, and policy changes or enactments could negatively impact our business in a particular
country.
Many countries have difficult and unpredictable
legal systems and underdeveloped laws and regulations that are unclear and subject to corruption and inexperience, which may adversely
impact our results of operations and financial condition.
Our ability to seek and
enforce legal protections, including with respect to intellectual property and other property rights, or to defend ourselves with
regard to legal actions taken against us in a given country, may be difficult or impossible, which could adversely impact our operations,
assets or financial condition.
Rules and regulations in
many countries are often ambiguous or open to differing interpretation by responsible individuals and agencies at the municipal,
state, regional and federal levels. The attitudes and actions of such individuals and agencies are often difficult to predict and
inconsistent.
Delay with respect to the
enforcement of particular rules and regulations, including those relating to customs, tax, environmental and labor, could cause
serious disruption to operations abroad and negatively impact our results.
If relations between the United States
and foreign governments deteriorate, it could cause potential target businesses or their goods and services to become less attractive.
The relationship between
the United States and foreign governments could be subject to sudden fluctuation and periodic tension. For instance, the United
States may announce its intention to impose quotas on certain imports. Such import quotas may adversely affect political relations
between the two countries and result in retaliatory countermeasures by the foreign government in industries that may affect our
ultimate target business. Changes in political conditions in foreign countries and changes in the state of U.S. relations with
such countries are difficult to predict and could adversely affect our operations or cause potential target businesses or their
goods and services to become less attractive. Because we are not limited to any specific industry, there is no basis for investors
to evaluate the possible extent of any impact on our ultimate operations if relations are strained between the United States and
a foreign country in which we acquire a target business or move our principal manufacturing or service operations.
If any dividend is declared in the future
and paid in a foreign currency, you may be taxed on a larger amount in U.S. dollars than the U.S. dollar amount that you will actually
ultimately receive.
If you are a U.S. holder
of our ordinary shares, you will be taxed on the U.S. dollar value of your dividends, if any, at the time you receive them, even
if you actually receive a smaller amount of U.S. dollars when the payment is in fact redeemed into U.S. dollars. Specifically,
if a dividend is declared and paid in a foreign currency, the amount of the dividend distribution that you must include in your
income as a U.S. holder will be the U.S. dollar value of the payments made in the foreign currency, determined at the spot rate
of the foreign currency to the U.S. dollar on the date the dividend distribution is includible in your income, regardless of whether
the payment is in fact redeemed into U.S. dollars. Thus, if the value of the foreign currency decreases before you actually redeem
the currency into U.S. dollars, you will be taxed on a larger amount in U.S. dollars than the U.S. dollar amount that you will
actually ultimately receive.
If our management following our initial
business combination is unfamiliar with United States securities laws, they may have to expend time and resources becoming familiar
with such laws, which could lead to various regulatory issues.
Following our initial business
combination, our management will likely resign from their positions as officers or directors of the company and the management
of the target business at the time of the business combination will remain in place. Management of the target business may not
be familiar with United States securities laws. If new management is unfamiliar with our laws, they may have to expend time and
resources becoming familiar with such laws. This could be expensive and time-consuming and could lead to various regulatory issues,
which may adversely affect our operations.
Currency policies may cause a target
business’s ability to succeed in the international markets to be diminished.
In the event we acquire
a non-U.S. target, all revenues and income would likely be received in a foreign currency, the dollar equivalent of our net assets
and distributions, if any, could be adversely affected by reductions in the value of the local currency. The value of the currencies
in our target regions fluctuate and are affected by, among other things, changes in political and economic conditions. Any change
in the relative value of such currency against our reporting currency may affect the attractiveness of any target business or,
following consummation of our initial business combination, our financial condition and results of operations. Additionally, if
a currency appreciates in value against the dollar prior to the consummation of our initial business combination, the cost of a
target business as measured in dollars will increase, which may make it less likely that we are able to consummate such transaction.
Because foreign law could govern almost
all of our material agreements, we may not be able to enforce our rights within such jurisdiction or elsewhere, which could result
in a significant loss of business, business opportunities or capital.
Foreign law could govern
almost all of our material agreements. The target business may not be able to enforce any of its material agreements or enforce
remedies for breaches of those agreements outside of such foreign jurisdiction’s legal system. The system of laws and the
enforcement of existing laws and contracts in such jurisdiction may not be as certain in implementation and interpretation as in
the United States. The judiciaries in Asia are relatively inexperienced in enforcing corporate and commercial law, leading to a
higher than usual degree of uncertainty as to the outcome of any litigation. As a result, the inability to enforce or obtain a
remedy under any of our future agreements could result in a significant loss of business and business opportunities.